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One of the absolute most popular type of men’s shoes at the moment are various kinds of soft loafers. Most brands offer some version of this nowadays, cemented ones are probably most common, but you’ll also find versions with constructions like Blake, Bologna, moccasin construction or more special ones as these here from Bridlen, which are reverse Goodyear.
With relatively simple things one can create something completely unique, even if the base is still highly traditional both in terms of design and construction. This shoe here by Stefano Bemer is a great example of this.
Every now and then you stumble over shoe models which you just don’t understand why they aren’t more common. This vintage balmoral split toe derby is one such model, made some 50 years ago by the American company Hanover, part of their premium LB Sheppard Signature range.
My latest new pair is these lovely bespoke wholecuts made in a nubuck alligator, from the Italian maker Calzoleria Carlino. It’s my kind of exotic shoe, relatively toned down and versatile. Here’s a bunch of photos of the pair. May serve as inspiration, since the company currently run their annual campaign where you can order MTO or bespoke (also remotely) in alligator or crocodile leather at no upcharge compared to standard calf.
A few years ago John Lobb Paris collaborated with a gold leaf specialist and created a bespoke sample which had the whole bottom covered in 24 karat gold leaf. I’ve shown them before, but they are certainly worth displaying again, both due to the lovely look and the skilled craftsmanship.
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There’s been many thousands of iterations of the plain toe derby made throughout the years, and of these I’ve seen hundreds. A lot of lovely ones of course. But question is if this one here by last year’s shoemaking world champion Ken Hishinuma of Khish the Work isn’t the one to rule them all, in my book.
Feels like it was just a few days ago that I wrote this post last year, but here we are again. A year is about to end, a new one is coming. A post from my new year’s celebration preparations, and a brief summary of what have been and an look into the future.
Christmas is a time for traditions, and one such is sharing the yearly shoe Christmas photo here on Shoegazing. This year me and my wife have gathered large parts of both our families in our house here in Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast, so it’s been hectic but lovely (we Swedes celebrate on Christmas eve). On my feet I’ve had my bespoke Yohei Fukuda special adelaide oxfords.
The amount of brands doing classic shoes have grown significantly in recent years, after several decades of decline. This means that also more niche types get more and more options. Brands doing retro styled stuff with spade soles, double rows of stitching, and things like that. Now enthusiasts who like these styles have much more to choose from than finding old original vintage shoes.
More or less all sports shoes today are various versions of sneakers. It makes sense, they have been for a long time, and when it comes to function and performance it’s suitable. With golf shoes, it’s a different thing though, it’s essentially walking shoes. Yet almost all golf shoes today are made similarly to other sports shoes, instead of how they were made up until the 80’s or so with proper Goodyear welted constructions. There are exceptions though, luckily.
