Shine Your Shoes.

Especially important these days when so many of us, myself included, are searching for jobs and looking to impress. The practice of shining your own shoes might perhaps slowly return to becoming a matter of pride.

Shoes, good shoes, are a thing of beauty. Shaped by hundreds of years of human need, their construction has been refined and practiced by an experience bunch and eventually became a fashion statement for the wealthy. As things developed even further, leather soled shoes became the standard design and developed most of the style we know today.

A rite of passage, your first pair of fine shoes is both an accomplishment and a learning experience. They will wear to your stride, shape to your feet, and carry you throughout your day. But while they're busy taking care of you, you'll need to do a little something for them. First, you should be sure to let them have a day of resting/drying between wears and always keep them in shoe trees. The second is to keep them shined and conditioned. With a simple cream polish, a horsehair brush, and a little work you can have your shoes looking better than new.

Now doesn't that feel good?

You Get What You Pay For.

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

Grenson.

My Grenson - Stanley Brogue shoes in London Tan.

My decision to purchase these was based on my love of a pair of dress shoes I bought for my first job. I usually wear a pair of sneakers out about every six months and started to realize that not only was it wasteful, I was disappointed that I'd either have to re-buy the exact same shoes I had loved, or go back on the hunt for something new. In most cases I was usually quite satisfied with what I had initially purchased and just hated shelling out more money for something I bought not six months ago.

That first pair of dress shoes I had bought were a different story. In come my simple yet sharp black oxfords that show little wear with almost a year of day-to-day use. A simple shining and conditioning here and there and they looked good as new. While I still have an affinity for my sneakers, these Grenson's should last much longer and keep looking better everyday.

With all of this also comes a sense of pride. Pride for both the path you've chosen, and vote you made with your money. I'm proud to say that Grenson has been making shoes the right way, the honest way, since 1866.

More here.

Taylor Stitch.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with Mike and Barrett of Taylor Stitch.

They also represent half of the four man Durable Goods Concern. Which, you might remember from a previous post, recently put on Man Up SF. After spending some time talking about our respective interests we dove right into the plethora of swatches and business of getting me measured up for my own Made-to-Measure shirt. The fabrics and buttons are top-notch, as well as their intentions toward producing an exceptional product made in the good 'ol USA.

I can't wait to get mine, and already have a list in the works for future shirts.

Hopefully they offer a repeat customer multiple shirt discounts... In the meantime, give em a call and get your shirt on the way, you won't regret it. (I've seen the samples!)

A.P.C. New Standard.

Definitely my favorite pair of denim, and pretty much the only pair I wear.

These A.P.C. New Standards have been with me through thick and thin and continue to hold up like nothing else. The raw selvedge denim used is a dream come true, not the thickest I've ever seen, but a perfect step down. Another embodiment in my mind of what broken in really means, these have never let me down.

Man Up!

Man Up!

Pop-Up Menswear Market similar to the Pop-Up Flea in NY. Home of Style, Art, Culture and best of all FREE BEER! (Tips fund the Women's Initiative for Self Employment, because we're all in this together after all.)

Presented by the Durable Goods Concern; Four Guys with a mission not far off from my own.

Go!

Chippewa-Justin High Boot.

One of my original inspirations for this blog.

These Chippewa-Justin "Packer" boots have been worn by my Uncle John since the fall of '00. Originally purchased as a "Sunday Best" shoe, they were quickly put into everyday use after 1-3 years. This is what a real leather shoe looks like after an incredible 10 yrs. of service.

Get excited, and get your own. Shoes, boots, whatever you prefer. Just wear them often, wear them with everything, and they will quickly develop their own unique patina.

More here.