Showing posts with label Italian shoemakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian shoemakers. Show all posts

Feast Your Eyes! - Roberto Ugolini

Shoes by: Roberto Ugoini, Photo Courtesy of: Gentleman's Gazette

Dear All,

I am feeling a bit under the weather today, and therefore do not have the capacity to write anything longer than a sentence or two. That being, I want you to study this amazing picture, taken by the author of Gentleman's Gazette, of some of the collection of Roberto Ugolini (Florentine bespoke shoemaker) and ask yourself, "what if this was my shoe wardrobe?" Imagine that....

Best,

Justin, "The Shoe Snob"
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Shoes Of The Week - Bestetti Gray Wholecuts


The nice thing about Riccardo Bestetti's shoes is the fact that you can clearly see the defined lines that have been shaped by the lasting of the leather over the last. If not shaped properly during the making process these lines can be blurred into nothing, looking like the last was just some round blob. Granted, most makers have the skill to not let this happen but.....just saying. Now, the wholecut is the absolute hardest shoe to last, because you don't have the give that is created by having multiple pieces of leather stitched together. It being one piece makes it much harder to shape and pull over the last without any air pockets being created, particularly on the outside of the bottom bit of lacing. But looking at these shoes, you see that it was done properly and every line of that last is represented here, from good making. Now aside from being beautifully shaped, I love the idea of a gray wholecut, much better than the black version that is so necessary in today's society. But imagine if we let go of the idea of a black shoe being standard....how nice would it be to have gray be the new black? For me, it would be amazing!
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Riccardo Bestetti Ready To Wear Collection


It's been a long time coming, but the day has finally arrived: Bestetti introduces his Ready-To-Wear collection at none other than the infamous Pitti Uomo. These pictures are obviously not from there, but are a few models to wet your beaks nonetheless and see what he is up to and what you can expect from his line. As you can see he very much keeps in tune with his bespoke footwear, offering models that have the mouth-quenching curves and lines that give resemblance to a handmade shoe. I assume (but am not sure) that he used lasts that were either identical (or very darn close) to his bespoke footwear. The only difference is that these beauties are going to be made with a Blake construction. But fret not, the Goodyear welted counterparts will be arriving in the near future... While I still believe these are in the production stages, having not quite yet been finalized nor sold to any stores, they will be coming out in the price range of around 400 Euros. While still not cheap (as they shouldn't be), it now allows some of you dreamers (such as myself) to be able to finally get a piece of footwear that has been made/designed/influenced by none other than Mr. Bestetti himself... Will update when I receive more information...Enjoy!










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