[Chest Rockwell]

I'm going in tomorrow to get measured for a suit and a couple shirts I'm having made and the shop I'm going to also does custom made shoes. I know the suit and shirts are a good idea, but have any of you ever had a pair of bespoke shoes?

The investment seeps pretty steep but from everything I've been reading about them they feel great and if you take care of them right will outlast any "off the rack" shoes. Any of you have experience with them?


Chest

[fatjoez]

probably wouldn't bother with shoes
I've had custom orthotic soles made up and recommend those

most likely no shoe out there will give you proper arch support that you get from a sole insert
thats where you oughta put your money

having improper arch support in your shoes can do bigtime damage from your ankles all the way up to your BACK yo

[Memphis1]

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/main.htm

if you have the means I highlighted recommend it.

[Feyd]

Any time you can get custom fit clothing, it's awesome.


As someone who is for lack of a better description, oddly proportioned, I've had shirts/pants made for me since I can buy virtually nothing off the rack. I have super wide shoulders/chest, but a pretty narrow waist for my shoulders. So when I go to buy a suit for instance by the time I get a jacket that fits my shoulders, it hangs on my like a dress around my mid-secion and the pants are like a 48 waist (i wear 40). So unless I want to look terrible, custom is just about the only way I can go.


I had a pair of Esquivel shoes made for me back when I lived in LA. I'm friends with the owners of Crate Denim and they had a party a couple years back and I met the owner of Esquivel.

Kind of pricey, but as mentioned if you can afford it it's a pretty great thing to experience.

[JayKay335i]

If you wear nice shirts already, you're probably paying anywhere from $100-200+ already. The key to the shirts IMHO is to get one made and make sure it fits like sex, and they buy in bulk. This usually cuts the prices significantly.

I wouldn't waste the money on the shoes. Unless your in Italy with some old man in a 12x12 room cutting leather by hand, F it.

[Chest Rockwell]

I'm starting to transition from military to civilian life and am looking for a good suit for interviews and such. I too am oddly porportioned, 6'1", 245lbs, 50" chest and a 36 waist with some fairly broad shoulders. The couple suits I have were off the rack and look ok, but you can tell they weren't made for me so I'm going to just have one done up.

The John Lobb's look like what I'm talking about, but since I'm going to be dropping a lot of coin on them I want to be able to wear them with jeans too. I was going to go with some nice Gucci's but they are pretty hard to find in a 12.5 wide so I figure I'll just kick in a couple hundred more and get some custom made. I just don't want to get them and find that I should have just looked harder for some Gucci's, if you know what I mean.

Chest

[JayKay335i]

You'll probably look like a douche with any of the Gucci dress shoes that have a big G on them.

There are high end stores that carry shoes, you just havent looked hard enough.

[L8Apex]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/main.htm

if you have the means I highlighted recommend it.

+1

[fwmcb]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

I'm starting to transition from military to civilian life and am looking for a good suit for interviews and such. I too am oddly porportioned, 6'1", 245lbs, 50" chest and a 36 waist with some fairly broad shoulders. The couple suits I have were off the rack and look ok, but you can tell they weren't made for me so I'm going to just have one done up.

The John Lobb's look like what I'm talking about, but since I'm going to be dropping a lot of coin on them I want to be able to wear them with jeans too. I was going to go with some nice Gucci's but they are pretty hard to find in a 12.5 wide so I figure I'll just kick in a couple hundred more and get some custom made. I just don't want to get them and find that I should have just looked harder for some Gucci's, if you know what I mean.

Chest

Hey man I have a similar problem, I'm 6'2", 230 lbs with a 46" chest and a 35-36" waist. I've found that a couple of Hugo Boss suit lines are built for bigger guys, they have a 7" drop from chest to waist. But chosing a bespoke suit lets you decide exactly what you want.

I have size 14 shoe, I buy from allen edmonds, http://www.allenedmonds.com. They have a wide variety of sizes and widths in most styles. I can't wear a lot of different shoe brands but have had some luck with these guys.

[dth656]

i have the opposite problem (6', and 155 lbs), so most off the rack clothes designed for americans don't fit me at all.

you may want to try "made-to-measure" suits--its not completely bespoke, but its much cheaper, while still fitting quite well if done properly. i had good results w/ zegna "made-to-measure" suits. you can find them at nordstroms or at zegna specific stores, depending on where you live.

[Wakka]

I have a pair of Gucci's and I love them. They're almost identical to this pair but I cant find the one i have. just straight plain black dress shoes. They're surprisingly comfortable.

[Chest Rockwell]

Yea, I'm heading to the "upscale mall" this weekend to see if I can find some of those or some Ferragamo's or something that looks and feels good.

[SPQR M3]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/main.htm

if you have the means I highlighted recommend it.

GBP 7,335 ($11,590) for a pair of crocodile skin shoes...

[radix]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/main.htm

if you have the means I highlighted recommend it.

How many pairs of their shoes do you have? I'm just curious why you so highly recommend them, their pricelist makes them out to be an utter ripoff. Don't get me wrong, I'll spend the money for a good quality product. I just can't see why anyone would pay $3700 for regular pair of plain leather shoes.

http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk/main/pricelist.htm

2335 British pounds sterling = 3686.2645 US dollars

[Chest Rockwell]

Originally Posted by radix

How many pairs of their shoes do you have? I'm just curious why you so highly recommend them, their pricelist makes them out to be an utter ripoff.

Things like this are a matter of personal taste, some people would look at a car that costs 70K+ as a ripoff or a watch that costs 10K+ as foolish. If you've got the money to spend on them and it's what you like then it's no more a ripoff then heading out to a $200 dinner. I won't be dropping 11K on them but they are nice.

[radix]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

Things like this are a matter of personal taste, some people would look at a car that costs 70K+ as a ripoff or a watch that costs 10K+ as foolish. If you've got the money to spend on them and it's what you like then it's no more a ripoff then heading out to a $200 dinner. I won't be dropping 11K on them but they are nice.

With watches and cars the higher price tag can often be accounted for by, in no particular order with respect to watches or cars: build quality, parts, performance, complications, jewels, machining costs, etc. These are plain leather shoes. I understand shoemaking is an art of its own, but unless their made from the calfs of super cows, I find it hard to account for the ridiculously high price of them. You judge the price of an item by the costs associated with producing that item, and perhaps by other factors such as rarity I suppose.

I just can't wrap my head around what would make the cost of a pair of plain leather shoes so high. Consider Church's shoes:

http://www.church-footwear.com/churchs.html

a similar pair of of shoes can be had for 345 GBP.

345 British pounds sterling = 543.4785 US dollars

These are not considered cheap shoes. I guess I just fail to see what accounts for the $3500USD price delta between Church's and Lobb. For reference, Crockett & Jones oxfords also run about $500-$600, FWIW.

http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/

Edward Green oxfords run about $900USD.

http://www.edwardgreen.com/flash/index.html

I suppose it's just me, I just want someone to explain to me why Lobb is so much better than Church's, Green, and C&J, thus explaining the price delta.

[Chest Rockwell]

No, you're right. At a certian point it's not about materials or craftsmanship anymore and you are just paying for a name. I'm a watch nut and I don't understand where some companies get off charging so much for a watch with a movement that could be found in other watches at half price. I guess you're paying for the history of the company and the instant name recognition at a party.

Like I said, I won't be dropping 11K on a pair of shoes ever.

[radix]

From what I can tell, also to be considered are Anthony Delos and I suppose Berluti. Some of their styles are different from those previously mentioned however. Berluti in particular makes several shoes that are considerably more "flashy" and less conservative, if you're looking for that sort of thing.

[Jed]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

Yea, I'm heading to the "upscale mall" this weekend to see if I can find some of those or some Ferragamo's or something that looks and feels good.

I have a couple of pairs of Ferragamo Diego loafers. One in black leather and one in brown suede with lighter contrasting stitching. I am a 10.5 extra wide and these shoes have been great. Built well, very comfortable and very long lasting.

I see you're in MD, which upscale mall? Short of going to Tyson's Corner II in NoVA or going up to King of Prussia the only one I can think of is Towson, which has come a long way.

[Chest Rockwell]

Originally Posted by Jed

I have a couple of pairs of Ferragamo Diego loafers. One in black leather and one in brown suede with lighter contrasting stitching. I am a 10.5 extra wide and these shoes have been great. Built well, very comfortable and very long lasting.

I see you're in MD, which upscale mall? Short of going to Tyson's Corner II in NoVA or going up to King of Prussia the only one I can think of is Towson, which has come a long way.

I'll be going to Tyson's II, I want to stop in Linjiquist & Beckstead and check out a couple watches too. They have both Ferragamo and Gucci there now, and Prada I think. I like to go see how the other half lives every once in a while.