GJ Cleverley - Grained Cordovan Full brogue for the countryside

I am aware that the English shoemakers are not very keen of Cordovan, "crup" as it is called in the UK. Cordovan is the American bang. But ...yes, when I saw this "crup" grained full brogue from GJ Cleverley, I go Wow!

I almost passed it but then, a better look at the hide, punching details and overall look of the shoe and colour then I was interested. It is a very interesting shoe, first and foremost grained Cordovan hide, then the punching and brogueing, which might look excessive and too much. But we have to go back in the day when brogues had a purpose in the Highlands. 

Will not go into details, now this is a perfect shoe for the country side with tweeds, will perhaps go hand in hand with a city suit, but can not imagine how? 

 Another thing distinctive with the shoe is the punching /brogue has a contrast to the grain and texture of the "crup" not to mention the white welting stitches which matches the brogue/punching. Oh, almost forgot not using blind eyelets, thus giving the shoe a vintage look. Difficult polishing this shoe, unless keeping with natural polish.

The beauty of going bespoke, where the commissioner of the shoe goes wild but keeps the traditions and knows what is classic, elegant and timeless. Nothing fancy just bespoke and from GJ Cleverley. Well done and no more talk.

GJ Cleverley rendition of full brogue with extra punching made of grained Crup/cordovan

Photos sourced from GJ Cleverley

GJ Cleverley - De Redé tassel loafer

For inspiration for the sunny days, I have sampled one of my favourite tassel loafers by London based GJ Cleverley house, from their Anthony Cleverley line, the Baron De Redé tassel loafer. The below rendition is different from the original De Redé tassel loafer, as the tassel is braided(platted) all the way. To add to the beauty, this shoe was constructed with a blind welt, thus the result being the upper stitched so close to the edge of the sole, so it becomes invisible to the wearer once the shoes aren put on. 
Masterly, so aristocratic, stylish and nobly classic elegant look. A touch and feel of sophistication for the Summer. Wow! Hmm...just simple and stunning loafer. 

Anthony Cleverley line, De Redé all the way braided tassel loafer in suede.

Photos sourced from GJ Cleverley

GJ Cleverley - Edwardian button shoe with side gusset in heavy hide

For the day I have sampled a very interesting shoe, not seen on a daily basis around town, a button shoe with side gussets made of very heavy weight hide. The Balmoral button boot is rare, but the shoe version is almost instinct, then add a side gusset to it, it is becomes so individual and rare as rare can get. However a gent commissioned a button shoe, with the distinctive GJ Cleverley chisel square toe and then topped it of with a heavy duty hide from elephant. The beauty of this shoe is in the minor details, the design, the adding of the gusset and lastly the hide selection. Ultimate result a beautiful, elegant, classic and timeless shoe. Again GJ Cleverly opened the magic shoe box.

Bespoke buttoned side gusset GJ Cleverley shoe made of of elephant hide

Photos sourced from GJ Cleverley.

GJ Cleverley - Butterfly loafer made of 1786 Russian Reindeer leather

It is Summer and shoe talk it's about loafers, loafers and more loafers in all colours, hides etc. For the day I sampled a very elegant, hardly seen loafer - a butterfly loafer from GJ Cleverley made of the exquisite 1786 Russian Reindeer leather in black...nothing fancy, colourful, just old simple plain black colour.  The beauty of this shoe lies in the design, squared chisel toe and, yes guessed right the unmistakable GJ Cleverley square chisel toe and from the salvaged 1786 Russian hide. Yes, not crocodile or alligator.

Going bespoke need not be peacock and bling and here "I am thing", just kept simple, elegant and classic. Wow what a shoe!

Butterfly loafer in 1786 Russian Reindeer hide. A beauty

Photos sourced from GJ Cleverley

GJ Cleverley - a bespoke half brogue

Sometimes day dreaming is healthy for the body and mind. I keep dreaming that I have unlimited resources and I am paying the GJ Cleverley a visit each month or every second to commission a pair, two or three and have shoe talk. The GJ Cleverley establishment maybe conservative, but on the other hand very innovative, if I am not wrong they were the first to utilise hides like Hippo and Elephant, still keeping it at a base for the likes of me to say WoW!
The every day man may not notice this pair, but the shoe connoisseur will, nothing about this shoe "screaming here I am, look" but refined and almost anonymous yet elegant, classical, beautiful and timeless. 

The sampled footwear is another simple shoe, in brown but......that GJ Cleverley signature and DNA. It leaves one breathless. Well done.

GJ Cleverley brown semi brogue laced Oxford, Cleverley suspicious square toe. 

Photos sourced from GJ Cleverley