The Seven Shoe Wardrobe

[j44ke]

Since you already have a range of "sensible" colours, it might be an opportunity to consider a different colour like, as you mentioned, green.

Green shoes go with everything.

[Chik]

Green shoes go with everything.

Haha, yeah. Now that you mention it, I did have a pair of mid-green suede lazyman. Not sure what happened to that pair... They weren't exactly versatile, but whenever I wore them, they attracted comment.

I have a pair of desert boots in dark green Horween Chromexcel that I abuse and wear without giving much thought to whether they go with what I'm wearing above the feet. :)

[j44ke]

Haha, yeah. Now that you mention it, I did have a pair of mid-green suede lazyman. Not sure what happened to that pair... They weren't exactly versatile, but whenever I wore them, they attracted comment.

I have a pair of desert boots in dark green Horween Chromexcel that I abuse and wear without giving much thought to whether they go with what I'm wearing above the feet. :)

No seriously - I think you can actually get a color that is so off-the-charts that it is its own statement. So what you wear it with doesn't matter so much. I used to have a bright yellow pair of wingtips (some Italian brand I bought in London) that were so crazy I could wear them with whatever. But my day job is not so conservative.

[mnoble485]

OT but, Jorn, how do you manage clothes between city, country and now Paris?

Mike

[Chik]

No seriously - I think you can actually get a color that is so off-the-charts that it is its own statement. So what you wear it with doesn't matter so much. I used to have a bright yellow pair of wingtips (some Italian brand I bought in London) that were so crazy I could wear them with whatever. But my day job is not so conservative.

Yeah, like my white DM boots, cherry red country boots, Yves Klein blue suede chukka espadrille boots, or the navy/white/claret penny loafers... ;)

[j44ke]

OT but, Jorn, how do you manage clothes between city, country and now Paris?

Mike

There’s no way I will be stylish enough in either NYC or Paris, and in Hillsdale, I am just trying to stay warm and not destroy all my clothes. Plus I’m cheap as hell. I just divided up my somewhat compulsively over-sourced collection of rags and hauled it around until it made sense.

Paris: Venetian-style loafers, colorful running shoes, flower-patterned shirts, Capilene t-shirts, lightweight SWRVE pants, many socks, 6 different jacket weights in dark colors, gray cashmere v-neck sweater. A spot of extreme color/pattern, save my feet and manage body temp.

NYC: Whatever in black, gray or white. Low-top hiking shoes. New old whatever.

Hillsdale: SWRVE durable cotton trousers, cotton button shirts, Capilene long underwear, wool socks, 4 seasons of hiking boots, nearly one of each coat/jacket from the Patagonia catalog, lots of wool sweaters, many gloves, t-shirts until they fall apart, orange stuff for hunting season.

I did buy a Patagonia Black Hole bag in carry-on size and checked size. And a Rapha backpack that holds my computer and two days worth of clothes. Those were more important than the clothes.

[72gmc]

Your pop of color/pattern could also be a watch band or some overly clever glasses frames ...

I'm wishing I'd purchased a pair of these when they were available in my size. Pop of color with a gearhead subtext, might lead to fun conversations.

Screen Shot 2023-02-13 at 11.59.54 AM.jpg

[NYCfixie]

Well, If Jorn/@j44ke (or anyone else) needs new or barely-worn brown bluchers and/or Derbys in 9.5D (or 10D dress shoes) I have you covered. They do not fit me so I have them listed for sale on eBay. Rather than give eBay its 15%, I am happy to give 10% off eBay prices to any VSalon-ers with 5% Donation to VSalon on completed sale.


Contact me here or at eBay: https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_profile/open-4-sale



*** Apparently I have a difficult foot shape to fit: high arch, high instep, wide forefoot, and narrow heel which leaves me with only 2 models of shoes that actually fit:
Best fit ever: Alden Modified Last in 8.5EE (Modified is their orthopedic last that fits less than 5% of the population).
Good but not great fit: Carmina Detroit Last in 8.5-UK/9E-US

[j44ke]

Your pop of color/pattern could also be a watch band or some overly clever glasses frames ...

I'm wishing I'd purchased a pair of these when they were available in my size. Pop of color with a gearhead subtext, might lead to fun conversations.

Screen Shot 2023-02-13 at 11.59.54 AM.jpg

Like 'em! I got these ones. Not quite as loud as I wanted but in my size. And comfortable.

[j44ke]

Well, If Jorn/@j44ke (or anyone else) needs new or barely-worn brown bluchers and/or Derbys in 9.5D (or 10D dress shoes) I have you covered. They do not fit me so I have them listed for sale on eBay. Rather than give eBay its 15%, I am happy to give 10% off eBay prices to any VSalon-ers with 5% Donation to VSalon on completed sale.


Contact me here or at eBay: https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_profile/open-4-sale

...

*** Apparently I have a difficult foot shape to fit: high arch, high instep, wide forefoot, and narrow heel which leaves me with only 2 models of shoes that actually fit:
Best fit ever: Alden Modified Last in 8.5EE (Modified is their orthopedic last that fits less than 5% of the population).
Good but not great fit: Carmina Detroit Last in 8.5-UK/9E-US

Thanks. You are making me feel better about my collection of shoes that don't fit.

[Chik]

Slightly OT but not really: Why do many Americans wear brand new white sneakers when on vacation, both in the US and abroad? Is there some rule about vacation footwear?

[Chik]

Well, If Jorn/@j44ke (or anyone else) needs new or barely-worn brown bluchers and/or Derbys in 9.5D (or 10D dress shoes) I have you covered. They do not fit me so I have them listed for sale on eBay. Rather than give eBay its 15%, I am happy to give 10% off eBay prices to any VSalon-ers with 5% Donation to VSalon on completed sale.


Contact me here or at eBay: https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_profile/open-4-sale



*** Apparently I have a difficult foot shape to fit: high arch, high instep, wide forefoot, and narrow heel which leaves me with only 2 models of shoes that actually fit:
Best fit ever: Alden Modified Last in 8.5EE (Modified is their orthopedic last that fits less than 5% of the population).
Good but not great fit: Carmina Detroit Last in 8.5-UK/9E-US

eBay takes 15%? Since when?

[NYCfixie]

eBay takes 15%? Since when?

They increase their fees almost every year and especially since they got rid of PayPal.
The final value fee is now charged on the selling price + shipping + tax. Yes, they even charge the fee on the tax collected.

eBay Selling Fees Chart


12.9% Most categories
14.6% Books & Magazines & Movies
15.0% Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
15.0% Jewelry & Watches

[Chik]

They increase their fees almost every year and especially since they got rid of PayPal.
The final value fee is now charged on the selling price + shipping + tax. Yes, they even charge the fee on the tax collected.

eBay Selling Fees Chart


12.9% Most categories
14.6% Books & Magazines & Movies
15.0% Clothing, Shoes & Accessories
15.0% Jewelry & Watches

Wow. No wonder their revenues went down during Covid whilst the e-commerce sector enjoyed a massive bump.

[echappist]

Slightly OT but not really: Why do many Americans wear brand new white sneakers when on vacation, both in the US and abroad? Is there some rule about vacation footwear?

by white sneakers, do you mean something similar to Stan Smith and Ontisuka Tiger? White/ off-white shoes with accenting, fashion sneakers now but were once used for competition purposes?




Or do you mean this type of atrocity?

[j44ke]

Slightly OT but not really: Why do many Americans wear brand new white sneakers when on vacation, both in the US and abroad? Is there some rule about vacation footwear?

Bright white sneakers with high "rand" around the sole is a fashion thing. On women, often accompanied by some sort of mid-diameter straight-legged tailored pants hemmed just above the ankle. Not sure who started it - Veja seems pretty prevalent. The shoes from Golden Goose that look either very or slightly worn/faded/yellowed seem to be kind of the opposite direction.

Resort casual vacation wear.

There was a funky-hip shoe repair shop in Paris that did both cleaning and distressing of white sneakers.

Also saw quite a few of these kind of over-wrought athleisure shoes from couture brands. These are from Lanvin.

[Chik]

by white sneakers, do you mean something similar to Stan Smith and Ontisuka Tiger? White/ off-white shoes with accenting, fashion sneakers now but were once used for competition purposes?




Or do you mean this type of atrocity?

Something in the spirit of the last one.

[Chik]

Bright white sneakers with high "rand" around the sole is a fashion thing. On women, often accompanied by some sort of mid-diameter straight-legged tailored pants hemmed just above the ankle. Not sure who started it - Veja seems pretty prevalent. The shoes from Golden Goose that look either very or slightly worn/faded/yellowed seem to be kind of the opposite direction.

Resort casual vacation wear.

There was a funky-hip shoe repair shop in Paris that did both cleaning and distressing of white sneakers.

Also saw quite a few of these kind of over-wrought athleisure shoes from couture brands. These are from Lanvin.

I think Balenciaga are still the reigning emperors of that stuff. Cristobal is vomiting whilst spinning in his grave.

Hermès got into the ugly dad sneaker thing a couple of years ago, but I wonder how successful that line was.

[j44ke]

I think Balenciaga are still the reigning emperors of that stuff. Cristobal is vomiting whilst spinning in his grave.

Hermès got into the ugly dad sneaker thing a couple of years ago, but I wonder how successful that line was.

As long as New Balance exists, there will be ugly dad sneakers. Normal core, etc.

[echappist]

if it's any "consolation", throngs of people wear those clunky sneakers on a daily basis, too

perhaps it's to be expected. With >60% of the population overweight or obese, any additional bit of cushioning helps when there's a lot of walking involved.