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Work Style Shoes

Having read an article about Michael Bloomberg's habit of having two pairs of leather soled shoes resoled and reheeled (with rubber stick on patches) again and again to make them last, (guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/sep/21/pair-shoes-man-need) I'm now thinking of getting three pairs of fairly decent shoes to follow his example.

I'm thinking of buying these: swshoes.co.uk/buy.cfm/samuel-windsor-classic-shoes/classic-oxford-shoe:-black/59/no/51258

What do people think is this a good deal? Have you brought from this company? Is there somewhere else I should be considering purchasing from?

Thanks.

Michael.
.
Michael

When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.
When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.
-- Dom Helder Camara

Comments

  • andy40
    andy40 Posts: 171 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    I bought from Samuel Windsor a few years ago, The quality was not good and they didnt last :-(
  • andy40 wrote: »
    I bought from Samuel Windsor a few years ago, The quality was not good and they didnt last :-(

    Is there somewhere you would recommend as an alternative?
    .
    Michael

    When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.
    When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.
    -- Dom Helder Camara
  • bs7
    bs7 Posts: 774 Forumite
    I'm now thinking of getting three pairs of fairly decent shoes to follow his example.

    I'm thinking of buying these: swshoes.co.uk

    the finish on their shoes, as andy40 says, is far from great - so i too would say to avoid them.

    Any half decent department store or shoe shop will have a reasonable range ... you can spend as much as you want. But i suspect for the shoe to be able to be resoled you'd need one that hasn't just had the soled bonded to it with glue/rubber in the first place ... i might be wrong though.

    If you don't want to spend a small fortune on the shoes though - M&S aren't too much more expensive than Samuel Windsor but, IMO, their shoes are a reasonable middle of the road between a better quality "fairly decent"/expensive shoe and Samuel Windsor's range.
  • nicksh
    nicksh Posts: 21 Forumite
    If you can get to Brick Lane, there's a place that does all the really swanky men's shoes (Church's and that sort of thing) - I think it's on Cheshire Street. It is basically a lock-up full of stock & the characters working there are like Steptoe & Son, but they do genuine £200 shoes for about £60.
  • nicksh wrote: »
    If you can get to Brick Lane, there's a place that does all the really swanky men's shoes (Church's and that sort of thing) - I think it's on Cheshire Street. It is basically a lock-up full of stock & the characters working there are like Steptoe & Son, but they do genuine £200 shoes for about £60.

    Nick, thanks for that. This sounds exactly the kind of place that I wanted to go and get them from. If you live local is there any chance that you could confirm the location for me before I make the journey? Do they have a shop name as such? Also what kind of times are they open?

    Thanks.
    .
    Michael

    When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint.
    When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.
    -- Dom Helder Camara
  • nicksh
    nicksh Posts: 21 Forumite
    Sorry, but I don't know the opening hours - but they were open weekends last time I went.
  • boam
    boam Posts: 207 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 29 March 2011 at 9:03PM
    any luck in finding the store, as i need to get some brogue type shoes

    actually i think this may be the place

    Blackman’s Shoes was originally set up in 1935 as a purveyor of cheap, quality shoes to the Jewish community around Brick Lane. (It was also the first shop in the UK to stock Doc Martens boots.) Still a father and son business, it buys well-made shoes from factories at times when business is slow, thus ensuring low prices, then sells them on cheaply to a loyal fan base. Currently popular with local Shoreditch sorts are the ‘cool again’ plimsolls, which remain modestly priced at £5. Don’t expect slick presentation – the store is tiny and chaotic.
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