My Shoes #23 - Carreducker Winkers

I just recently acquired a pair of the 'Winkers resort shoe' by Carreducker, and man do I like them. They are just so different from your normal kick-around loafer. As you can see, they are not made from your ordinary materials. They are made by Harris Tweed. And being such a sucker for shoes made with fabrics, as opposed to leather, I have been eye-balling them for awhile now. Being that the sun is such a rare commodity here in London, I went for a color that could be easily worn in all seasons.Plus, gray is a win-win anyway, it's just so versatile.

You see me here wearing them in a kind of dress-casual way, but I have to say, that they did not go that great with my outfit. For me, they fit much more the jean look or something a little bit more casual in the upper area. Not to say that my outfit was not good, but there could have been a better representation of how to wear these. I just don't always have time to ask people to snap photos of me when I am wearing my best outfits, so sometimes I have to just settle with what I decided to throw together during my morning rush. When I start my shoe line (which looks like it could be very soon), I can get a PA and have them do it!

Anyway, if you have been looking for something different to put on your feet, the winkers are a great direction, as they are fun, comfortable and unique!

Enjoy your weekend,

-Justin, "The Shoe Snob"

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Carreducker Trunk Shows & Saint Crispin Event

Photo Courtesy Of: Adrian Lourie (London)

I thought that this little bit of information might interest some of you.....

Best,

Justin, "The Shoe Snob"

TRUNK SHOW

Carreducker is off to the US next week for its first joint Gieves & Hawkes / carréducker bespoke Trunk Show to the USA. 

14 & 15 October at The Intercontinental Chicago

17, 18 & 19 October at The Plaza, New York

Alongside the company's more adventurous samples, they are showcasing the Mayfair collection - the ultimate black bespoke shoes - a pared-back Oxford, Wholecut, Derby and Loafer - as well as offering rubber soles as an option for bespoke customers (not just popular, but essential on America’s east coast).  Having bespoke shoemaking and tailoring together is convenient and an ideal opportunity for customers to go for a full top-to-toe bespoke wardrobe. Customers can make an appointment with carreducker by email at cd@carreducker.com and with Head Cutter Kathryn Sargent at sargentk@gievesandhawkes.com

ST CRISPIN'S DAY 

As you know, October is a very special month in the shoemaking calendar as we celebrate the patron saint of shoemakers Saints Crispin and Hugh on 25 October. Both men were disinherited by their wealthy families and became shoemakers before being finally put to death: St Crispin in France in 288 A.D. and St. Hugh in England. St Hugh’s name lives on as the nickname for a shoemaker’s tools - Sir Hugh’s Bones. 

The day is normally one of revelry and holiday but we shall instead be showing off our skills throughout the week in the Gieves & Hawkes flagship store window on Vigo street. Please come by to wave at us and to say ‘hi’ at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 3pm.

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Shoes Of The Week - Pigskin Wholecuts by Carreducker

The more that I see pigskin used for shoemaking, the more that it grows on me. At first I was not so keen on it, not really sure why, just that I wasn't. But with each time that I get to see a new shoe made up using it, the more that I begin to appreciate the uniqueness of its texture and coloring. Now I could be making this up in my head, but having been around the two or three bespoke models that I have shined, I always seem to notice that the toe area's texture is a bit different than the rest of the shoe (as shown best in last picture). It's as if that when they were lasted over, the grain of the skin expanded and became a lot more smooth and prominent. It's quite a nice look and makes for a great toe shine. This model here, made by Carreducker, is almost precisely how I would want one should it ever come to that. I feel like when it comes to exotic leather, being that most of them have some sort of ostentatious texture to them, they are best served without any added detail i.e. stitching. That being, a whole cut provides the best pattern for them, at least my mind. But that does not mean that I do not appreciate them (exotic leather shoes) in other examples....just that I much more prefer the beautiful blank canvas of the whole cut....particularly in a nice pigskin!

READ MORE - Shoes Of The Week - Pigskin Wholecuts by Carreducker