Grenson and Loakes vs C&J

[Deoraby]

Hi all,
i am living in Kuala Lumpur for six months and took my first trip to P. Lal yesterday....very impressed with the service on the shoe side of the shop.
Picked up a couple of pairs of Loake shoes and one pair of Paul Smith Heritage collection brogues......all for less than $500. I know Loake shoes get a poor response from most posters here, but i am wondering why...when i looked at their construction against the C&Js they had in P Lal i couldnt really see any obvious difference.

I guess i will make another trip before i leave in January..my question is, is there any real advantage in moving from the Loake or Grenson shoe brands (my usual shoe wear) to C&J? Prices of Loake Shoemakers in P Lal were around RM599, C&Js around RM999, so over $100 more.

Also, anyone any experiences with paul smith shoes? had one previous pair and they struggled to survive a NY state winter...but then so did i.

[Shaver]

Hi all,
i am living in Kuala Lumpur for six months and took my first trip to P. Lal yesterday....very impressed with the service on the shoe side of the shop.
Picked up a couple of pairs of Loake shoes and one pair of Paul Smith Heritage collection brogues......all for less than $500. I know Loake shoes get a poor response from most posters here, but i am wondering why...when i looked at their construction against the C&Js they had in P Lal i couldnt really see any obvious difference.

I guess i will make another trip before i leave in January..my question is, is there any real advantage in moving from the Loake or Grenson shoe brands (my usual shoe wear) to C&J? Prices of Loake Shoemakers in P Lal were around RM599, C&Js around RM999, so over $100 more.

Also, anyone any experiences with paul smith shoes? had one previous pair and they struggled to survive a NY state winter...but then so did i.

Loakes 1880's are their premium range. The other shoes they offer are mostly polished leather, made in India, and ok as 'knockabout's.

The 1880's are no match for C&J's. The difference in quality will certainly become discernable through wear, although if you spend too much time thinking about shoes then you can observe it between the brand new models.

In the UK you may confidently use the cost (of a Northampton shoe at retail) as a very accurate gauge of quality. Simply, if a shoe costs more then it will be of higher quality - market forces of competition prevent a manufacturer from artificially inflating retail prices.

Loake Aldwych cost approx £195 and the virtually identical style of shoe by C&J (Hallam) costs approx £320. You can be assured that the C&J's are much better quality by this difference in price. I own the Aldwych and whilst they are a perfectly servicable shoe, very good quality for the money, I was examining the C&J Hallam's recently in store and the quality of leather and general finishing is significantly better.

As we have often noted on AAAC around the £300 mark is the optimum for increased quality against increased cost. That is to say that up to this point then every extra £1 you spend grants a similar increase in quality. Above £300 the quality does increase but not in such direct proportion to the cost.

Hope this helps.

[Deoraby]

Thanks shaver. There were two grades of C+J available in the remnants at Plal, can't remember their names but one grade retailing at RM999. And the other at RM1290, so $300 and $400 respectively. Looking at your figures, a $100 rise from the Loake shoemaker to the cheaper grade C+J appears to be a bargain. I guess a return trip is needed. I'm interested to see how they.compare to my grensons.

[Shaver]

Thanks shaver. There were two grades of C+J available in the remnants at Plal, can't remember their names but one grade retailing at RM999. And the other at RM1290, so $300 and $400 respectively. Looking at your figures, a $100 rise from the Loake shoemaker to the cheaper grade C+J appears to be a bargain. I guess a return trip is needed. I'm interested to see how they.compare to my grensons.

Hello Deoraby. It's a difficult one for me to call re $ prices, as you American fellows pay less for everything than we do in 'rip-off Britain'. Thus it's not just a case of doing a quick exchange rate calculation to establish value. Still: always get the best shoes you can afford. :smile:

[Fred G. Unn]

TLooking at your figures, a $100 rise from the Loake shoemaker to the cheaper grade C+J appears to be a bargain.

If you can get C&J benchgrade from only $100 more than Loake, do it! Not that Loakes are bad shoes, but C&Js are typically $200+ more a pair, at least in the US.

[Deoraby]

Thanks Fred. I think it's worth buying a couple of.pairs.of C+J as I understand Plal won't be receiving any more.stock.
Actually shaver I'm British, just spent the last few.years.In the US and now KL.
Yep prices in the US are a darn site cheaper.than back home but not, I find, on British makes and it's them that I much prefer. Sure you.can buy 10 tommy hilfiger tops for the price.of.one john Smedley sweater but the Smedley will get and give a lot more love. That, I guess, is a different thread for.a.different day.