There is a lot of confusion when it comes to shoe pricing. I see it constantly—people expecting $300 shoes to perform like $1,200 ones, or assuming that a
What Is a Handmade Shoe? The Truth About the Term
What Is a Handmade Shoe? I’ve written about this before, and yet it still seems to be one of the most misunderstood topics in the shoe world. If anything,
Why You Should Avoid Neutral Shoe Polish
Neutral Shoe Polish is Not For Novices Neutral shoe polish—often seen as the “safe” option—is actually one of the most misunderstood products in shoe care.
Leather Soles vs Rubber Soles: Which Is Better?
Few debates in the shoe world are discussed more than the idea of leather soles vs rubber soles for your dress shoes. Especially in today's world of 'comfort
Heel Stiffeners in Shoes: What Matters and What Doesn’t
The longer I work in footwear, the more I’ve realized that many of the things people obsess over simply don’t matter as much as the internet would have you
The Black Wholecut: The Only Dress Shoe You Need
Every so often, someone asks me a question that seems simple on the surface but reveals a lot about how little most men understand their footwear: “If I could
Yeossal: Redefining Hand-Welted Shoes from Singapore
Yeossal's hand-welted shoes are something I have talked about a bit on this blog. Having worked with the Singaporean brand since around 2018, I have seen their
How Long Should Shoes Last? A Guide by Price, Quality & Care
When people ask “how long should shoes last?” the reality is: it depends on more factors than you can imagine. A shoe’s lifespan is determined by construction,
A Shoe’s Sole – A Form of Expression of Self
The Hidden Canvas Beneath Your Feet A shoe’s sole is often overlooked, but for many shoemakers, it is the true blank canvas where artistry comes alive. And
Where Has The Shoe Industry Gone?
Where Has The Shoe Industry Gone? This is a blog post that I wrote in 2018. It is amazing to see the foresight (not trying to pat my own back here) that I had
The Crocodile King
When it comes to alligator or crocodile, in virtually any color you want, The Crocodile King, aka Karl Chu, is the man you should be looking to contact.
What Makes a Good Shoe? Fit and Quality Explained
Figuring out what makes a good shoe isn’t always straightforward. It’s a highly personal question with subjective answers. But from years of experience in the
Why Brand History Shouldn’t Dictate Shoe Pricing
Brand History and Shoe Pricing: What You Should Know In recent years, I've been highlighting newer shoemakers from China — such as Yim Shoemaker, Yearn
Penny Loafers: Classic Round Toe vs. Modern Elongated Toe
The penny loafer is a timeless staple in men’s footwear, appreciated for its slip-on convenience, versatility, and enduring style. But when it comes to penny
Brown Shoes with a Navy Suit: Style Guide
Back when I worked on Savile Row, wearing a suit and tie every day was second nature. And even though I was in London where the rules is 'No brown in town,' I
Shoe Shining Tips & Tricks
Back when I was a 'professional shoe shiner,' I wrote a long, educational post about how to polish your shoes properly. I later realized that I had never shared
Berluti London Store Visit: Part Two
In the continuation of my Trip to Berluti London series, here are some more photos capturing their leather goods offering and some of the patina styles. Their
A Trip to Berluti – London: Part One
'A Trip To Berluti' is a small series I made back in 2016 when I used to live in London and frequented their West End shop. Like my latest Aubercy Store visit
Aubercy Shoes: The French King of Footwear
This wraps up the recounting of my visits to the Aubercy shop in Paris. Aubercy shoes have inspired me since I first discovered them and find that they are one
Aubercy Bespoke: Store Visit Pt. 2
In my follow-up to the Aubercy Store Visit series, in this post, we look more at the Aubercy Bespoke footwear and more of their Made to Order models. This post
Why Wear Dress Shoes?
When you are young, the thought of wearing dress shoes probably does not enter your mind too often, not at least in the sense that you will be actively doing so
Crepe Soles – Yay or Nay?
When I started my own shoe brand, J.FitzPatrick, one blog reader told me, 'Justin when you add black crepe soles to a pair of dress shoes, I will be the first
Ten Shoe Tips Everyone Should Know
When we are new to high-end shoes we often spend a lot of time overthinking many things that in the end don't matter. Or we often don't realize many things that
The Best Rain Weather Shoe
The best rain weather shoe is a dark brown suede with a rubber sole. Hands down. It is a myth that suede is not good for rain. This statement is only true when
