An Adelaide Oxford by GJ Cleverley RTW Adelaide well polished

For the day, I have sampled from my own GJ Cleverley "RTW" ready to wear collection, an Adelaide as renditioned by the GJ Cleverley house. The depicted shoe is on the Crockett & Jones 337 last, which is a last from Crockett and Jones hand graded selection. The 337 last is designed by Master Dimitri Gomez in Paris, who also runs a bespoke operation. So what? You would say, okay. Cutting a long story short, I got these about three years ago and they came in antique chestnut colour. But over the years, I have been polishing correctly, but inappropriately (regards to colour selection), the shoes ended in a much dark colour almost black burgundy & with no movement in colour, and I was not pleased. 
So had to do something. Finally got some kind of bleaching product manufactured in Sweden, recommended by Rolf Hansson's son (Malmö) and tried the stuff out. End result, got the shoe back to a colour I liked and here is the result. Apologies for the many pictures of the shoe.

 A GJ Cleverley Adelaide Oxford from the ready to wear offer, nicely polished.

Photos sourced from me

Crockett and Jones "Clifford" in tan and polishing skills

Some of you may remember that I blogged about the Crockett and Jones "Clifford" in tan about a year ago here. At that time I was trying out my polishing skills, now a year gone and I am still working on the pair. I humbly think that my skills are getting better, but far from the Masters. I want to thank all of the patina Masters, Grand Dukes, Artist, Designers who with their creative patina artisanship works/creations have inspired me. 

The Crockett and Jones "Clifford" in tan colour, well polished. Am I getting there?

Photos sourced from me

Happy Easter - time to pack up the Winter Balmoral boots

It looks like I have to pack up the Winter boots for storage and unpack the Spring/Summer shoes. The Winter boots to be stored away until next Winter are from Crockett and Jones (Avebury) and Gaziano & Girling (Canterbury) both are Balmoral boots.

With the two boots to be packed I wish all of you A Happy Easter and hope that you enjoy the seasonal holidays.

Gaziano and Girling Balmoral boot (Canterbury) in black (leather) and brown suede, punched cap toe on the GG06 last (round last)

Crockett and Jones Avebury Balmoral boot in Chestnut, punched cap toe, 337 last, chiselled soft square.

All photos sourced from me.

Crockett and Jones - Spring offers 2013

Looking for a pair of suede loafers to replace my worn down Crockett and Jones Cavendish in Polo suede, I came to some lovely suede offerings by Crockett and Jones of Northampton, England. 

The Crockett and Jones Cavendish tassel loafer in Polo suede has been my companion for at least six to seven Summers and was my favourite summer footwear. Now that is worn down and ready for the trash bin, I lament it. Sentiment, sentiment and crocodile tears. Okay, let us see what Crockett and Jones has to offer this Spring/Summer.

Chukka boot in Purple, Ocean, Bottle Green and Mushroom suede. Wow! Lets bring the linen suits out for the Summer and add some colour with these babies. 

A three tier Derby in mid blue suede. My mouth is watering already.

 An old friend the Cavendish tassel loafer in Polo Suede and ....

Cavendish in Bottle Green. Wow! The apron in white stitching. Uh!

All photos sourced from Crockett and Jones

The 337 Last in various designs

Spring is supposed to be here but is it still very cold and according to the weather forecast, the Winter will still have a grip on us for another week or so. Last weekend and partially this weekend I was polishing my shoes and getting the Winter stock ready for storage and the Spring/Summer stock to be taken out. To my surprise I realised that I have a number of shoes on the 337 last (Crockett & Jones) from three different English shoemakers. The 337 Last is a soft square chisel toe from the Crockett & Jones Hand grade collection.

So I had to do a line up of these shoes, all in the 337 last which was designed by Master Dimitri Gomez for Crockett and Jones. However GJ Cleverley & WS Foster are producing shoes based on the 337 last.  

The 337 Last "usual suspect" line up. From the top, a semi brogue punched cap toe in brown buckskin suede, from GJ Cleverley. Black punched cap toe side gusset ("Jack") from GJ Cleverley. Antique chestnut punched cap toe oxford ("Westbury") from WS Foster and Son. Black stitched cap toe oxford ("Audley") from Crockett and Jones, burgundy punched cap toe side gusset ("Jack") from GJ Cleverley and lastly tan full brogue oxford ("Clifford") from Crockett & Jones. You may remember the Clifford from here.

Not included in the 337 line up below is the "Avebury" Balmoral boot from CJ and the "Thornham" full brogue from WS Foster both in antique chestnut.

 All photos sourced from myself.

HRH Prince Charles at Crockett and Jones 2013

Earlier in the year His Royal Highness Prince Charles paid a royal visit to Northampton, England the heart of English shoe industry and visited the Crockett and Jones shoe company. 
What I understand from the press is that HRH Prince Charles was fitted on the Belgrave (pictured below) which is on the 337 Last, however modified to fit his taste and liking. 
If I have correctly observed HRH Prince Charles prefers the more rounded toe for his Oxford shoes, probably the reason for the modification. The Belgrave is on the 337 last which is soft squared and chiseled, perhaps it was a bit too fashion forward for HRH. 
My favourite last from C and J as a matter of fact.

 The Belgrave on the 337 last after a good treatment. Two below pictures sourced from Ethandesu blog. Nice shine done by Ethan.

HRH Prince Charles exchanging a word or two with Northampton dignitaries. Note that HRH Prince Charles is wearing a double breasted POW (Prince of Wales suit) paired with a pocket square and the obligatory tie.  The colour combination of the suit, shirt and pocket square are in perfect harmony. No wonder HRH has been several times nominated England's best dressed man.

 HRH Prince Charles chatting with the shoemakers at Crockett and Jones.

Photos sourced from Crockett and Jones, and Ethandesu blog

Crockett and Jones - Boots for the Winter snow and slug

I am aware that leather soled high end boots may not be appropriate for heavy snow and sluggish roads. So a gent will need a tough no non-sense taking boot for the current weather, which brings me to the two offerings made by Crockett and Jones of Northampton.

Both boots in my humble opinion will take a gent home dry and safe and they are very stylish and elegant as one expects from Crockett and Jones. So enjoy this snow tanks. The one boot comes with Dainite sole and the other with Ridgedway soles. So we will have a grip on the snow. Will we? 

Side view of the Islay boot in scotch grained calf hide

 Top view of the Islay

 Details of scotch grain and brogueing

 Dainite sole of the Islay boot

 The oil tanned Wicklow boot (Norwegian Split Toe), looks very robust

Side view of the Wicklow

Close up view of the Wicklow 

Another side view of the Wicklow

 Ridgedway sole of the Wicklow

All photos sourced from Crockett and Jones