Shoes Of The Week - Riccardo Bestetti

I constantly get so jealous when I look through the pictures of shoes that Riccardo Bestetti has made. Not only because they are beautiful and I want them all but because his bespoke shoes are the closest thing in style, color, and detailing to what I see lacking in the shoe industry and what I hope to slowly but surely release into the world at non-bespoke prices. For instance, either on the those two whole cut loafers at the top, are something that I always felt was lacking yet I feel like they are such an elegant shoe that should be an option in the shoe stores. But they are not. They seem to only be an option if you are filthy rich and can afford to shell out 2000-3000 Euro/GBP/$ for a pair of shoes, which unfortunately only makes up around 1% of the population. So knowing that he is doing well and that people like his shoes gives me inspiration in knowing that when I make shoes (RTW) in similar styling, at a price that 50% of the population can afford, they too shall be well received! 

Some Pictures Provided By: StyleForum

Shoes Of The Week - Crocodile Loafers By Bestetti

Using crocodile (or alligator) on a pair of shoes, is most likely one of those things that you either love or absolutely hate. I have always had a mixed feeling, where on some shoes I think it looks atrocious, and on others, I could not see it done better. This loafer, by Bestetti, would fall into the latter category. I do find crocodile to be on the ostentatious side of the leather spectrum, so do find it quite appealing when a shoemaker is able to tame it down, by pairing it with a fairly conservative style, such as this tassel loafer. And while I do believe that this style of loafer, would look good with any type of leather, due to the beauty of it's shape and proportions, it is suited quite well with this particular skin. The only problem with crocodile and alligator, is that they are so damn expensive, thus not allowing for the average man to be able to afford it, even if he wanted to. This then resorts to people buying faux croc, which to me is the most atrocious thing that could possibly be added to a shoe. So, while I appreciate seeing a beautiful crocodile shoe, such as this one, it pains me at the same time, knowing that it might be a good while before I can see one gracing my feet....

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!!

-- Justin, "The Shoe Snob"

Shoes Of The Week

While I can't say that I am the biggest fan of the toe shape on some of these, I can say that this loafer, by Riccardo Bestetti, is one of the coolest loafers (style-wise) I have seen to-date!! As I have always been a big oxford shoe type of guy, I have recently been shifting my passions towards loafers, because considering that I don't wear suits, loafers certainly look better for more casual outfits. And the idea of having the boat shoe type of thick leather lace, to tie as an aesthetic, is what gives me that perfect balance of feeling like an oxford but actually being a slip-on, thus giving me the best of both worlds and creating the perfect loafer. (That was a long sentence!) As I learned how to give that mirror-like shine in Italy myself, you can see that Bestetti is also no stranger to it and has applied it beautifully to these loafers. And having that shine, makes that purple model scream out at me!!

For those that don't know, Bestetti is a bespoke shoemaker out of Pavia, Italy (north) who also makes a decent amount of RTW shoes, distributed here and there, around the world. To see a little bit more about him I have attached a LINK HERE, that gives a nice 4-minute video of him making shoes as well shows a few of his RTW models that are available from the website, such as these lovely riding boots.

Shoes Of The Week

On Savile Row, in London, almost every shop has a pair for old riding boots displayed in their windows, almost as if the act of doing so is the prerequisite to being a Savile Row space occupant. Yet none of them are new. They are all very old and beat up looking, more relics than anything, yet are very elegant and intriguing. It's funny to think about how moving to new countries truly opens your eyes to new things that maybe you knew existed but never thought to appreciate. For me, riding boots is one of those things.

After coming to England, seeing all of them displayed in the windows, finally watching the film Out of Africa and admiring a pair that one gentleman was wearing in a croccodile skin as well as another that is an antique and is in the Bentley's shop at G&H, I have truly come to admire riding boots, yet still don't know if I would ever actually wear them or really just admire them.

This brings us to the pairs that are pictured here, which come from a new luxury clothing-product website, Mad About Town, and are absolutely amazing and the best that I have seen yet. While I feel that riding boots stem from the heritage of British culture, it come's as a shock (not really) that an Italian shoe firm (Bestetti) would make the most beautiful one's that I have seen thus far. It wasn't until I saw those top one's that I really wanted a pair. But at a cost of $3000 to own them, although they do say that they are bespoke, it is quite a bit out of my price range and it's not something that I think that I can resort to making, as I would not have the patience to do so. Nevertheless, I am finding that here in England, an exchange of services without the involement of money is quite common, so maybe I can find someone who makes them and start to bargain!

Find Boots Here