Gaziano & Girling of Foster & Sons

[YellowSamurai]

Anyone who has used Gaziano & Girling bespoke services, were you satisfied with the fit? If you had to choose between Foster and Sons or Tony Gaziano for a full brogue, who would you choose and why? Thank you in advance for your response.

[luk-cha]

hi

i have use G&G for 2 comission the reasult you can see here in the threads below, some people beleive G&G to be over long or even snouty - i dont! my bespoke G&G's are the same length as my RTW Vass F last. some of the snoutiness that can come accross in the pictures is becase the BS samples are IIRC 8D and the outer side has a very long line which helps elongate the foot and make for a very elegant shoe IMO esp if you are between a size UK 7-9

the fit is incredable they fit like a second skin and when i come to remove them there is a nice "POPPING" sound due to the vacume, i like a snug fit - mine didn't need any breaking in from the off and with my black Adelaides on the second wearing i wore them for about 18 hours without any discomfort.

i have been to all the other makers in London while i were wearing my G&G's and nonbody said anything thing negative about them fit or constuction wise.

i have also vistied F&S too, i really wanted to like them because of the smaples on the "cobblers website" but i was put off by their over aggressive sales attitude which i have never had whilst visiting Cleverley's (or expirance with G&G), which would be my second choice of shoe makers from the UK

for me i am a happy G&G customer and have 2 more pairs pending hopefully will be ready by the mid summer

if the house DNA of G&G's are appealing then you wont be disapointed as for F&S i think you should make a visit and decide for yourself

[jklu]

I have also had two pairs made by G&G, with a third in progress. They fit great. My second pair, in particular, is incredible - comfortably snug all around without a hint of tightness. Better than the very good bespoke shoes I have from a couple other makers.

All three are built on different shapes, a somewhat pointed toe, a chisel, and now a classic round. The first two are more stylized than what I have seen from Foster (and other London bespoke shoemakers), but not too extreme. One thing I notice is that the toeboxes are lower than usual, which give the lasts a swept-back look, for lack of a better phrase. I like it but it's not common. I haven' seen the round yet.

Personally I envision the ideal full brogue as on a classic round toe last. It may be that Foster are more accustomed to making such a shape. I have no experience with them, aside from admiring their work in photographs. Tony Gaziano is very accommodating and a great guy to work with. Also, his shoes are finished beautifully, particularly on sleek city shoes. This may or may not be important to you for a full brogue.

If you have an idea of what you want, you should discuss it with both firms and go with whatever feels right. I doubt you'll make a "mistake" choosing between the two: Tony will make a great shoe and I have no reason to believe Foster won't.

[culverwood]

My experience is the reverse of jklu and luk-cha in that my bespoke shoes are by Fosters and my experience of G&G is only with their MTO range.

I do not know where you live but if you are in London, Fosters will be more convenient as their workshop is above the shop and fully manned whereas G&G only have a by appointment system and their workshop is near Northampton. If you are in the Far East both travel there and Emiko Matsuda who I think is probably Foster's best maker does that journey.

I am sure both companies would make you very good product and I am one of those who from personal experience would say that the G& G shoe is more elongated "fashionable" and the Fosters is more classical though in no sense "blobby".



The fit of my G&Gs are not as good as good as my Fosters but that is not a fair comparison as they are only MTO.

Do not be put off by the sales staff downstairs in the Fosters shop they are only RTW based and Emiko, Micky, Emma or Simon will be who you deal with for bespoke and they are very easy to get along with. I am not sure if Terry Moore has finally retired yet, he has been part time for a few years now.

Chose either company and you will have a very fine shoe.

[YellowSamurai]

Thank you all very much. Exactly what I was looking for.

[misterjase]

can someone advise how the standard of RTW shoes from Foster & Son compare to the standard of RTW shoes from Edward Green.

[culverwood]

Their RTW shoes are mostly C&J made to a variety of different standards/grades depending on the shoe or boot. I have shoes I suspect to be benchgrade and boots which are handgrade in C&J terms.

They do sell EG made shoes too as this recent e-mail shows.

"Until now, our customers have had to wait for a Fosters shoe made by Edward Green to be delivered on special order. Now several of these very desirable lines are included in our own collection, and we have a limited supply already in stock.

We have selected the 88 last to give a timeless elegance to the Cap and Full Brogue Oxfords, and the 888 last with a sharper profile for our Semi-Brogue and 2 tie Derby. Our Cambridge and single buckled Monks are on the 606.

We are sure these shoes will get an enthusiastic reception and look forward to showing them to you. Prices are from £525.00 to £565.00."

[misterjase]

That is a disappointment that Foster & Son do not bother to make themselves. I had hoped to get a RTW shoe with a last by Terry Moore. I guess the main game of Foster & Son is bespoke.

[Bishop of Briggs]

Cheaney also makes RTW shoes for Foster & Sons.

[rjman]

That is a disappointment that Foster & Son do not bother to make themselves. I had hoped to get a RTW shoe with a last by Terry Moore. I guess the main game of Foster & Son is bespoke.

Very few bespoke shoemakers also make their own RTW, and those that do (Lobb Paris, C&J Paris) generally have very little relation between the RTW and the bespoke. Foster's reoffering the 88 last from EG is a boon to those who crave a classic EG last shape which has been unused in their archives for years.

[Will]

I saw one of the new EG models when I was in the shop a couple weeks ago. It's a three tie blucher with a great shape.

Unfortunately for many of us, the only way to buy the shoes is to go to Jermyn Street as they will not have resellers.