Quote Originally Posted by ThistleDown View Post
Just a quick note here. GBP2500 over 40 years is GBP62.50 per year or, roughly USD or CAD100. Is there a single member reading this who does not spend at least that much each and every year on his footwear? Perhaps what is far more important, at the end of the year, how many of us are still wearing our shoes of yesteryear? Should we not admire Wales for his ability to in comfort and familiarity wear shoes he had made 20 and 30 years ago
I agree, it makes good sense. I have the same philosophy. I purchase the best I can afford, and use shoe trees along with regular polishings to keep them at their best. Dress shoes also get a rubber traction sole added to the leather sole. The longest I was able to get out of a pair of dress shoes, was a pair of Ballys, they lasted twenty years. I suspect the current two pair in my closet will last longer than that, since I am no longer in the suit and tie world.

This is a great thread. Prince Charles is an excellent example of a kilted gentleman. It would have been nice to study something like this back when I first started wearing the kilt. It would have given more of a direction to my purchases (and probably saved money to boot.)