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| Septieme Largeur – Light Gray |
The best thing about the modern dress shoe industry is this ability to possess practically any color of shoe that you want. With patina artists ever so prevalent in France (and even Japan), it’s almost as easy as choosing paint for your house: mix a couple of colors together and come up with some puke colored concoction or better yet, the perfect shade of gray (like this shoe above by Septieme Largeur). The limit to what you can have now, is simply the depth in which your imagination can reach. And better yet, you don’t have to live in France, or anywhere close for that matter, to be able to get ahold of these colored shoes. But now the question poses: what color do I get? Out of the million of shades that could be created, there comes a certain insecurity about getting the right one, unless of course you are dead-set on something that was predetermined. But if not, then how will you choose? Well, luckily I might just have a picture for every shade of color, so I will lay them all out for you!
The Blue’s
4 Above: Septieme Largeur
2 Below: Corthay
When I think of my own shoe collection, I find it to be quite strange in the fact that I have almost everything except your typical black/brown/tan shoes. It’s almost as if I tried to not get the common shoes when I was growing my collection and more so went for the abnormal, amassing everything from teal, to two-toned shoes, to canary yellow loafers. I currently don’t even own a brown full brogue, but I do own a green one. That is almost blasphemous though, as I should have a brown full brogue more than any other shoe considering the fact I label as the most versatile shoe around….I don’t even own your typical double monk strap shoe either, which I definitely ought to, considering my lust for shoes. I own 2 blue oxfords, but only just now added a full black oxford to my collection. I even own a purple velour Ferragamo loafer, but at the current moment don’t really have much in way of a nice tan shoe. It would appear that while I am sharing (and advising to purchase) all of these lovely colored shoes with you, I need to reevaluate my own wardrobe and get back to some basics…..good thing a patina can be done for all colors.
The Brown’s
All brown shoes by: Edward Green
The Red’s/Burgundy’s/Purple’s
Top Row: (L) Gaziano & Girling, (R) Edward Green
2nd Row: (L) Edward Green, (R) Septieme Largeur
3rd Row: Both by Septieme Largeur
4th Row: Both by Corthay
While I love green and gray shoes, I would have to say that my 3 favorite categories of colors to go with outside of your common options would be the 3 colorways above: The Blue’s, The Brown’s and The Red’s etc. For me these shades represent the best choice for versatility. I know that many of you many think that a black shoe represents the most versatile option, but I would have to say that brown and burgundy trump that for sure and navy for me, goes with all and trumps even those shades. It’s funny that blue shoes don’t represent a higher stake in the common shoe arena. When done in a dark shade, it can pose as a very professional looking shoe, not ostentatious yet not too subtle either, the perfect balance between edgy and boring….yet it’s still not very common…I will try and change this. Just wait…..!
Well, as you can see, I have done my best to post the majority of shades that I could find in my enormous collection of photos…..if you think that I have missed one, let me know. And if you are in the market to branch out sometime this year, and go for something outside of your common black/brown shoe, hopefully this post can serve as inspiration!
The Rest
Top Row: Sutor Mantellassi
2nd & 3rd Row: All by Septieme Largeur
4th and last Row: Corthay
Some pictures courtesy of: Leather Soul and Leffot
That grey quarter-brogued balmoral is just gorgeous. Unfortunately, I normally take a G (EE in American) fitting, and Septieme Largeur don’t do any variations on their standard width. They were kind enough to recommend their most generously-made last, the 206, but only have one custom patina option on that last, which I’m reluctant to try anyway without sticking it on my foot first.
Anyway, sorry for the digression; the point I was going to make about Septieme Largeur and patinas is this: there are some real stunners in the picturs you’ve shown, and the likes of Corthay and whatnot, are pretty prohibitively-priced for most people, no matter how much they love their shoes. But with Septieme Largeur retailing at under £200 in most cases, with reasonable shipping and only £40 for your custom patina, that’s a pretty serious option for the regular shoe-lover.
Putting that into context, a decent pair of Barker brogues or spectators costs around 180-230. It’s the same ball park. And for that, you can have the patina you love in quite a variety of shoe styles. Seems like a great deal (if you have average-shaped feet or can make it to Paris to try them on first!)
The shoes themselves look pretty good quality, with some nice detailing on some like channeled stitching and pinched/pegged waists. You’ve a pair or two yourself, if I remember rightly? It looks like a lot of shoe for £200-250, and they’ve got a sale on!
But most of all, their gallery of patina examples is something to behold:
http://lespatinesseptiemelargeur.tumblr.com/
Alex B – They are a great brand, with well made shoes for the price and that is precisely why I am such a big advocate of them… and you hit all of the good points on the head. I do have some pegged waists in my upcoming collection, you are right.
Thanks for sharing the site 😉
-Justin