Alternatives to the Luffield and Philip?
00 Aussie
Posts: 50MI6 Agent
Hi Guys
I am looking for reasonably priced alternatives to both the Luffield and Philip shoes. I want to wear these with a suit on a daily basis and I am pretty tough on shoes. So ideally, I’d like to find something under the USD$200 mark. I know this has been covered before, but some of the options previously suggested don’t seem to still be available or are still outside the budget I would prefer to work to.
Any suggestions?
I am looking for reasonably priced alternatives to both the Luffield and Philip shoes. I want to wear these with a suit on a daily basis and I am pretty tough on shoes. So ideally, I’d like to find something under the USD$200 mark. I know this has been covered before, but some of the options previously suggested don’t seem to still be available or are still outside the budget I would prefer to work to.
Any suggestions?
Comments
http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/product-info.php?brandID=7&catID=22&shoeID=1981&selectedSizeID=0&selectedFitID=0
The only alternative to the Luffields I know of are Magnoli's Royale shoes:
http://magnolic.ipower.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=127&osCsid=1df2e1491934f83434815f6ed67c1818
NMS
My advice is never aim high if you are going for a daily basis - esp in work where you may do a lot of running abut or commuting. Even with a good suit there is no shame in getting cheaper shoes as long as they don't look cheap. This is level 2 out of four grades. Something smart but not detrimental to the budget or the look if they get a bit worn down over time.
Level 1 - Face it, these are used ot be wrecked.
- Hillwalking boots, trainers / sneakers for the gym or jogging, cycling etc. These are shoes that wil be punished. Cheap and cheerful, but be careful to get ones that are good for your feet! (You can be too cheap!)
Level 2 - Smart but workmanlike shoes.
- See second paragraph.
Level 3 - Going out smarter, semi regular basis.
- Dressier nicer shoes that are used less often. A nice Meal out, theatre, diner parties, any occasion where you wear one of your best suits. OK for work if its a day where you need to impress as a one off. Classy shoes you care about.
Level 4 - All out formal
- Anything Black tie / White Tie / Morning Dress. Only patent shoes will do here. You will probably get the least use of these, but the occasions you do make up for it.
Firstly I have to disagree with Thunderbird 2's point. No offence T-bird but I think cheaply made and designed shoes are NEVER okay. As matters of style, hygiene and health there is in my opinion a lot of shame in getting cheaper shoes. In fact the suit is actually much less important than the shoe.
We nearly all take our feet for granted, they work hard whatever you do for work and play, so look after them, good materials and good design in a shoe means your feet breath well and are supported correctly.
You should never wear your work shoes two days in a row if you can at all help it. Give them a day off to evaporate sweat. So a couple of pairs helps the wardrobe and the old feet out.
Sorry, now to your point, I think you need great handmade shoes but without the "By Royal Appointment" budget.
I personally have a few pairs of Church's shoes and have also had Loake shoes in fact. But for general use I suggest you take a look at Cheaneys.
They have been making first class, great value handmade shoes since 1886. They are actually owned by Church's now since being bought out in 1964. Mind you the whole group is now owned by Prada, although of course they are still bench made in Northamptonshire in the UK, the pinnacle for men's shoes. In their "Essentials" collection you should find exactly what you are looking for.
http://www.cheaney.co.uk/
Also if looked after properly, handmade shoes are an investment not just in your feet's fitness as well as style, but I have found with correct resoling and care my shoes honestly work out cheaper in the long run. For example they last longer than four pairs of cheap shoes a quarter of the price.
Good luck in your search. But honestly if you decide to go "handmade" such as Cheaney, Loake or Church's shoes I am very confident you will never regret it. Even though you go hard, they do too. Just make sure they are resoled with respect by a good cobbler.
There is an added bonus - every woman I have ever fancied has spotted good shoes on a guy a mile away. If you are single 00 Aussie, trust me get some decent footwear, it'll give you a head start over 99% of blokes out there. Could even say you'll be a "shoe in" when you're on the pull. Of course even if you're married it's always good to have the ladies check us out.
By the way I am not in the footwear industry so no I am not on commission for any of these companies :007) I just want fellow Bond fans to be smart, happy and healthy.... and in my experience Cheaney may solve your problem.
Alec 006 -{ -{ -{ -{ -{ -{
Oscar Wilde
Thanks for the suggestion of Cheaneys, I will check them out. Is there any particular style of Cheaneys you would recommend? I must admit that I have never owned a pair of handmade shoes, so maybe I need to try them before deciding they are not cost effective.
They are all good. Once you get your size and width sorted out.
Check out the link. http://www.cheaney.co.uk/productrange.asp?range=4
Actually they do sell their seconds too, which will only be slight blemishes to the leather, the sort of thing you do the first time you wear a shoe yourself anyway. As do Loake and Church. Mind you I am not sure where to get them outside of the UK. I used to pop to the factory shop when I am in the UK.
Those Loakes that nms75 linked too look pretty good.
I liked Thunderbird 2's point about width, so try to find somewhere local to try the various brands on and get your size right, then maybe buy online? The table he put together was good. I do think that whatever use we are buying for and brand of shoe we buy, you generally get what you pay for.
I read once that many Rolex customers look upon their watch as a "reward" to themselves, something they are "worth". That's how I have come to think of wearing good shoes. Even day to day it'll be Cheaney, Loake, Jeffrey West or Church shoes for me. Even though my job certainly doesn't merit them, my feet do B-)
Unless of course I am going for a run.
Oscar Wilde
No offense taken. In fact I completely agree! To clarify - I meant cheaper as in something affordable, not cheap as in utter crap! My shoes are all around £35 - £50 on average except ones reduced in Sales to that level. - They are good quality and I make sure they are good for my feet. I also agree on the hygine and rotating use aspect. (True of any garment I guess.)
I just couldn''t justify paying hundreds of pounds for footwear. Its not practical for me.
Closest I have come across so far is the Loake Harrow which I think is pretty close.....plus it gets bonus points for being British made and from a good quality shoemaker. What do people think?
I have five fairs of Loake shoes / boots and have to admit they are excellent quality. Not as good as Church's but equal to that of Cheaney or Barker (in my humble opinion) yet more affordable!
The alternative are not bad if you are only looking for the same general style rather than an exact copy (which probebly doesn't exist anyway).
Just one thing though - arn't the Luffield shoes actually very dark brown rather than black?
NMS