The London Lounge

I am thinking of adding a pair of shoes to my wardrobe that is somewhat out of the mainstream. I have been thinking of a pair of linen and leather spectators. What are some favorite exotic shoes. What are your opinions on ostrich, croc et al?

I believe that if you have a largely classic Neopolitan or Italian wardrobe, that you don't want exotic shoe leathers.

I haven't seen these leathers used in Italy and frankly, with beautifully made and cut coats and suits, I think these leathers would detract from the conservative elegance of classic Italian style.

Serious Italian dressers lean toward the English style shoes - beautifully made, conservative, classic and your clothing style would be best served by focusing on those shoe styles and materials.

Upper-

That has always been my feeling as well. I find skins to be a bit flashy. This is why I was thinking about a pair of these

What do you think?

I find this shoe very elegant. I too am not a fan of croc and ostrich, in a shoes and belts.

Those are good looking shoes. No doubt.

I think that they would definitely work in SF but I don't think that they would play in Napoli.

Infact, I was struck by the very conservative style in Naples and Rome and by the preference for subtle , even muted colors.

It seems that the elegant aficionados there distinguish themselves through wonderful craftsmanship, design and quality put together in a harmonious way where no single item speaks too loudly.

The result is altogether outstanding, as you know.

I personally dislike wingtip specs. The spectator type shoe that I have been thinking of doing is something like this:


Basically, this one with a shorter apron and on a more elegant last:


As for exotics... black sharkskin is wonderful in a loafer...

iammatt wrote:Upper-
What do you think?

I have the Grenson Masterpiece version of that shoe, made for Paul Stuart. I think they are a beautiful summer weekend suit shoe option.

[quote="T4phage"]I personally dislike wingtip specs. The spectator type shoe that I have been thinking of doing is something like this:

quote]

How 'bout Green's club shoe? believe that it's called Windsor.

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/gallery/album14/DSCF0002

(couldn;t get the impage to copy)

DDM

DD MacDonald wrote:
How 'bout Green's club shoe? believe that it's called Windsor.

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/gallery/album14/DSCF0002

(couldn;t get the impage to copy)

DDM

I don't particularly like a spectator to be brogued. The Windsor is nice, but I would not do it as a spec.

I agree with what's been said so far. Personally, I find ostrich to be particularly unattractive whether for shoes or belts. I have seen photos of bespoke edward green in alligator, however, and they were quite stunning with their bevelled waist and chiselled toe. They were definitely flashy though.

I would agree that most exotics are too flashy for gentlemen of taste. One of the worst is pangolin (scaley anteater). I have never seen a pair of shoes in pangolin, but it is quite commonly used in boots. There are a few exceptions. I would be interested in something in sharkskin for a casual/"country" shoe. I have considerable experience with it in belts and holsters, and it does indeed wear like iron (to use an overworked phrase). I have seen some shoes in iguana that didn't look half-bad. I know that Edward Green offers frogskin as an option. I have a holster in frogskin, and the colors and texture were very subtle and handsome. I don't know whether Green uses the same sort of frogskin, but a pair of shoes in that might be well worth considering (if I were considerably more affluent). Tony Gaziano has stated that all the Green exotics are laminated with kid.

Frog whole-cuts-- now there's something you don't see every day.

Green also carries Irish Salmon hides. No word on how to polish them, or whether they're actually waterproof.

Perhaps something along these lines from Altan, Paris:

T4phage wrote:I personally dislike wingtip specs. The spectator type shoe that I have been thinking of doing is something like this:


Basically, this one with a shorter apron and on a more elegant last:


As for exotics... black sharkskin is wonderful in a loafer...

Wow T4. Those are awesome. Seeing those makes my qualms about spectator shoes go away. I like those much more than the ones I posted. Thanks for the inspiration.

iammatt wrote: What are your opinions on ostrich, croc et al?

I like and own croc loafers, though for some reason I don't like croc in a lace up shoe.