I'm in the process of negotiating to buy this pair of Church's. About RM700 for this moderately used pair.





What do you people think?

A new pair is 2k+ ler. No trees.

This is a very top-of-the-line shoe.

Wouldn't it depend more on your budget? I don't know about AS, J&M or Cheaney but so far I'm happy with my 2 pairs of Loakes. Maybe 1 black brogue, 1 black captoe and 1 chocolate brown brogue?

BTW, does this look like a phallic symbol!??

I cannot comment about Johnston & Murphy but can certainly do so for the rest of them. Loake would be the cheapest among the brands that you listed other than Johnston & Murphy that I am unaware of. Quality-wise, it does not measure up to AF and Cheaney. Their lower end lines (L1 and Loake England) are all constructed using corrected grain leathers which is rather stiff and little too shiny initially. Even then, they are perfectly wearable as everyday shoes. I personally own a pair each from those lines that I mentioned and they serve the purpose as my school/ going out/ interview shoes. Loake do have a line of calf skin shoes as well. They are not as supple as higher end (C&J, Church's) calf skins but at they are priced very reasonably in my opinion. I prefer Cheaney to Alfred Sargent although my preferences are probably skewed by the fact that I see more Cheaneys than Alfred Sargents. If the rumours are true, Cheaney shoes are made out of leathers that fail to pass Church's quality controls. This means that they are actually really good leathers other than perhaps very minor flaws that a plabian like me cannot tell. But I shall refrain from comparing Cheaney to Church's as it's like comparing a 3 series to a 6 series BMW. So, my conclusion is that, if budget is a huge consideration, go for Loake. Otherwise, Cheaney is what I recommend.

Get a pair of tan semi-brogue Oxfords, a pair of black derby and a pair of black single-monkstrap!

Johnston & Murphy, saw them in outlet shoes starting prices at ~US$49. alot of them are made in China/India.
kinda like Cole Hann.
not tried them, can't comment.

which UK brand?

J&M is expensive here < 600RM!
I am thinking of A Testoni.. Italian.. anyone have experience with them?
something like the design below.

whats SF approve?
J&M here is sure expensive, US is like everyday brand

Those chain stitches are coming apart.

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Added on August 15, 2010, 10:34 pmShoes are nice. I like.

Looks good, Bordeaux is a unique colour. Did you get a Bordeaux wax/cream with it?

I don't think they have Bordeaux. Just clear, tan, mid brown, brown and black.

Suede I hardly care for. Sometimes vacuum, sometimes brush with the crepe brush. I have a impregnator for it that I applied once when new.

The workmanship is not in contention, it's having to deal with the bespectacle dragon at the counter.

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Added on August 16, 2010, 9:19 pm

Saphirs are great. They really bring life to the shoes.
I would use the Renovateur to soften & protect the leather, cream in the correct color & finish off the shine with Saphir's Pate de Luxe to give it that extra shine.

Might be cheaper if you order them on line .

There's a shop in Sri Hartamas that specializes in leather restoration. I'm having an old pair of shoes restored there.

Feel free to pm me if you are interested in the source for both

hahahaha.....i was going to do that...before reading your reply.....talk about..dejavu...

By the way....why no one bother talking about Ferragamo shoes....the most comfortable shoes for me....beside the prada sneakers.....and no doubt that Church shoes...is one hell of gorgeous looking shoes.....just a teaser..hugo boss shoes is taboo to be discussed here......

i just placed an order for half a dozen of Rochester Woodard red cedar wood shoe trees. full cedar hook heel, split toe with automatic spreader adjustment.

i shall reveal further once they hit our shore.

nice trousers. what material and brand?

What else have you been splurging on?

Must be one of the limited runs-I think his sunglasses are cool ( Raf , not Fred )