Heschung Thuya VS Paraboot Michael - the ultimate shoedown for some ugly shoes (sizing, style, etc).

[whorishconsumer]

Farfetch has three styles of Michaels for around $300: https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/men/paraboot/items.aspx

 

[troika]

I really want to hate both of these, but something about the hair-on Michaels is so perplexing I love it?

I just got 2 more pairs

 

[Mercurio]

I just bought a pair of "ugly shoes" at Massimo Dutti, at a very reasonable price. Made in Portugal, they are perfect for my rotation and how I intend to use them

BROWN LEATHER SHOES - Massimo Dutti

Fall Winter 2021 null´s BROWN LEATHER SHOES at Massimo Dutti for 79.9. Effortless elegance!

www.massimodutti.com

They do have the same model in other colors and materials.

 

[upsett1_spaghett1]

I just got 2 more pairs

I love your enthusiasm and willingness to just go for it.

Alas I’m on a Jawnz “fast” till spring. But Michaels are on the list for next year.

 

[nycs10011]

Just got back from a trip to Paris and was noticing a fair amount of Para Michaels and other makers/ versions out on the streets. A funny mix of younger kids and stylish old Parisian men. Paraboots have long been my go-to casual shoe but I always thought the Michaels were too ugly, but I've come around.

 

[John_Dunn]

They're ugly but for a Parisian winter, practical. Cofortable, great grip on wet pavement, bellows toungue if it's really wet. Brush them off and they're good as new.

Just got back from a trip to Paris and was noticing a fair amount of Para Michaels and other makers/ versions out on the streets. A funny mix of younger kids and stylish old Parisian men. Paraboots have long been my go-to casual shoe but I always thought the Michaels were too ugly, but I've come around.

 

[chimera_states]

some of my favorite clunkers:

fujito

yuketen

sacai

 

[asaa1000]

some of my favorite clunkers:

fujito
View attachment 1733769

yuketen
View attachment 1733771

sacai
View attachment 1733773

Those Sacai looks sweet, where and which season are those from?

 

[chimera_states]

Those Sacai looks sweet, where and which season are those from?

18aw

 

[florent]

Just got back from a trip to Paris and was noticing a fair amount of Para Michaels and other makers/ versions out on the streets. A funny mix of younger kids and stylish old Parisian men. Paraboots have long been my go-to casual shoe but I always thought the Michaels were too ugly, but I've come around.

Michaels are super trendy in Paris right now. There has even been a recent newspaper article stating Paraboot could barely keep up with the demand

 

[MaE]

Les chaussures Paraboot victimes de leur succès sur Instagram

La marque française peine à répondre à la demande, faute de personnel suffisant dans son usine de Saint-Jean-de-Moirans.

www.lemonde.fr

I guess that this is the article you’re talking about?!

What I find interesting in it is that they say that Paraboot can barely keep up with the demand because the demand itself is very high but also because there are a quite a few workers that have left the company because they were able to find other slightly better paid jobs in the Grenoble area (where Paraboot and it’s factory is now located). The article also mentions that the company is looking to open a second production line since 2017 but that it’s hard/impossible to find the right people to operate it.

It will be interesting to see if, how and when the company will be able to solve these problems in the future.

 

[MythReindeer]

Bookcore got me thinking about Tyroleans. I have narrow feet—am I out of luck with Paraboots? Or the style in general?

I can’t find anywhere that sells them around me, and the Paraboot site’s stockist list seems out of date.

 

[troika]

Bookcore got me thinking about Tyroleans. I have narrow feet—am I out of luck with Paraboots? Or the style in general?

I can’t find anywhere that sells them around me, and the Paraboot site’s stockist list seems out of date.

Paraboots are actually on the narrow end of medium fit. Heschungs are def more generous.

 

[thatboyo]

Depends on your feet but I’m a narrow in Birkenstocks sizing and can wear Paraboot fine. The style is better off with thicker socks so that can also fill up the space a little.

 

[slvth]

Another sizing Q for the crew:

Just bought my first pair of Michaels after many years of consideration. I went down half a size from my regular 45eu, but fresh out the box there's just a liiiittle slippage in the heel and I still feel like there's some room in the toe box. With the shoes on, tied, wearing "medium" thick socks - flexing my toes brings them up to just before the curve of the top seam at the front of the shoe. I could definitely wear them, but wonder if I'd be better going down another .5eu in size...

I know the general consensus is that the french wear their shoes with their toes basically touching the front of the shoe so my question for the Michael owners in this thread is... how have you guys found them to fit most comfortably in the long run? No-to-little room in the toe box or with a centimeter or two gap to the front?