The London Lounge

Has any member acquaintance with the firm of Rudolf Scheer u. Soehne, in Vienna? While cruising the 'Net some time ago, I came across the firm's attractive but not particularly detailled bilingual website, http://www.scheer.at/ . I've been haunted by the handsome shoes and boots ever since.

Rudolf Scheer & Söhne is to the Eastern parts of Central Europe what John Lobb is to the Western part. They must have had more kings and emperors on their customer’s list than you and I had hot meals.

(Japanese magazine) LAST vol. 3 (pages 62 - 65) has a feature on them (which of course I cannot read) but the pictures show a place, more like a monastery than a workshop where people in white lab coats look as they were about to perform brain surgery. They probably only talk in hushed voices there.

Their prices are considerably higher than what other Austrian shoemakers charge. No, I have never had any dealings with them, but when I am in Vienna, I certainly will pay them a visit.

It’s amazing, Vienna still has a lot of firms making bespoke shoes, far more than London.

Thanks, Rolf. I'd be grateful for your analysis of the quality of construction (as well, of course, for your impressions of design) after your visit to Scheer.

bengal-stripe wrote: (Japanese magazine) LAST vol. 3 (pages 62 - 65) has a feature on them (which of course I cannot read) but the pictures show a place, more like a monastery than a workshop where people in white lab coats look as they were about to perform brain surgery.

Tell the truth: Do you find yourself considering taking Japanese classes so that you can read these shoe magazines and websites? I know I do.

It’s amazing, Vienna still has a lot of firms making bespoke shoes, far more than London.

I have been surprised by this also. It is remarkable that there are several (at least 3 or 4) bespoke shoemakers in a medium-sized city, albeit one that used to rule over large parts of Europe.

I also suspect that the Viennese makers mostly cater to a local clientele. Perhaps also some customers from Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Do you have any sense of whether this is right, Bengal? That would be very different from the London shoemakers, with significant US and Japanese business and relatively fewer local customers.

bengal-stripe wrote:It’s amazing, Vienna still has a lot of firms making bespoke shoes, far more than London.

Fascinating. That stiffens my resolve to spend this Christmas in Vienna. Thank you.

I probably can list you about a dozen firms in Vienna who produce bespoke shoes. Some of them are really old-fashioned cobblers who do repairs as well as bespoke shoes.

I haven’t been to Vienna for many years (well before I has any interest in shoes) so I cannot form any opinions about the quality on offer. Interesting that all (apart from Scheer) seem to favour the very solid Austro/Hungarian style while Scheer sets themselves totally apart by going for that very elegant look on a banana last.

Why can bespoke shoemakers survive in Vienna when they can’t elsewhere? I have no idea; maybe Vienna is more old-fashioned, in the best possible way. Can you think of another town that still has glove shops, where they will make up bespoke gloves to your requirements?

Whittaker, have a good time.

how do I buy last magazine?

edhayes wrote:how do I buy last magazine?

You can order through Kinokuniya bookstore in Manhattan (10 W 49th btwn 5th & 6th Aves). Volume 2 seems impossible to get a hold of while Vol 1 is hard to get but not impossible. Vols 3-5 should be easily available, and Vol 6, Last goes to USA, should be out soon. You can see the covers here:
http://www.esquire.co.jp/last/index.html

Thanks, Murali, for giving me the means to learn more about Scheer. Let's see: when I'm in New York later this month, I'll try to buy a copy of Volume 3 of Last; then I'll try to cajol one of my Nippo-Argentine acquaintances to translate a photocopy of the article into Spanish; then I'll beg Esquire for permission to post in the Lounge my translation of the Spanish translation of the Japanese original of information probably originally gathered in either German or English. Or I could just give up and satisfy my own selfish desires by droolling over the pictures and incomprehensible text in private!

Hmm. It might be easier to go directly to Scheer. Any thought of inviting the managing director to visit the Lounge?

RWS wrote: Hmm. It might be easier to go directly to Scheer. Any thought of inviting the managing director to visit the Lounge?

I think that that would be an excellent idea.

bengal-stripe wrote:. . . . No, I have never had any dealings with [Scheer] . . . , but when I am in Vienna, I certainly will pay them a visit. . . .

My continued fascination with Scheer prompts me to ask, selfishly, if you've had opportunity to visit Vienna within the past few months, Rolf (and, if you did visit, whether you went by Rudolf Scheer u. Soehne).

fantastic shoes on the web page

RWS wrote:

bengal-stripe wrote: if you've had opportunity to visit Vienna within the past few months, Rolf

No, I haven't been to Vienna yet, but I have a trip booked from May 9th to 13th.
I promise to report here.

Rolf

RWS wrote:My continued fascination with Scheer prompts me to ask, selfishly, if you've had opportunity to visit Vienna within the past few months, Rolf (and, if you did visit, whether you went by Rudolf Scheer u. Soehne).

If you wish to visit Rudolf Scheer, be sure not to make your Viennese trip a Christmas holiday. Scheer remains resolutely closed during that break. I managed to stand forlornly outside a shuttered store front but got no further. Thankfully, Knize opposite was satisfactory compensation.