A few months ago, Jordan opened the doors of his wardrobe to us through a still unfinished inventory, as impressive as it is informative: pants and Bermuda shorts , jackets , shoes and coats and jackets , enough to make you want to lend yourself to the exercise and to draw some small lessons from it. I start at the bottom.
For as long as I can remember, I've never been a big shoe fetishist. I wore my first real shoes at the age of 40
They are all in good condition.
Most of the brands mentioned in this article were unknown to me three years ago, and for good reason: my interest in these subjects is directly linked to my discovery of BonneGueule.
These shoes are a real war chest and also a very special symbol for me: if I live with a disability which I briefly spoke about here , I am also lucky to have regained, step by step, the almost normal use of my legs. At the end of a long tunnel, I let you imagine the joy that the very first steps outside can bring.
All these shoes are therefore the first of my new life, located somewhere between my discovery of BonneGueule as a reader and my arrival in the team last December, as community manager and advisor within the editorial department and the service customer.
For the record: I have never had so many pairs at the same time and before that, I navigated for many years between Doc Martens , Converse , Spring Court and… safety shoes!
My black & brown leather derbies - Heschung
Two colors, black and brown, with a preference for brown shoes even if in practice, I wear black ones more often. A story about the sole, perhaps: the former are lighter, very “close to the ground”, more tiring in my opinion over long distances. I also tend to find them either too pretty for me or better suited to the milder seasons (spring/summer). But that's changing: I've recently found myself taking them out more often.
What I can say about these Heschung shoes is that they are real slippers, of very good quality. They are also relatively all-purpose. So I can pair them with just about anything, most often with chinos or dress pants, more rarely with jeans.
Wearing frequency: at least once a week for black ones, occasional for brown ones
Shape, size: perfect for both, note that it fits a bit large
Type of outfits: all types of outfits
Verdict: I keep!
My black leather moccasins - Heschung
I'm the type to stay loyal to a brand, as long as the products are good and the world or the values speak to me. Sometimes it has little to do with it: for example the name of the brand.
Heschung it sounds good to my ears, it's beautiful and solid, and even if I don't like the design of all their shoes, I admit that I am very happy with the three pairs that I own from them. I have no idea where I got the desire to have leather moccasins but these are beautiful, sober and very comfortable . I wouldn't change them for anything.
This is the Hedera model. I wear them regularly, for example with our taupe chinos, but almost never in summer. Just like my derbies, I think they will stay with me for a long time.
Wearing frequency: at least once a week
Shape, size: perfect, note that it fits a bit large
Type of outfit: rather dressy, or to dress up a more casual outfit
Verdict: I keep!
My brown leather chukka boots - Seventh Width
I once had a pair of boots like this. They were less beautiful than these: they were Clarks . What I can confirm to you is that once you have tasted good quality shoes and leather, it is impossible to go back.
These Septième Width are pretty, a bit patinated. I don't wear them as much as they deserve, even though they really go with a lot of things.
A simple reason for this: I have difficulty walking for long periods of time in them, and since they are a little too dressy for indoor shoes, they don't really come out of their box.
It's a shame. In any case, I quite like the style of Chukka boots in general and I actually own another pair.
Frequency of wearing: very occasional
Shape, size: good, but a little hard for my walking (note that this would certainly pose fewer problems for a 100% able-bodied person)
Type of outfit: rather dressy, or to dress up a more casual outfit
Verdict: on hold!
My suede chukka boots - Crockett & Jones
One of my favorite pairs, ultra comfortable, from an English brand that I really like: Crockett & Jones . But truth be told, I like everything English in general.
Not much more to say except that I like their patina, that they are of excellent quality and that they take the light beautifully.
Wearing frequency: at least once a week
Shape, size: perfect
Type of outfit: rather dressy, or to dress up a more casual outfit
Verdict: I keep!
My cordovan boots - Crockett & Jones
It's a happy accident. I didn't buy them new because this pair costs almost the equivalent of a minimum wage.
That being said, if we put aside the question of price, we must admit that it is a quite exceptional pair, whether it is the leather, the finishes or the comfort, all in all incredible. This is the Harlech model.
I still don't wear them much because I need a certain amount of training time, perhaps more than average, to be comfortable in my shoes. I don't plan to part with them at all: they're the most beautiful pair of shoes I've ever worn.
The easy solution would be to wear them with raw jeans. Instead, I like to combine them with our Fatigue pant for example, or with dress pants, in the same spirit as Benoît here .
Wearing frequency: when warming up
Shape, size: perfect
Type of outfits: all types of outfits
Verdict: I keep!
My white leather & suede sneakers - Zespa
The same model or almost, sober and very comfortable. Both pairs are made in France, which is a nice plus.
Their presence in my wardrobe is more a matter of chance and a good deal than a voluntary purchase: I found them at a very good price, in perfect condition, and I am really very happy with them.
I wear the white leather ones all year round, and the camel suede ones mainly in the spring/summer season. They go with everything. These are my resting shoes : if you see me wearing sneakers, it’s probably because I don’t have fiery legs. I keep the soles and leather until they run out.
Frequency of wearing: at least once a week, and rather in spring or summer for camel
Shape, size: perfect, note that it fits large (one size larger)
Type of outfits: rather casual, but white ones work very well with something more formal
Verdict: I keep!
My espadrilles - Angarde
Originally I was looking for slippers. And then following a living room discussion with a friend, I finally opted for his technique: espadrilles for the home.
These Angarde are comfortable and well made. For what I use it for, it's perfect. Not sure, however, that I'll risk going out in the summer.
And besides, I might have to look for a good pair of shoes for this season, maybe something in canvas. This would potentially be my tenth pair. I'll keep you informed.
Wearing frequency: daily at home
Shape, size: perfect
Type of outfits: rather casual, but I also dress at home
Verdict: I keep!
Balance sheet
Overall, I wear most of the shoes I have, through a combination of desire and automatism (a different pair every day).
Obviously, this is to be tempered according to my strengths, but I am clearly a special case. Apart from perhaps the Septième Largeur boots, I don't envisage any changes in my “team”. Three key categories: derbies, boots and sneakers. The moccasins are really a plus.
Lessons and needs
Derbys: they are simple, sober and versatile. Black and brown allow all combinations. The little extra detail is to be found in the quality of the leather. No additional need on this side, unless you fall in love.
Boots: Now that I'm used to Crockett & Jones, I'm not sure I really want to change. Eventually, I could let myself be seduced by a more rootsy pair from another brand.
Sneakers: they are sober and very solid. It's very good for me and the colors I have go with everything. Again, no additional need, unless you fall in love.
For pleasure, to go further
For the summer season that has just passed, I see two models that I could be tempted by next year:
Why these two models in particular? Because I appreciate the history of these two houses but I have never had the opportunity to try their shoes until now, they are made of canvas
