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Does anyone else wish someone would bring back the vintage shoe brands?

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#26 ·
In the midst of the 1960s in Virginia, there was a young gent who wore Hush Puppies. In the winter his jackets were plaid but not tweed, and as the weather warmed his jackets were plaid but not Madras. His shirts were white and the collars were not button down. His ties (I assume he had multiple, but they all looked the same to me) were dark, thin, and monochromatic. Things that made him still Trad were that he was really nice, absolutely brilliant, incredibly interesting, and an absolute animal on the line of the football team. He made Hush Puppies into his own iconic version of sprezzatura. So I know that it is possible. I miss guys like that.
 
#27 ·
Vecchio Vespa said:
In the midst of the 1960s in Virginia, there was a young gent who wore Hush Puppies. In the winter his jackets were plaid but not tweed, and as the weather warmed his jackets were plaid but not Madras. His shirts were white and the collars were not button down. His ties (I assume he had multiple, but they all looked the same to me) were dark, thin, and monochromatic. Things that made him still Trad were that he was really nice, absolutely brilliant, incredibly interesting, and an absolute animal on the line of the football team. He made Hush Puppies into his own iconic version of sprezzatura. So I know that it is possible. I miss guys like that.
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Sounds like a great guy!

Was he a pro football player and/or someone you knew personally?
 
#29 ·
ChipWms said:
Oh my gosh, I asked the Great and Powerful Google this question and went down such an AI generated rabbit hole. Short answer, No.:geek:
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See I always thought Hush Puppies were a model under Nunn Bush, or some similar shoe. And I thought they only came in suede? But I am remembering back to the 70’s. Admittedly I never cared for my brother’s taste in shoes. Haha.
 
#35 ·
brucegleason said:
Interesting group of posts here. I was a shoe manager for Liemandt's men's clothing in St. Paul, Minnesota in the early 1980s. The shoes that are passing for Johnston & Murphy currently, wouldn't have 40 years ago.
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I have a pair of J&M I still wear from time to time. It’s been around 25 years when I bought them. They no longer make my size and I saw a pair in Macy’s not too long ago and they had a sort of plastic look about them. I was shocked because at one time weren’t they decent middle of the road type quality?
 
#36 ·
Lagavulin62 said:
I have a pair of J&M I still wear from time to time. It’s been around 25 years when I bought them. They no longer make my size and I saw a pair in Macy’s not too long ago and they had a sort of plastic look about them. I was shocked because at one time weren’t they decent middle of the road type quality?
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Yes, and upper tier as well. In 1982, our least expensive Johnston & Murphy shoes at Liemandt's cost $99 a pair. 43 years ago. Equal to $328 today--more in line with Allen Edmonds and Alden. While the opening price for J & M in 1982 was $99, the catalogue had plenty of models that were considerably higher.
 
#37 ·
brucegleason said:
Yes, and upper tier as well. In 1982, our least expensive Johnston & Murphy shoes at Liemandt's cost $99 a pair. 43 years ago. Equal to $328 today--more in line with Allen Edmonds and Alden. While the opening price for J & M in 1982 was $99, the catalogue had plenty of models that were considerably higher.
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Being in the business formerly any thoughts on why the downward slide? J&M is hardly the first shoe company to end up like this.
 
#38 ·
Good question. As far as I can determine, ownership of Johnston & Murphy has been consistent since GENESCO (General Shoe Company) took them over in 1951. I suspect that the general casualizing of clothing and footwear has a lot to do with it. Over the past few decades, clothing and shoe quality has declined due to several interconnected factors I suspect. The rise of fast fashion has prioritized speed, trendiness, and low prices over durability, leading to the widespread use of cheaper materials and rapid production methods. Globalized manufacturing has shifted production to countries with lower labor costs, often resulting in inconsistent quality control and the loss of traditional craftsmanship found in earlier domestic industries. Automation and synthetic fabrics have replaced skilled labor and natural materials, reducing both longevity and repairability. Additionally, some brands now design products with planned obsolescence in mind, encouraging frequent repurchasing rather than long-term use. Consumer expectations have also changed, with many prioritizing affordability and variety over enduring quality. However, there are signs of a counter-movement, as heritage brands and the slow fashion movement emphasize craftsmanship, natural fibers, and sustainability, offering hope for a return to more durable and thoughtfully made clothing and shoes.
 
#39 ·
brucegleason said:
Good question. As far as I can determine, ownership of Johnston & Murphy has been consistent since GENESCO (General Shoe Company) took them over in 1951. I suspect that the general casualizing of clothing and footwear has a lot to do with it. Over the past few decades, clothing and shoe quality has declined due to several interconnected factors I suspect. The rise of fast fashion has prioritized speed, trendiness, and low prices over durability, leading to the widespread use of cheaper materials and rapid production methods. Globalized manufacturing has shifted production to countries with lower labor costs, often resulting in inconsistent quality control and the loss of traditional craftsmanship found in earlier domestic industries. Automation and synthetic fabrics have replaced skilled labor and natural materials, reducing both longevity and repairability. Additionally, some brands now design products with planned obsolescence in mind, encouraging frequent repurchasing rather than long-term use. Consumer expectations have also changed, with many prioritizing affordability and variety over enduring quality. However, there are signs of a counter-movement, as heritage brands and the slow fashion movement emphasize craftsmanship, natural fibers, and sustainability, offering hope for a return to more durable and thoughtfully made clothing and shoes.
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In the past few years, along with Alden and Allen Edmonds, I've had good luck with Becket Simonen: Men's Shoes
 
#40 ·
brucegleason said:
Good question. As far as I can determine, ownership of Johnston & Murphy has been consistent since GENESCO (General Shoe Company) took them over in 1951. I suspect that the general casualizing of clothing and footwear has a lot to do with it. Over the past few decades, clothing and shoe quality has declined due to several interconnected factors I suspect. The rise of fast fashion has prioritized speed, trendiness, and low prices over durability, leading to the widespread use of cheaper materials and rapid production methods. Globalized manufacturing has shifted production to countries with lower labor costs, often resulting in inconsistent quality control and the loss of traditional craftsmanship found in earlier domestic industries. Automation and synthetic fabrics have replaced skilled labor and natural materials, reducing both longevity and repairability. Additionally, some brands now design products with planned obsolescence in mind, encouraging frequent repurchasing rather than long-term use. Consumer expectations have also changed, with many prioritizing affordability and variety over enduring quality. However, there are signs of a counter-movement, as heritage brands and the slow fashion movement emphasize craftsmanship, natural fibers, and sustainability, offering hope for a return to more durable and thoughtfully made clothing and shoes.
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With so much casualization, it is not that easy to distinguish a great pair of shoes on a man's foot. The masses don't know. They are simply happy to see leather shoes on a man in the grocery store. I get compliments on my two pair of inexpensive Florsheim shoes, while my Church's shoes can remain in the closet.
 
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