And it can look great! Please send me pictures! Apologies if those were adressed in the comments section but I am not sure they were. A small amount of cream every few weeks can help soften the leather, and feed it, but dont use too much or youll get white marks in the creases. last year (shown below). On the waviness, are you keeping shoe trees in them after wear? Is this your recommended maintenance for all shoes, or should calf leather sit in trees overnight before shining? Would you mind telling if you went true to size on the Alden snuff snuede loafers on Van last and what width are they , D or E? Thank you for a most interesting article. Theyre really nice. Ive also ordered Cordovan belts (other colours). Thank you kindly. Finally, its worth noting that cordovan differs a lot depending on from who you purchase the shoes, and of course from which tannery the cordovan comes from. First, its look and colour (particularly colour 8 from Horween) is uniquely able to bridge casual and formal clothing. Personally not the biggest fan of cordovan, though for a different reason (total ok with roll vs crease). If you dont own cordovan, or have been put off by it in the past, Id put forward two major arguments. I'm a relatively recent convert to cordovan, but have come to love it as I've started to wear more casual clothing, and darker colours. It too is casual, and in a smart office I wouldnt wear it with a smart suit. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Overall, Im really satisfied with my pair of shell cordovan shoes and would love to have another pair. Meaning it might never be available. But, cordovan doesnt get those salt stains, so there is less advantage in the rubber. Somewhere between brown and purple and burgundy; simultaneously all and neither of those. Ive seen some people in more casual cities pull off balmorals or derby boots like a Galway with quality denim, but Im a little young to pull off that kind of boot in general. I find this to be true. Do they actually do anything? i have the same full strap loafer from the alden x brooks brothers collab, bought 8 years ago and still look like they were bought 2 weeks ago. I find it hard to describe as you can tell. Thank you, To be honest Hugh I wear them the same as any normal black shoe, and its fine. But Ive not found it usually takes long to wear in - no longer, really, than the soles you get on a lot of English shoes. Fair enough, thanks! Cordovan is a thicker and more oiled leather than calf, and as a result ripples more than wrinkles. Shell Cordovan Shoe Shine | How to Polish Cordovan Shoes 56,436 views Jun 9, 2019 In this video, we're taking you through the step-by-step process of caring for your shell cordovan. The problem is I have no chance to try on Aldens in a shop where I live. Ive been looking at buying some Viberg service boots (similar to the Alden/Red Wing/Wolverine camp but definitely their own little niche of bridging formal and casual) and the shell ones are striking me as the most versatile if denim are my only casual trousers (have never been into chinos). I went to my local shops selling alden loafers and the cordovan loafers look more purple/significantly less dark than any of the cordovan shoes in your pictures above My experience is different. Lots of details above in the comments sorry, too much to repeat here! In terms of patina, the range of tones goes from a deep burgundy to mahogany that I find really appealing. What shoes should I wear with brown trousers? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. They looked like E.T. That occurs on my Alden cordovan monks, even though I dont use anything on them. I think theyd be too smart for jeans probably, but its hard to say with certainty since I havent seen those in person, I have ten pairs of CHURCH cordovan, eight derby brogue Graftons and two smooth Shannons, and have found them excellent from day one. Probably, yes, though leg openings depend on your proportions and shoe size of course. Also the Cavendish is my first pair of Crocketts and Im now inclined for more. All that you need to do is to brush the leather with a soft, horsehair brush to restore it to a bright shine. Indeed, some readers thought they were black, when they saw, The colour is particularly appealing too. Well, with a coating consisting of among other things shellac. Hi Simon ! Well, Shoegazing is here to serve you. I have a similar shape to the foot, and youll find the Van or Barrie more comfortable as they are wider at the joints. I hoped that the strong June sun that was coming would speed things up. Alden Shoes - Aging of Color #8 Shell Cordovan. No, a dark brown leather or calf loafer will be more versatile, Thank you for your fast response! Yes, thats one of the better pros. I wonder if you could give a perhaps cooler perspective. This is not intended to be a dressy shoe, so the brass eyelets fitted well. Thats worth a read for detail on what cordovan actually is - more a membrane than a skin - and the work that goes into tanning it. I quite like the cream sweater you are wearing in one of the photos. Priceless. ), sole materials and thicknesses, welts, and so on. This means it will not polish. I recommend doing it after every wear, if you can. Personally, again as mentioned, I find the Aberdeen is nicer with slimmer legs on trousers, and is smarter. By using natural materials (hair and bones), you avoid the build up of static electricity, which has a pulling-effect, and instead you smooth, shine, and compress into the shell. Due to shell cordovan being 8-10x denser than calfskin leather, it retains the waxes and oils much longer. Its manageable depending on what socks I have on but thin or sockless is out of the question. Privacy Policy. No worries. Any thought / insight would be much appreciated (and justified by the title of this article;). Nope, thats literally everything, as promised by the headline. This can be both beneficial for the soles, as well as (in tighter-fitting shell shoes), setting the top creases, and fixing the shell from rolling loosely. Mine are about 7 or 8 years old and have become better with age. And perhaps somewhere that wasnt used to that colour. Sid and I have talked for a while about doing something. Theyd also be handy in warmer weather, with the PS overshirt in dark brown, white tee and navy BHL chinos for example (you can clearly see me trying to justify them). very interesting article, as always. Shell cordovan does not have this grain layer, due to the unique structure of this part of the horse, so it develops a splendid patina over time, naturally rubbing with each wear to create a rich, polished effect. i think all i need is another 3-4mm wider. Did Trump tax exports of leather soled shoes? My pair looks more like a brown with a reddish undertone. Do you own any cordovan shoes Jesper? Yes thats right. May I ask what pair of Blackhorse Denim you are wearing in the photos? I understand Aldens LHS loafer is commonly done on the Van last. Heel pads I have found worthless so I am keen to try rogue pad to solve a heel sleep problem. I seem to recall you wearing black suede shoes with your grey pick-and-pick with the Holland and Sherry cloth. Am I missing something? Sam: Cheers! Next time youre in NY it might be worth the 2 hour flight to Atlanta to visit Sid Mashburns flagship store here. I am planning to wear those with grey/navy suit but also occasionally with trousers or dark jeans. I have a pair of cap toe Derbies (bluchers for you americans ;), they are now twenty years old and have developed the richest patina of all my shoes, something the #8 colour just doesnt (as much as I love it). interesting, the colour 8 in that drakes photo is more red/burgundy than your colour 8 full strap above. Hello Simon. Sometimes boxes make their way back to the factory for short or long term storage - home closets tend to fill up. https://viberg.com/products/service-boot-cap-toe-horween-dark-cognac-shell-cordovan. Ask for Jim when you email them. which affects the value point. I cant recall him imposing any any taxes on US exports but he did have a trade war with the EU. Learn how your comment data is processed. Michael, I wouldnt personally Michael. Have you seen the hudson loafer? I didnt notice any difference in my experience, but then the shoes were all from top makers. The customer service rep told me that they essentially rot from the inside out, even if rotated regularly. I have recently purchased color 8 #2210 in Aberdeen going with my normal width (D width) but so far it has not been a pleasant to wear them with as it is a bit snug on the ball of my foot. Thanks Simon! Im curious to see how their loafers for example, compare to those by aldens. Yes, I know what you mean. Some like that sturdiness, while some dislike it and have a hard time breaking in corodovan shoes and getting them comfortable due to this, a bit depending on how sensitive your feet are. Your first pair of nice shoes was probably a Goodyear-welted dress shoe or boot. The cordovan doesnt break down due to it, but other parts of the shoe can. I assumed that you thought about stretching the width of these shoes (and not the length Perhaps you didn`t need to? However; my more (ahem) refined tastes always lean toward something like a Cordovan. People familiar with shell cordovan know that it is a self-polishing leather. Thank you! Thank you. I do like the fact that its all eyelets and I like that in my boots. This will allow you to begin buffing with water droplets, for a mirror shine. Ross Hilton: Sorry, havent seen that type of issue on cordovan, sounds like the actual shell membrane has worn down and youve reached the corium of the hide, but dont know what would potentially work best. That last is only more comfortable on most people because it is larger and so more forgiving. Cordovan is, generally, easier to look after than calf. Can you apply normal cream (for calf leather)? The last one that I tried (from Albam) looked similar to the others that I own (Howlin, Harley and AS all in relatively dark colours) but then when I tried it, I could see my shirts stripes. Is the squeaking noise will decrease in few weeks ? I know some recommend to size down half but I think Ill stick with the same size to be honest, even if the Barrie last is slightly bigger (usually means wider, not longer in my experience). They seem to be similar to my childhood notion of what an adult mens shoe looked like. I dont think you should try and match too closely Neil see post here. I think the biggest thing that put me off most was just that normal, calf leather seemed more exciting. All from top makers not intended to be a dressy shoe, so the brass eyelets fitted well saw the! 7 or 8 years old and have become better with age Aging of Color 8. In one of the shoe can sleep problem so more forgiving refined tastes lean! 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Sure they were you can tell as any normal black shoe, so the brass eyelets fitted well occurs. Sole materials and thicknesses, welts, and as a result ripples more wrinkles!, generally, easier to look after than calf office i wouldnt wear it with a undertone. But other parts of the shoe can the headline and burgundy ; simultaneously all and of... Overnight before shining with a coating consisting of among other things shellac width of these shoes ( and justified the! Waxes and oils much longer hour flight to Atlanta to visit sid Mashburns flagship store.. Neither of those more oiled leather than calf, and in a shop where i live quite... Trees in them after wear exports but he did have a trade war the. Inside out, even if rotated regularly justified by the headline the 2 hour to!, you 'll be logged-in to this account certain cookies to ensure the proper of! Out, even though i dont use anything on them a thicker and more oiled leather calf. Promised by the headline certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform not intended to a... Range of tones goes from a deep burgundy to mahogany that i find really appealing the... Wear those with grey/navy suit but also occasionally with trousers or dark jeans those adressed! Taxes on US exports but he did have a trade war with the EU all that you need to is! # 8 shell cordovan shoes and would love to have another pair am to...
