My Balmoral Boots

[fritzl]

Originally Posted by Michael Ay329

Were adjustments to your lasts needed? And if yes, did the adjustments further improve their fit?

michael, it's been a while.

generally, i prefer a loose fit on all of my shoes and like you, i have an high instep.

the first two pairs(vintage 1994) are still in service and going strong. the last has been changed in the meantime. actually it is not an improvement in fit but in appearance. the changes are minor but steady.

i didn't have to many rtw at that time, due to fitting issues. now, i am set.

meanwhile i have a sweet spot for shoe restorings. so either rtw or custom made. all of them get fitted after my pattern and it works, at least for me.

again, i love the good news about your project with cliff.

 

[Borrelli]

Very good to hear about your experience with Springline and Cliff Michael. I think I'll bite the bullet and see about travelling to Springline. It is an investment now, but definitely worthwile in the end I think. I just don't feel like searching and trying in the RTW department anymore. I have some shoes that fit fairly well, but I'm always going to have a limited choice in the RTW due to high instep and wider feet.

 

[fox81]

can we see pics of this test shoe?

 

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by fox81

can we see pics of this test shoe?
http://www.styleforum.net/showpost.p...&postcount=599

 

[fox81]

oh rite, thanks. i need to get me to springline already

 

[LynahFaithful]

Originally Posted by Michael Ay329

Fritzl, B.S., and anyone else who would like to contribute: What were your first impressions upon wearing your first bespoke shoes?

Did your shoes feel tighter...or more snug/closer fitting, than your RTW shoes, upon the first wearing?

Were adjustments to your lasts needed? And if yes, did the adjustments further improve their fit?

Upon further bespoke commissions, do your bespoke shoes feel more snug than your RTW lasted shoes, or have your feet adapted?

Michael - My experience is basically the same as yours with two makers. The fit is certainly much closer to my feet and so I get the whoosh (for lack of a better word) of air movement when I put them on and take them off. That was and still is very different from what I am used to with RTW. I have a bad size foot (US 12A) and so getting a correct fit with the bespoke shoes after years of wearing bad sized RTW shoes was enlightening. With one of the makers, the fit and sizing was correct right from the start and so we did not make any adjustments to the last. With the second maker, I didn't like the initial last shape based on the test shoe and so we changed it completely. I really like the changes that we made. However, I didn't get a test shoe with the second last and that was a mistake. I have a minor fit issue with the final shoe that I am going to have to resolve.

 

[ajv]

Originally Posted by Michael Ay329

Fritzl, B.S., and anyone else who would like to contribute: What were your first impressions upon wearing your first bespoke shoes?

Did your shoes feel tighter...or more snug/closer fitting, than your RTW shoes, upon the first wearing?

Were adjustments to your lasts needed? And if yes, did the adjustments further improve their fit?

Upon further bespoke commissions, do your bespoke shoes feel more snug than your RTW lasted shoes, or have your feet adapted?

Michael,

What you are adressing is the exact difference between RTW and bespoke, the fit is just better adjusted with bespoke. The arch support is done just for you and not to fit every 10 E in the world.
And then comes a question of preference, I love my shoes to fit tight, almost like surgeon gloves, as my feet do not swell during the day.
Most of the times, when I wear the trial pair, the shoe-maker notices that he can take some material off here and there. Minor adjustment in mind you, but still adjustments.

Adrian

 

[bengal-stripe]

You haven't told us if your shoes are still at a trial stage (unfinished) or are the real-Mc-Coy already. They are your shoes, your lasts and you have to feel comfortable. Presuming your shoes are finished, wear them for some three months and then decide what you want altered (if anything).

In a bespoke last, any section can be altered easily: you might want to have a smidgeon shaved-off here and a bit more added-on there. The only thing that is not easily altered is the height of the heel and the toe spring (how much the toe is off the ground). Even that can be altered, Springline can scan your existing last, digitally manipulate the height of the heel and turn a new last (while all the other parameters stay the same.)

Just wear the shoes and take it from there.

 

[Michael Ay329]

You haven’t told us if your shoes are still at a trial stage (unfinished) or are the real-Mc-Coy already?

These are throw away test shoes. The first commission will be of the same design, but a new shoe will be done altogether.

The final shoe will be the same overall design, but with: wing tip, medallion, imitation lacing, leather facings on the side gussetting, change the angle of the gussetting, and add imitation brogueing along the balmoral line so it will look like a faux balmoral oxford to the unwashed masses.

Clifford used some really simple black leather to do the sample shoe. Unless he requests it, I will not be shipping this sample shoe back to him.

My only regret, which I knew when I first committed to this experience, was that I would be unable to do an in person fitting.

I plan on investing on a bespoke commission with G&G in May (another obscene lazyman/faux laced Frankenstein that would revolt most of you...especially Luk-cha). But in 6 months, I will have a fitting to determine the accuracy of the G&G last/shoe.

It will be interesting to compare the fit of Cliffords product to that of G&G

 

[Borrelli]

I'm currently talking to Springline about a date for measurements, hope to go there before the end of this month. I think I'll rent a car from one of the London airports, will be much easier to get around. I'll probably visit some of the factory shops while I'm there.

Michael, can I ask how long it took for the lasts to be made?

 

[misterdonuts]

Originally Posted by Borrelli

I'm currently talking to Springline about a date for measurements, hope to go there before the end of this month. I think I'll rent a car from one of the London airports, will be much easier to get around. I'll probably visit some of the factory shops while I'm there.

Michael, can I ask how long it took for the lasts to be made?

Take whatever lead time that Spring Line tells you and double it. I recommend you ask for a try-on pair and have a fitting in person with both Cliff and Michael (of SL) in attendance.

 

[fritzl]

Originally Posted by misterdonuts

I recommend you ask for a try-on pair and have a fitting in person with both Cliff and Michael (of SL) in attendance.

this

 

[Borrelli]

I was going to have a test pair made anyway, but this is a good recommendation, thanks. Northampton does mean some travel for me, but it's not the other end of the world.

 

[misterdonuts]

I would submit that it is the ONLY way to do it. I just find it difficult to envisage how the necessary adjustments can be communicated over the telephone and email, even with photo attachments. The adjustments that I needed involved changes to the lasts as well as minor changes to the pattern: I just can't imagine how that could have been communicated and interpreted over emails or phone calls. At the very least, the exercise will minimise the chances of dissatisfaction with the finished product. Well worth the effort for everyone involved.

 

[Michael Ay329]

Misterdonuts advise is quite sage. Unfortunately I am too far away to follow it

Springline will tell you they can do it in 2 weeks...but it might actually take 3-4 weeks.

I'm wearing the sample shoes even as I type and they fit better and better every day...especially in my problem area (high instep).

Borelli, I opted to take the coach/bus from Heathrow to & from Northampton and am glad I did not have the hassle of renting a car.