Thinking about patinas, the most common thing that I believe comes to mind is just having your shoes died to another color, and giving it that brush stroke look. But I had never thought about actually creating the different pieces of a shoe’s pattern with the dye itself, like how Mr. Landry Lacour created a wing cap with black dye, on a whole cut shoe. For me, this represents the future of patinas. It really makes me want to source a wholecut, possibly in a crust leather (unfinished), draw on a pattern with pencil (i.e. cap, counter, adelaide piece/facing etc.) and then give it to a patina artist to color in the different pieces, in different colors, thus creating the illusion of a two-toned 5 piece shoe, but it really being a wholecut. It’s very clever what Landry did and I must say that he does a very good job at glossing a shoe up. Not before long, I will have to send him a pair of my shoes, and if you fancy this type of thing, then I suggest you do too!
do you know how much he charges for the service?
I am in two minds about this.
My first reaction, like it normally is with a lot of these patinas, and actually a lot of French makers’ shoes in general, was “wow!” Aside from the Patina, this “glacage” business the French love so much, with mountains of clear polish honed to a wet shine until it looks like it’s been dipped in alien snot, really looks amazing in pictures. Go to any of these patina specialists’ sites, or even great French makers like Aubercy, Corthay, Delos etc. and you’ll see these gleaming slime-shined wonders, and want them. I know I do when I look at them!
But a while back, you were making the observation that photography makes a big difference, and this is a prime example. My concern is how it looks in real life. Take away that unrealistic and unsustainable wet look, add a crease or two across the vamp – just a normal one; no crinkling of the leather or anything bad, and to be fair on this example it’s already there – and take away the studio lights. And then I ask myself “are they actually that nice to look at?”
This is a stylishly-shaped pair of whole cut oxfords that someone has painted (very visibly painted) different coloured streaks on with dye. Now I am still thinking they could be quite a statement. But I suspect they won’t be “smart”, they certainly won’t be versatile, and that the “stylishness” might have been more convincing in a less garish and painted-looking finish.
I’m still tempted by a custom patina, but I think I’ll need to have some serious thought about what, and how it might look in actual daylight, with my real feet in it, below some real trousers.
Anon – I don’t…you might just go to the page that I linked and leave a message asking him…
Alex B – I understand what you are saying…but not all patina’s have to be ‘out of this world’. A simply blue or even burgundy one can be extremely lovely and elegant. One of this nature is more for fun, for the guy that has every shoe color and wants something unique. Baby steps would be the key….look at this and tell me that some of these aren’t extremely smart:
http://lespatinesseptiemelargeur.tumblr.com/
-Justin
Oh, I agree. I’ve looked a hundred times and Septieme Largeur’s collection, and the only reason I’ve not ordered any is doubts about the fit until I can try a pair.
The more subtle patination e.g. a burnished or aged effect in tan, or some of those blue numbers as you mentioned, is just gorgeous.
Alex B – Sounds like you need to take a nice trip to Paris….
-Justin