Kilt hose observations

[mbhandy]

That's something we can agree on. The shoes look good, but not $2500 good! Plus, why would you want 200 year old leather?

they are broke-in????

There are a lot of overpriced things in the world and any one can purchase them if money is no object. To spend $2500 on 200 year old leather shoes, where is my mink oil can?

What ever blows your Kilt UP
I myself have not won the Lottery.
(most likely would not buy them if I had won the Lottery.)

MrBill

[Jack Daw]

It's not worth $2,500 to me just to honestly say that I'm wearing 200-year-old leather.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

It's not worth $2,500 to me just to honestly say that I'm wearing 200-year-old leather.

As with anything "bespoke", someone should only do it to please himself. Telling people "Look, I'm wearing custom shoes made from 200 year old reindeer hide!" is, quite simply, vulgar. Are the $2500 shoes worth it? It depends on whether or not the buyer can keep his mouth shut.

[Panache]

As with anything "bespoke", someone should only do it to please himself. Telling people "Look, I'm wearing custom shoes made from 200 year old reindeer hide!" is, quite simply, vulgar. Are the $2500 shoes worth it? It depends on whether or not the buyer can keep his mouth shut.

I am in complete agreement with M. of M. bragging is simply vulgar.

Buying something simply to brag about it is petty at best.

Cheers

Jamie

[Nanook]

First, those shoes really don't impress me. They look like something Bobby Jones might have worn, albeit with little steel spikes on the bottom.

They look fine---- I actually have some shoes with little steel spokes on the bottom that Bobby Jones would have viewed as retro.

Second, from personal experience I can tell you all that 200 year old reindeer leather shoes don't shine as well as 30 year old calf-skin leather shoes.

Shine is not the point of Russian leather. Its a functional leather that is both tough and extremely supple. Its typically without used rough side out. Reindeer leather, I think, is not the best but 200 years ago it was (and still is) quite a novelty.

One thing to keep in mind about the price of those shoes is that the use of the old Russian leather is secondary--- and really just a novelty. That's the price of (not just) Cleverley's bespoke shoes (in some special leathers it can run more than even twice that). If you consider that ready-to-wear calfskin Edward Greens (and all the other brands that are selling Greens under their own exclusive labels) are now in the $1000 USD league and that made-to-order (not bespoke!) are in the $1600+ USD range.. Lobb charges even more than Cleverley... Gaziano & Girling is somewhere in between..
Its just what fine (not just English) shoes cost these days. In Western Europe (France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland) its not much less. For less expensive shoes these days one must look to Eastern Europe--- either one of the Western brands having their shoes made in Romania or some of the good makers in Hungry (such as Voss) or Poland--- or American RTW (Alden's are one of the best "deals" going at around $600 USD for a nice pair in shell cordovan).

[Nanook]

As with anything "bespoke", someone should only do it to please himself. Telling people "Look, I'm wearing custom shoes made from 200 year old reindeer hide!" is, quite simply, vulgar. Are the $2500 shoes worth it? It depends on whether or not the buyer can keep his mouth shut.

Those shoes are not worth (just novely for "show and tell") it but do bespoke shoes make sense? To those that can't get a properly fitting shoe or have special needs. YES. I know a bus driver whose health insurance even pays for his bespoke orthopedic shoes (costing more than $1500 USD a pair). Most of us don't need bespoke as long as there are still companies making shoes in a wide enough range of widths and lengths.. Among the ready-to-wear shoes.. Is $500 or $600 USD or $1000 USD "vulgur"? If so.. Could one not suggest the same (if not more so) for the $600 USD kilt? Are bespoke suits or jackets vulgar? Proper correctly fitting shoes are healthier (leg and back pains, swollen feet and all kinds of foot ailments are typically from wearing ill-fitting and poorly made footwear) and can last decades (and in some leathers even improve).

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Having bespoke clothes isn't vulgar.

Telling everyone you have bespoke clothes is vulgar.

[Highland Logan]

I do agree that have fine things is not wrong, and that braging to belittle other is. But to be clear, bespoke is a one off object. It is to have something made special from no pattern, where "made to messure" would be the term that would apply to the $2000 shoes, or anything else that is made only on order, but where the base pattern exsits.

Frank

[Nanook]

But to be clear, bespoke is a one off object.

Typically, at most, in smallest detail.

It is to have something made special from no pattern,

There is always a pattern. The pattern is just adjusted to the needs and demands of the customer. Made to order, by contrast, is really ready-to-wear but with the ability to choose both design and materials as well as some add-on features. Custom tailored, by contrast, chooses from the existing program of ready-to-wear and adjusts it to fit the customer. Most tailors would agree that for most people a well made custom tailored suit will fit better and be superior to most bespoke jackets or suits--- just lacking in some of the quirks and idiosyncrasies (like the senseless functioning button sleeves on coats). Bespoke, after all, says typically nothing about the workmanship, construction and inner materials. Significant is also the cut. How many bespoke tailors are en-par with what Kiton, Brioni, Attolini or Oxxford have produced in "ready-to-wear"?

where "made to messure" would be the term that would apply to the $2000 shoes, or anything else that is made only on order, but where the base pattern exsits.

With bespoke (in contrast to made-to-order) shoes a peronalized last is created--- based upon an existing pattern but built around the specifics of the customer foot. Increasingly bespoke shoes (in orthopedic applications) use computer generated lasts (cut using CNC machines). The fine bespoke makers use wood, lathes and hand-tools but that's also part of the mystique and allure. Since shoe fit is philosophical there are no absolutes of fit only general concepts of ill-fit. In the 1920s several shoemakers took to using X-rays to examine the foot in shoe to judge fit.

[Mark Keeney]

Back to Kilt hose - All kilt hose look thin and only barely turn over when they are stretched around my huge calfs. I have knitted a pair myself and they look good but without buying hanc knitted they all look thin.