Please Help Me Design a Custom Pair of Shoes!

activ8newbs on 07/01/2021 - 12:36

Hello so my wedding is coming up. I'm a big fan of BIFL (Buy it for life). Given that I'm "starting a new life" and moving out of home for the first time, I'm happy to pay a bit of a premium to purchase good quality products that will stand the test of time.

E.g good cookware, good quality tools and appliances etc

One such category is good quality footwear. I originally thought of purchasing a pair of RM Williams but I felt that although I like them, I don't love the aesthetic. As such, I've managed to find a leather worksmith/cobbler from India who my friend has ordered from before.

He can make me any shoe or boot to my design spec and size for $300-$600 landed, which I personally think is a steal for such a bespoke product.

Now here's the problem…I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SHOES, so can you please help me design them to meet my criteria below

Note : I plan to wear them for the first time at my wedding, then use them every single day after that for my corporate job (with a suit), and also preferably casually with chino's. (i.e. hope to be a real work horse).
I'm thinking Chestnut coloured boots because I like the look.

TL;DR Getting leather shoes custom made. Need help designing and selecting suitable features for my criteria below:

  1. Italian full grain calf leather: I guess this is a good quality leather. Is there any better?
  2. Goodyear welt stitch: I've been told this is important to ensure the shoe can be services and repaired easily in the future. Is this true? How can I check they've done Welt?
  3. Fasteners such as zips/elastic/monk straps for size adjustability: I want size adjustability in the case that Sizing is off since I will be purchasing over the phone/online. Any recommendations of one fastener over the other?
  4. Leather lining on inside of shoe opposed to synthetic = better breathability and comfort

Anything else you suggest?

Thanks

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • dasher86 on 07/01/2021 - 12:49
    +7

    if you know nothing about shoes my advice would not to get custom made unless you can travel to the shoe maker itself, and learn more about shoes before doing it.

  • GG57 on 07/01/2021 - 12:56
    +2

    3.Velcro

  • MS Paint on 07/01/2021 - 13:12
    +4

    I would have thought shoes this custom would involve a measure up by the cobbler.

    I plan to wear them for the first time at my wedding,

    LPT - don't wear new shoes for the first time at your wedding.

  • Meho2026 on 07/01/2021 - 13:14
    +4

    We do shoe design now too?

    Consumer affairs, speculative investing, motor vehicle accident analysis, uninsured vehicle accident critique,
    real estate and strata complaints, used car buying service, electronic and white good testing, scamwatch, banking and financial service advice, speeding ticket judgement, parcel delivery complaints reporting, and expert general legal services.
    Of course all of that.

    But shoe design? I had no idea

    I'm all over it

  • apsilon on 07/01/2021 - 13:26

    If you're really set on this (sounds like a bad idea to me) and assuming you have time, consider ordering a cheap pair from them first. This will give you the opportunity to fine tune sizing and judge their workmanship. Other than that I'd suggest talking to the cobbler and see what they're willing to do. No point coming up with a long list of items you want if they won't do most of them.

  • brendanm on 07/01/2021 - 13:40
    +1

    I think we are missing the most important question, how do you get to the point of getting married while still living at home?

  • FocusRider on 07/01/2021 - 13:44
    -1

    Better off going to louboutin

  • jaejae69 on 07/01/2021 - 13:50
    +2

    There is no shoe in the world that will be a “BIFL” purchase if you plan to wear them extensively everyday with no rotation.

    • GourmetFoodie on 07/01/2021 - 13:53

      So true.

    • apsilon on 07/01/2021 - 13:59
      +1

      You can have good shoes re soled so they could potentially last a life time BUT the uppers will get scratched/marked and you can only polish/hide so much. On a pair of outdoor boots that doesn't matter but on a pair of dress shoes, I agree, they won't last that long purely on cosmetic grounds.

  • GourmetFoodie on 07/01/2021 - 13:53
    +1

    Honestly if I was spending that much I’d want to go to a store and try them on in person.

    Otherwise I’d say the safest bet would be to attempt to get them to copy something you’ve already seen. So send them as many pics of that example as possible.

  • astrotrain on 07/01/2021 - 14:53

    Wearing a shoe every day? you gotta switch it up otherwise they are gonna look terrible after a few months or even weeks. Its all about shoe rotation if you want them to last.

  • RockyRaccoon on 07/01/2021 - 15:08

    Very simple just look here for a few ideas

    https://www.google.com/search?rls=en&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=…

  • zhenjie on 07/01/2021 - 15:43
    +2

    Bespoke, especially done online, is a bad bad idea if you know nothing about shoes. Without an in-person fitting, you just won't be able to convey the shape of your shoe in order to create a bespoke last.

    At your price range, you're better off looking at https://tgcollection.com.au/

    If its your wedding, opt for an Oxford shoe, or a Derby. Both of these are traditional lace up options, the enclosures you've mentioned are not formal enough for most weddings. Zips/elastics and especially monk straps are even LESS accommodating for different foot shapes. Plus they make the shoes look cheap and tacky usually. Not something you want for BIFL.

    If you want made to order, and just a bit above your price range, check out local cordwainers like https://wootten.com.au/

  • brotherfranciz on 07/01/2021 - 19:34
    +3

    Like others have suggested, it is of utmost importance that you actually try on the bespoke shoes.

    I plan to wear them for the first time at my wedding, then use them every single day after that for my corporate job (with a suit), and also preferably casually with chino's. (i.e. hope to be a real work horse).

    Boots are probably the most versatile for the use cases that you have listed.

    Your TL;DR summary criteria pretty much describes RM Williams chelsea boots - leather, goodyear welt, elastic-sided, and leather lining.

    I don't know if you're trying to get someone here to convince you, but I'll bite: just buy RM Williams.

    Edit: also be sure to look after your bespoke/RM Williams shoes with shoe polish, cedar shoe trees and cotton shoe bags.

    • GourmetFoodie on 07/01/2021 - 20:33

      I agree. That sounds the smartest idea. Why over complicate something that can be simple?

  • morse on 08/01/2021 - 06:35

    Fit and comfort are super important which is going to be hard to achieve via the process you’ve described. Different shapes of shoes and foot beds suit different feet, so if there’s not a way he can customise this for you and get it right you’d be better off buying something you can try on.

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