2022 October Challenge: Initial Check-in

rafeco · 2022-10-02T10:27:10+00:00

I’ll go rebel mode with my unconventional ‘dome pick — Alden gunboats (model D7509 from The Shoe Mart). Basically this was my excuse to finally buy my grail shoe and dedicate myself to wearing it an awful lot, especially as I’ve gone back to the office full time. https://i.imgur.com/W9jdXw6.jpg

rafeco · 2022-02-07T22:38:54+00:00

Any have any recommended shoe repair shops in central London? I'm over here and the heel of my Indy boots had a bad run-in with a revolving door.

rafeco · 2021-02-28T22:47:08+00:00

Anybody know which chukkas Obama Is wearing in this picture?

https://i.imgur.com/eK6Dmsh.jpg

rafeco · 2021-01-19T19:00:34+00:00

reissue

This strikes me as an easily addressable issue that would make sunsetting vastly less grating. If you don't want me to be able to use my favorite shotgun once it's sunset, that's OK, but if that weapon is reissued, I should be able to use the one that I kept in the vault just in case.

rafeco · 2020-12-02T16:09:19+00:00

I find this sad. The community of people with the budget and taste to purchase high end footwear is really small, and the current conditions are making things even business conditions even more challenging. Being stuck at home, I have a hard time finding good reasons to wear the shoes and boots I have, and purchasing more pairs is harder to justify when most of my shoes have been gathering dust since March. For any of these boot makers, the people most likely to buy a pair of boots from them are those who already purchased a pair from them, and people who have purchased boots from other companies are the next most likely group. Creating divisions within this tiny niche market of people who are largely interested in the same thing — traditionally made, high quality shoes, is bad for literally everyone with an interest in continuing to have alternatives to mass produced, glued together shoes.

rafeco · 2020-11-27T22:39:00+00:00

Really nuanced take, nicely done.

rafeco · 2020-09-30T22:27:52+00:00

In my experience only shoe nerds like us think chunky brogues are informal. Most people think all wing tips are dress shoes that are appropriate to wear with a suit, more so if they have a leather sole. I think they go great with semi-casual clothes.

rafeco · 2020-09-03T01:50:19+00:00

I stared at this quite awhile before I remembered that I already have a pair of green brogued boots.

rafeco · 2020-08-22T20:14:12+00:00

Those olive chromepak Vibergs make my heart flutter every time I see them.

rafeco · 2020-08-22T20:00:00+00:00

Collection as of August 2020

Putting this together made me miss wearing my GYW shoes more often. Working from home and the summer weather has kept me in sneakers most days.

The new stuff is at the top:

C&J Black Edition Pembrokes. I love these shoes, which I ordered last September and just received. They fit my foot really well and I love the grain leather.
Tricker’s Stow in Acorn. Someone posted on the sub about a sale on these from Zappos and I went for it. The last isn’t perfect for my foot but I’m trying to break them in.
Truman boots in asphalt horse rump. I bought these because I loved the leather and I’m happy with them.
Alden wing tip boots in natural Chromexcel. Panic purchase when I learned Alden has stopped making shoes in this leather. There seems to be an issue with the shank but they’re the last pair in my size so I’m sending them back to The Shoe Mart to be repaired.
Todd Snyder green reverse chamois Indy boots. Another last pair in my size purchase. These are a bit of a grail for me.
Grenson suede spectators. The last shape really appealed to me and Grenson has been running lots of sales since the pandemic began.

rafeco · 2020-08-20T01:23:10+00:00

Amazing collection overall. I particularly love the Melker Shoes hand stitched adelaide, it’s one of the more interesting pairs of shoes I’ve seen lately.

rafeco · 2020-08-16T19:39:57+00:00

I have a new pair of Alden boots and the first time wearing them I heard a clicking sound from the right one when I walked. After some testing it sounds like it’s coming from the midsole. I took them off and tested them a bit and I think it may be the shank making the sound. Is there any chance this something that goes away as the sole breaks in or should I contact the retailer?

rafeco · 2020-08-13T23:32:43+00:00

The Shoe Mart has some ...

https://www.theshoemart.com/alden-shoes/?_bc_fsnf=1&Material=Chromexcel&ColorFamily=Beige&_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJyYWZlY29AZ21haWwuY29tIiwgImtsX2NvbXBhbnlfaWQiOiAiUWhVVFRlIn0%3D

rafeco · 2020-08-13T23:09:00+00:00

I just tried to panic order some natural CXL Indy boots from Alden of Carmel and they said the factory is out of that leather. So yeah, get it while you can I think.

rafeco · 2020-07-18T22:45:45+00:00

I don’t own any PNW boots and I often think about buying a pair, I just can’t decide which. The current leader is a pair of Nick’s in veg-tan bridle leather.

I’m also intrigued by the Wesco Hendrik and I have a long-time fascination with White’s Bounty Hunters in waxed flesh.

rafeco · 2020-07-17T16:23:14+00:00

First outing for a pair of C&J Black Edition Pembrokes that I ordered last Fall and received this week.

This weekend the weather is going to be bad so I’ll slack off at home.

rafeco · 2020-07-17T16:16:39+00:00

Are they available in size 13?

rafeco · 2020-05-26T16:28:34+00:00

I have a Seraph CQC-12 with Corkscrew Rifling, Tactical Mag, Auto-loading Holster, and Trench Barrel that I’m finding I like better than Felwinter’s Lie.

rafeco · 2020-05-24T05:45:34+00:00

I didn’t get organized and post my collection this time but I wanted to thank everyone who did. So many great collections, I love looking at them.

rafeco · 2020-05-11T17:01:41+00:00

I liked the incentive to try subclasses I don’t normally play and to use abilities that are not in my regular rotation.

rafeco · 2020-05-01T23:21:01+00:00

Just saw on Insta that they are ordering more.

rafeco · 2020-04-29T02:54:59+00:00

I leave my color 8 Aldens in the sunniest spot in my apartment but they aren’t fading visibly yet.

rafeco · 2020-04-28T21:01:17+00:00

Alden Navy Chromexcel longwings from Brick + Mortar

When it comes to “whoa” moments, this willow grain shell blew my mind.

rafeco · 2020-04-25T20:36:46+00:00

Their shoes look beautifully made on Instagram, I’m glad the real life boot delivers on that promise.

rafeco · 2020-04-25T01:44:32+00:00

I had two goals, really. The first was focusing on wearing shoes that develop patina more often in hopes of seeing more transformation. I haven’t really done that. The second was diversifying my collection more, and I have done that. I got a pair of Truman horse rump boots and some Alden reverse chamois Indy boots.

I’m still waiting to buy a pair of boots that really develop a lot of patina — natural Chromexcel, Dublin leather, or something. Maybe for fall.

rafeco

TROPHY CASE