Saint Crispin's - The New Uno whole cut loafer

Well gents, shoe lovers, shoe snobs and more, it has been a while I touched down on the Viennese (Austria) bespoke shoemaker Saint Crispins. For the day I have sampled a beautiful rendition of a whole cut loafer from SC. I love the texture of the leather, looks like some crusted leather. The patina and the polishing is more reserved, but still the beauty of the shoe can not be ignored. A really nice, elegant and classic rendition of a whole cut loafer from the SC team. Congratulations gents.

The New Uno from Saint Crispins

Photo sourced from Ethan Desu

Grenson - whole cut suede tassel loafer "Marcel"

I had a friendly chat with one of my colleagues over the weekend, who asked me if I only own and blog about "high-end" shoes and clothing, well that was a hard one to swallow. Question is: What is "high-end" and for whom? I know of gents, who would not dream of cashing out for a pair of Crockett and Jones hand grade product(s), then on the opposite I know of others who will not settle for less than a bespoke John Lobb or the like. Depends who the target  audience is. 

So the question is tricky and to some extend not fair. Anyway, for the day I have sampled a whole cut loafer "Marcel" in brown suede from Grenson, a lovely shoe. Currently the "Marcel" is offered in brown, grey and blue suede (which looks very good) and it is below 200 British pounds. A beautiful shoe for the Spring/Summer period.

The Grenson "Marcel" in brown suede

Photos sourced from myself

Bestetti - whole cut brown alligator loafer

For the moment I am only thinking of loafers and only loafers, not sure why. Anyway for the day I sampled this beautiful rendition of a whole cut alligator loafer from Master Riccardo Bestetti, a stunning shoe.

Master Bestetti's rendition of a whole cut loafer made of alligator hide on a chisel square toe. Beautiful shoe. Well executed. 

 The owner of the whole cut alligator loafer wearing his shoes paired with lovely coloured socks. WoW!

Photos sourced from Master Bestetti or Style Forum not sure which of the two.

Yuki Shirahama bespoke shoemaker

For the day I have sampled shoes from Master Yuki Shirahama bespoke shoemaker from Japan, a relatively new comer, established his workshop in 2010, though he has worked with some heavy weights like Koji Suzuki of Spigola and Altan of France amongst others during his shoemaking career.

The samples from Master Yuki Shirahama are depicted below, please enjoy.

Whole cut suede loafer in black.

 

 Chukka in brown suede with cream pipping 

 Calf leather double monk with stitched cap toe 

 Burgundy Chukka with medallion in calf leather

 Three tier Derby in calf and crocodile

 Brown crocodile penny loafer

All photos sourced from Yuki Shirahama

Tomoyuki Watanabe - Bolero Bespoke shoe and bootmaker

As a continuation on the full quest of Japanese bespoke shoe and bootmakers, I bring to you a few creations from the hands of Master Tomoyuki Watanabe aka Bolero Bespoke shoe and bootmaker.  Like all Japanese boot and shoemakers, Master Bolero is attentive and respectful to the art disciplines and traditions of shoemaking, the tiny details that makes a product adorable, stylish, classic and timeless. 

A red whole cut loafer on a round last, worthy the Papal office of Pope Francis.

A brown lizard hide two tier Derby details

The brown lizard two tier Derby in full, chisel squared toe last 

The heel details of the brown lizard two tier Derby 

 A brown double monk rendition by Master Tomoyuki Watanabe, chisel squared toe.

Photo sourced from Bolero Bespoke shoe & bootmaker by Master Tomoyuki Watanabe

Whole cut loafer - Gaziano and Girling

When it is Spring and or Summer time then loafers must be aired and a gent has to have a few in his shoe closet. Now there is nothing as attractive as a whole cut loafer, simply a classic asset to the shoe wardrobe.

For the day I have sampled a Gaziano and Girling whole cut loafer with a medallion, a gem stone, a beauty.

 Gaziano and Girling rendition of a whole cut loafer with a medallion. Hmmm, mouth is watering. 

Photos sourced from Gaziano and Girling 

Justin FitzPatrick - Shoes

Today at last, I decided to do a blog on Mr. Justin FitzPatrick aka "The Shoe Snob", an American young gent, shoe lover and a "shoe snob", who blogs about shoes and is a bespoke shoemaker too. What is fascinating about Mr. Fitzpatrick is the fact that he packed his belongings from the USA and headed for Europe to learn the bread and craft of shoemaking from start to end, driven by the passion and love of quality shoes. He is almost reaching his goal and I wish him the best of luck in entering this lovely art of shoemaking.

I have to admit that "The Shoe Snob" is very knowledgeable about the shoe industry and very unbiased when reviewing and commenting about shoes on his blog. He has touched down on almost "all" bespoke shoemakers around the globe and shoe companies that offer ready to wear shoes, it be from unknown Central European shoemakers or new comers from Far East and Europe. He has a hawk's eye when it comes to details of the shoe, be it the last, design, leather etc. I personally appreciate his insight knowledge about shoes. Well no more tales, look at the creations and judge yourself.

I have sampled a few of "The Shoe Snob's" creations which will be available during the course of this year. Please admire some of his excellent creations.

The "Shoe Snob" Master Justin FitzPatrick in person, wearing a Gieves and Hawkes Navy double breasted overcoat, paired with whole cut loafers from his collection. I will later come back to the Gieves and Hawkes overcoat, as I have acquired one and I will do a review on this same coat.

 The Shoe Snob logo, very simple and appealing to me. It says it all.

Sample of "The Usual suspects line up", boots, oxfords, derby's, slip-ons.

A two toned Balmoral oxford boot, very cool and interesting combination of colours.

A wing tipped punched Whole cut oxford without gimping

The details of the punching, very nicely done.

A whole cut loafer with a medallion

 Side view of the loafer

A wing tipped saddle oxford, very interesting design, sober, elegant, well proportioned, nice shoe.

 Details of the wing tip saddle shoe

All photos sourced from Justin FitzPatrick.

Dimitri Gomez - Whole cut exotic loafer

Master Dimitri Gomez the Parisian Bespoke shoemaker, the man who designed the 337 hand grade last for Crockett and Jones (Northampton) needs no introduction. I blogged about Master Dimitri Gomez a while ago here and today I have sampled an exotic bespoke loafer, a whole cut, the type resembling home slippers like the Alberts, but this baby is very costly. Not just any whole cut loafer, but in orange coloured crocodile. Amazing piece.

Enjoy your weekend.

A whole cut orange crocodile whole cut loafer

Photos sourced from Dimitri Gomez

The perfect summer shoe - Hidetaka Fukuya

The last two days the weather in the Nordic showed itself from it's best side, which is good. That made me think of a pair of ultimate summer shoes, which I found from Master bespoke boot and shoemaker Hidetaka Fukaya from Florence (Italy), whom I blogged about here and here. I have earlier seen holed shoes from Vass and other Central European bespoke shoemakers, but never appealed to me. I am now considering having two pairs commissioned for next Summer from my favourite bespoke shoemaker Master Cliff Roberts (blogged about here for example). My inspiration comes after seeing these two renditions of holed shoes from Master Fukaya. 

An oxford in suede with holes to let the feet air directly. Will have to say this is the ultimate summer shoe. Well done Master Fukaya. Lovely shoe.

 Below the two most right shoes, the green whole cut loafer made of suede with holes  and the brown oxford in suede with holes. So well done. 

Pictures sourced from Style Forum