[Closed] Smart shoes

Russell & Bromely
Jones

A decent local place... Oxford is full of them.

I was going to suggest Tommy Ball's, but it looks like I'm 4 years too late http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/2300276.famous_blackburn_shoe_store_tommy_balls_closes/

😆

A shoe shop. You'll recognise the shop you need as it will be full of shoes for sale in lots of different styles. If they don't have a prticular style you like, there will be other shops that have other styles.

Unless I'm missing something, it's really not that difficult.

IHN, I have bought shoes before thanks.

Please don't troll on my thread.

[b]Smart shoes[/b]

A shoe shop. You'll recognise the shop you need as it will be full of shoes for sale in lots of different styles. If they don't have a prticular style you like, there will be other shops that have other styles.

Unless I'm missing something, it's really not that difficult.

You're not familiar with Preston are you? 🙄

Obviously Church's or such like are very nice but, and I'm sure the purists will disagree, you can do a whole lot worse than Next or some of the better stuff rom Debenhams.

[serious] Take the family up to the Lakes at the weekend and stop by K Village in Kendal - you should get sorted at the Clark's factory shop in there [/serious]

I'm sorry, it wasn't meant to be a troll, but it just seems like a strange request. It's not like you're after anything specialist, it's kind of like asking for tips on somewhere to buy fruit, or books.

Anyway, apologies, and I like Jones The Bootmaker if it's any help.

Ihn you've obviously not reached that point where your whole existence is dictated by the forum.
My wifes birthday and Christmas present were suggestions from on here. My holiday,seatpost and god knows what else,all officially STW approved.
Come on, join the fun.

it's kind of like asking for tips on somewhere to buy fruit

yes...?

[i]Ihn you've obviously not reached that point where your whole existence is dictated by the forum[/i]

No, not quite, but there've been some close calls. At times of weakness I just ask myself this question:

"Do you want to be Hora?"

Works every time 🙂

Well I can see how it's a strange request, maybe I should clarify. Previous bad experiences include:

Shoes that feel comfy in the shop but make my shins hurt like hell after walking half a mile

Shoes that are fairly expensive but fall to bits readily

Endless shops containing nothing but trendy stupid pointy clown shoes which I really hate

I hate the whole experience of shopping for smart shoes, mostly because they are mostly so frickin ugly.

Take the family up to the Lakes at the weekend and stop by K Village in Kendal - you should get sorted at the Clark's factory shop in there

That is actually a pretty good idea. Got a free day on Saturday and nice to have an excuse to see some mountains. I heart mountains and so does my three year old 🙂

Clarks shoes work fine for me.

mostly because they are mostly so frickin ugly

But you bought DM's! Loads of Loakes, Churchs, Cheaneys etc are beautiful things.

IHN - answer the ****ing banana question? Where should I purchase?

DMs were considered a default plain choice at the time.

And they weren't £150 either.

[i]IHN - answer the **** banana question? Where should I purchase?[/i]

A shop selling fruit, either a greengrocers or a supermarket. You'll recognise the shop you need as it will be full of fruit and vegetables (and in the case of a supermarket, other things too) for sale in lots of different types and sizes. If they don't have the particular type or size you like, there will be other shops that have other types and sizes.

Unless I'm missing something, it's really not that difficult. 🙂

Phew I was doing it right all along.

Mol - DMs are ugly. Very ugly.

Not really sure that Clarks shoes are much cop these days. When I were a lad like, they were good, solid, dependable and long lasting. My impression of them these days is that they are just cheaply glued together, far eastern tat. Most cheaper shoes these days seem to be glued together, almost guaranteed to fall apart after a year.

Shuh seems to sell vastly over priced "branded" shoe shaped objects. Soul trader may offer something that will work ok but need to be in sale as they are not the cheapest place to buy. Or decide that £20 - £30 will do for a cheap pair of shoes that you can try and get more than a year's worth of wear out of and go knock yourself out at one of the outlet centres dotted around the country.

Comfort wise its either dms or roamers desert boots for me.

Molgrips - if you'rte still in Preston and want high street - Slaters are good for shoes, big store lots of choice and tend to be slightly cheaper than other places - got my last pair of brogues from there, £130 everywhere, got them at Slaters for £95 - worth a look

Not really sure that Clarks shoes are much cop these days. When I were a lad like, they were good, solid, dependable and long lasting. My impression of them these days is that they are just cheaply glued together, far eastern tat [...]

Yup; haven't been made in the U.K. for about a decade; avoid unless price overcomes judgment.

Endless shops containing nothing but trendy stupid pointy clown shoes which I really hate

I hate the whole experience of shopping for smart shoes, mostly because they are mostly so frickin ugly

This. I gave up and now I just buy a cheap pair from M&S every 6 months or so.

Endless shops containing nothing but trendy stupid pointy clown shoes which I really hate
I hate the whole experience of shopping for smart shoes, mostly because they are mostly so frickin ugly

And another here. I'm 44 FFS, I look bad enough as it is. Adding a pair of comedy shoes is just taking the mickey.

My last work shoe purchase was of a pair of Clarks brogues for around the £70 mark. They're okay I guess. They've lasted almost 2 years so far and haven't fallen apart yet - I do polish* them every day though.

I've previously been one of those types who have bought expensive shoes in the past, having them last a good number of years before replacement. Unfortunately, the arrival of children has tightened my budget somewhat.

*looking at some of the younger generation around here, this is now a seemingly lost art; involving the application of black/brown [i]stuff[/i], followed by vigorous brushing and buffing.

Ta Yoshimi, might try that. Was wondering about a lunchtime trip.

Don't go to Jones, the quality is a joke.

Every day is a bit much with the polishing isn't it freddyg, once every 5 wears or so is plenty surely? To be honest I do it less than that and they still look fine and uppers will last me at least 3 re-soles before looking tatty.

Agree that polishing shoes at all seems to be pretty rare amongst people my age (31) and younger.

Stuey - I was brought up by 'Victorian parents' who thrashed this kind of stuff into me. I may look like a complete shambles most of the time, but at least my shoes are shiny 🙂

I also make sure my kids shoes are polished daily too

Next do a decent range at a decent price.
😉

May not be a great option if you need them right now, but there is a french brand called Bexley who do very solid, good quality shoes, probably equivalent to the top end Loakes, but often a lot cheaper. They only have shops in France, but also do online orders. Worth a look if you're on holiday or dont mind ordering a couple of pairs to find the right size (although I've found them very true to size). They also do brilliant deals in their twice yearly sales.

http://www.bexley.com/Bexley/shoe-EN.htm

[url= http://www.northamptonshireleather.com/pdf/factory-shoe-shop-directory-v2.pdf ]Map and guide[/url]

It might be a bit of a step up for you from DMs, but the Northampton area is unbeatable for proper shoes for men. I was that way with work last week and picked up some Cheaneys for £90 down from £300. Anyone in the 8-10 size range has a huge choice in the Cheaney and Barker shops right now.

Next do a decent range at a decent price.

Though once you look around and realise you've voluntarily entered a Next store, you may want to take a moment and have a little cry to yourself. Don't worry. That's completely natural 😉

What size are you? I've got some almost new black business brogues for sale, size 42, cost £60, accept £30.

JP TODS
Or
HOGANS
Or
WOLVERINE 1000 mile.

What size are you? I've got some [i]almost[/i] new black business brogues for sale, size 42, cost £60, accept £30.

<prude mode/>Eeeeewwwwwwww.... second hand shoes?? </prude mode>

😀

Barker, Loake, Church, Cheaney or Herring shoes. Get made in England ones. Simple.

I'm looking in the £50 category, incidentally, so £300 handmade whatnots are out.

Just saw some lovely brogues in TK Maxx that I'd have snapped up but they were dark brown 🙁

Dark brown is fine.

Didn't look right with my black trousers.

They won't will they cos'

"day is dark brarn"

Should have been light tan at best.

"tuts"

It's open toed slipons then..

They did have tan too in the same shoe. Still not sure, wanted black.

They did have tan too in the same shoe. Still not sure, wanted black.

RACIST!!!

I'm looking in the £50 category, incidentally

So your need for 'smart' is misleading then? You meant 'disposable'.

No, I meant affordable.

This pair of shoes was about £60 and has lasted me 10 years. Take your snobbery elsewhere. I haven't got the money to throw around and even if I did I wouldn't spend it on work shoes.

What the hell do you think you are doing criticising me for having a limited budget? Seriously not impressed.

Oh get over yourself. This is STW. You paid £10 more than you want to pay now, 10 years ago. Inflation etc means your £60 shoes then are probably more than £90 now for the same thing. A bit like complaining that your LX shifter costs more now than it did in 2002.

Get over myself? What does that actually mean?

You think £90 shoes are any better than £50-60 ones (I did say price bracket) in terms of overall quality?

Yes I do. A bit like entry price point for a bike. You get what you pay for in most all things. They will look better and last longer, therefore ending up cheaper for their whole life cost. Then again, it depends what you value.
I prefer to spend a little more on quality so things last longer over cheap and relatively disposable. Clothes, bikes, cars etc. Plenty people buy cheap clothes often - I buy better quality less often - my own anti-consumerism stance I guess.

Then again, it depends what you value.

Currently I value being able to pay my bills and have something on my feet.

I prefer to spend a little more on quality

Me too, but for the next few months I've got very little choice. It is a luxury, you know.

For £50, "on the High St", I'd just go to Next or Debenhams. Plenty of choices of styles at that price and under.

Its always worth spending good money on your shoes and your bed.
If your not in one, you're in the other.

A bit like complaining that your LX shifter costs more now than it did in 2002.

You get what you pay for in most all things.

Except in fashion, where it's utterly not true.

Does a £300 Louis Vitton handbag perform six times better than a £50 one from Mark's? Does it hell.

Shoes can be easily 50% label, in my experience. By which I mean I've tried on shoes that were no better made than shoes at half the price.

Its always worth spending good money on your shoes and your bed.
If your not in one, you're in the other.

Actually most of my time is spent sitting down, where shoes are not a factor 🙂

Does a £300 Louis Vitton handbag perform six times better than a £50 one from Mark's? Does it hell.

Your default shoe choice [i]is[/i] a DM though.

Does a £300 Louis Vitton handbag perform six times better than a £50 one from Mark's? Does it hell.

Hmm Shoes - Get yourself to some of the factory shops in Northampton - they've often got some dirt cheap "seconds" (worn by a model once) type things. There's about 6 of them up there (or down depending on where you are). I don't have oodles of money, but i've made some smart purchases as i believe in looking after your feet - my <cough> 400 quid churches 8 years ago look brand new and have seen a lot of mileage.

I mistakenly bought some casual chelsea boots from Timberland a couple of years ago for about £120 as i though they would last well with the almost daily wear - what a joke they turned out to be, falling apart very quickly (<9months). Have since done some research and invested in some RM Williams, Australian Chelsea/Stockman boots that double as smart and casual with a solid reputation - these can be had from £100 to £300 - mmmmm uber comfy and lovely.

edit forgot how long i've had me Churches

It was, ten years ago. Weren't my favourite shoe, but I couldn't find anythign I liked.

Don - good point, I had not considered that defintion of 'performance' 🙂

Don - good point, I had not considered that defintion of 'performance'

To the OP, irrespective of what i said above, it's what you have available at the time. I agree a lot of the cost in some shoes is branding, but then you also can't argue with Clarkes shoes or the old hush puppies (i had a pair of these that had 2 years constant use and we're like slippers), though lacked the look i needed for work.

LV bags are soooooo 1998..
Chav'ist...init
Would you wear white baggy bell bottomed tracksuit trousers too??

If you seriously turned up at any "event" (including Mayhem or BBB) you would simply and defiantly get locked out.