The London Lounge

Dear all,

Does anyone wear espadrilles? I have been fond of them for years now, and I note that some of the Apparel Arts excerpts speak approvingly of them.

In particular, can anyone recommend a brand that offers higher-quality espadrilles? I know that Castaner is regarded as one of the best, and they look suitable, although I'd be happy to consider other brands.

Kind regards,


Bird

Hello Bird

Here's another big fan of espadrilles! I can only vouch for Castañer, but really enjoy them very much. I have a pair of cacao suede ones in the classical model and a denim pair with laces.

The only problem I see is that the soles break towards the end of the season and they basically become poor man's shoes. But I like them so much I recently took the effort of having them resoled (there is a plastic sole under the roped sole). Maybe not worth the price, but certainly worth the joy!

If you were to consider them, I can recommend to try a size smaller than you normally would. They easily become more comfortable and then they fit perfectly as if they were in your normal size.

Hope this helps.

T

How interesting. Having grown up in the south of France during the 50's and 60's, my memory of espadrilles in of dark blue, or occasionally black, canvas with a sole made of rope matting. The were the sartorial equivalent of outdoor slippers. They cost little, and were worn until they fell apart.

I agree an espadrille with a rubber sole seems wrong to me and as a beech shoe they are best worn as a slipper with the back part folded down.

aston wrote:How interesting. Having grown up in the south of France during the 50's and 60's, my memory of espadrilles in of dark blue, or occasionally black, canvas with a sole made of rope matting. The were the sartorial equivalent of outdoor slippers. They cost little, and were worn until they fell apart.

Every year, on the day we arrived at the seaside, we would go to a shop that sold all the beach kit and each get a pair of very inexpensive (as I recall) espadrilles. they would last through that summer and be thrown away on the day we returned to the city. As a young child, this routine held less attraction than the associated selection of one toy of some sort to take to the beach (again, inexpensive thigns that were not really meant to last pat the summer) but as I grew a bit older I came to see the espadrilles as a sort of physcal symbol of the fletting joys of summer on the Riviera. The feeling of "mono no aware" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_no_aware.

They were invariably navy blue until, one year, when I was too old for my family to buy my clothes, I bought a pair of WHITE ones that cut quite a dash with my rolled-up khakis. They were perhaps my first consciously personal (as opposed to imitative / aspirational) stye choices.

culverwood wrote:I agree an espadrille with a rubber sole seems wrong to me and as a beech shoe they are best worn as a slipper with the back part folded down.

I was being generous when mentioning plastic sole. It will be no more than 1.5mm and is just there to protect the rope matting from falling apart in the first week of usage. It's so thin the matting shines through. Still classic espadrilles in my opinion, just some added invisible value to the price increase since aston's and Luca's happy seaside memories. Thank you both for creating such an evocative picture.

T

Well I'm glad that I haven't been expelled from the Lounge for my question!

I too tended to wear them for a summer and throw away, but in am finding it harder to actually buy them now here in Australia. If I am to import, the main cost is in shipping, so I might as well buy the best, I figure.

I am partial to brighter colours, and have in the past worn nice pairs in bright stripes. But alas, the shop that sold these (along with French fabrics, furniture, and bric-a-brac has now closed down).

I thought that I might mail order a pair of Castañer in bright red, and I'm grateful for the advice to size down. Although, I usually go up from 40.5 to 41 in espadrilles due to my (absurdly) high arches.

I get my espardenyas here. I can recommend the traditional handmade thick rope sole ones, they are much better than the cheaper factory made type with a vulcanised rubber bed to hold the skimpy rope sole into shape. They truly mould to your feet, and fit wonderfully after a few wears. The rubber vulcanised ones do not, don't get lured in by the broader design options, they are disappointing, your feet can tell the difference.

They are good for the beach and such, but I also like to wear them at home instead of slippers on hot summer days.

Thanks for the espadrille store link. The Castaner ones are okay, but I like the look of the more rustic versions. Only seven months to wait until I might need them

Dear Gido,

Thank you for the link! As it happens, I was furtively looking at the same page yesterday at work, and they do look very promising. So this is a very good stroke of luck!

I like the tape around the heel of the Castaners for grip, as I notice that mine tend to slip there as they wear in. Although I'm less taken with the suede heel counter, which I fear will chafe in the heat.

But in extremis, I suppose I could have my tailor or cobbler stitch some tape into the heel of another brand!

I don't suppose, Gido, that you could comment on their fit, especially over the top of the foot? I have had a look at the size chart on their website but it's a bit confusing....

Kind regards,


Bird

They should be rather tight to start with. I just got my usual EU size and they fitted great after they got broken in. The canvas expands. Only the Espardenyas have a pure rope sole, which shapes to your feet as well.

Thanks again Gido.

So if I understand, the pairs with no rubber underneath have a more substantial and resilient rope sole? I must confess, I like to wear mine around the neighbourhood - to go for coffee or to the shops - and so they tend to see a bit of pavement. Are the traditional style able to withstand this sort of wear?

I have had a look at the European mirror for that website, which has a bigger range of colours. The herringbone-weave models looks especially nice, I must say, and have the heel-tape that I'm looking for (although the pair with the grosgrain ribbon across the top is a touch gauche!).

Decisions, decisions...

BirdofSydney wrote: So if I understand, the pairs with no rubber underneath have a more substantial and resilient rope sole?

I´m afraid that those pairs with rubber underneath are not espadrilles. Plain jute sole and canvas upper must be.
Espadrilles are supposed to be inexpensive slippers (even those hand-made) and are meant to be more or less discardable, so I wouldn't worry too much about resiliency. IMO the Castañer ones are overpriced but they look good, are sturdy and will stand pavement use beyond just one season at the beach. Do not let them get wet, though.

I used some Castañer suede espadrilles this summer in France and was very happy with the comfort levels and resiliency. They are rubber-based soles which helped me when riding a bike. I bought them from Mr. Porter and probably paid over the odds for them, nevertheless they're still perfectly serviceable and ready for another summer of abuse next year. I wouldn't classify them as disposable.

There is an outfit called "Toms" that were big news with my youngest and her friends a few years ago; espie based design theme but really made for the younger market, with great Eco/CSR underpinnings. Nice business model if you can take a "humble" product like an espadrille and turn it into a mini cult.