Friday, April 1, 2011

WINGS AND LACES

FIRST OF ALL I HATE (!) BREAKING IN NEW SHOES AND OFTEN THINK OF THE STEVE MARTIN SHORT STORY "CRUEL SHOES" (ABOUT A PARTICULARLY HORRIFIC PAIR) WHEN SPORTING SOME BLISTER FAR FROM HOME IN THE FIRST STAGES OF THE BREAK IN. SO, IN THE PAST YEAR I STARTED BUYING USED SHOES, MOSTLY WING TIPS. A COUPLE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT BUYING USED SHOES IS OFTEN YOU CAN FIND INCREDIBLE DEALS ON WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE VERY EXPENSIVE SHOES AND THEY HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN FOR YOU, SOMETIMES FOR DECADES.
BRING IT ON.

FLORSHEIM IMPERIALS CIRCA 60'S
NO NAME W/ GLOVE LEATHER INTERIOR
DEXTER CIRCA 70'S 
(RESOLED WITH DEAD STOCK CAT'S PAW)

PS. WANT TO GUARANTEE THESE BEAUTIES STAY TIED. CHANGE ALL YOUR LACES OVER TO WAX COTTON. A VERY GOOD $2.00 INVESTMENT. THIS IS MY FAVORITE BRAND FROM MY BROOKLYN LOCAL.





10 comments:

james at 10engines said...

yup.
rehab projects just do not get old. waiting on some 40y/o boots back from the cobbler. excessive post next week haha.

Dennis said...

Might I add a video on lacing shoes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcyw_U7iv50

and another link for a good video with some advice on the knot you use on your shoes. You may be useing a grany knot instead of a reef knot.
http://putthison.com/post/535994284/episode-2-shoes

Anonymous said...

great laces, just got a pair for my longwings. if only they made them in a few subtle color..

Scary said...

Love 'em all. Have any good suggestions as to where to look for wingtips in NYC? Many thanks.

PA2Florida said...

I used to wear vintage wingtips in high school (1991-1994) my mother called them "dead mans shoes". Thanks for the great memories!

Anonymous said...

Nice, I keep a pair of black brogues.
What do you wear them with?

JRS said...

Excellent post. I'm the same way - I have a pair of identical Florsheims in brown, a no-name pair of black longwings, and a pair of Florsheim shell longwings. All bought used..err...broken in. I'm going to make an order for new WAXED laces today.

I really enjoy your blog - keep up the great work.

Matthew Hranek said...

I wear these with just about everything from jeans (mostly)
to my wool flannel suit. Check Olaf's in Brooklyn for a good edit of vintage for sale.

Anonymous said...

Great post. Just make sure you disinfect the interiors (alcohol will do). I wear beautiful Ferragamos (that I'd otherwise never be able to afford) because I will wear gently used shoes.

Anonymous said...

Excellent point

That first pair of vintage florsheim's look exactly like a pair I have, they have to be undoubtedly the same year as mine, looks identical.

Also, I'm around Bond St. M/W/F/ and not sure about T/TR...anywhere sounds great.