Dear pinky,
The answer to your question is "CLASSIC". This word has a sacred meaning that is second to none!

 

There's nothing wrong with them. They have their place. But a rubber sole makes a shoe more casual, and they usually look off when paired with a suit. Rubber soles are thicker and less elegant than their leather counterparts; pairing them with the formality of a suit, then, is usually a poor mix. They're best with country clothes.

 

Sometimes they are necessary. Last week I was preparing for our annual shareholders meeting and my boss says, "you might want to wear rummer soled shoes for the meeting." I was back-stage at a theater not too far from where the CEO would be speaking and needed to stay quiet.Turns out that my Aldens with rubber soles were perfect.

 

I do believe that John Lobb do make some versions of their shoes with rubber soles.

Coming from the U.K. where the weather can be inclement at times to say the least during the winter months I find rubber soled shoes invaluble at times.

however the only rubber soled shoes I will buy are goodyear welted that can be replaced by a cobbler.

the rambler or indeed Dainite sole is I think a nice compromise.

 

Nothing wrong with them as casual wear. But with a suit or sportcoat...[xx(]

 

Shoes and cars are entirely different creatures...apples and chinese melon fruits.

That being said, leather soles shoes are just more classic, as others have already indicate. They have a distinct sound and a slimmer, sleeker look than most (but not all) rubber soles. Part of it, of course, is social conditioning: rubber soles were originally chiefly for beat cops and laborers; later, they were for casual and athletic shoes. Perhaps some day, slim and flat rubber soles will be as acceptable as leather.

However, most of us don't hate them and, in fact, often wear them in bad weather or for more casual/active occasions.

 

quote:Originally posted by Teacher

... most of us don't hate them and, in fact, often wear them in bad weather or for more casual/active occasions.

Quite so

 

click click click click click click


There is something comforting about hearing oneself walk.




JB

 

agreed leather soles are more elegant. i have two pair that i love. but i can only wear them a couple of hours at most. rubber soles and deep cushioned insoles are all these poor feet can handle.

Alex Di Pietropaolo

 

I agree that rubber soled shoes may be more comfortable in certain instances.

Besides from issue regarding thickness, another drawback of rubber soles is color. Forr dressier occasions they can only be black (unless you go casual on boat shoes or white bucks). Brown rubber soles just look bad. So if you want to wear a nice tan leather shoe - leather sole is the only option...

-Ex falso quodlibet-

 

I wear rubber souled shoes with chinos, with nice flannels if the weather is bad, and when I really need to be very comfortable, on my feet for a long period of time...these are always AE laceups and they have wonderful support and look good as well.

guit

 

I wear leather soled shoes the majority of the time these days, but couldn't resist a pair of these:

Usually wear them with khakis, chinos, & dark jeans on weekends or work from home / casual Fridays. Super comfortable and not a major departure from the shoes I wear normally.

 

Nothing. I will get rubber fused to the bottom of next pair of shoes...

As Danny Deutch says; "Although improbable while in a meeting, it's nice to know that if the s**t hits the fan, you can take the guy sitting across from you"

I agree with the philosophy..




"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it"

Sir Winston Churchill

 

my most comfortable shoes are Bally rubber soled brown loafers.

my favorite shoes are my Ferragamo black dress shoes... all leather.

-clueless 1st year associate attorney, los angeles.

 

To continue forth with your motorcar analogy, the tyres are not only rubber, but inflatable as well. So ought one have inflatable shoes, then? It's a slippery slope, my good fellow. And running a marathon? Whatever for?

Rubber-soled shoes are wrong because they are ugly and common.

 

I have a pair of 400$ rubber soled gucci slip ons that have worn out and need to be resoled which I have been told is impossible to do on this pair of shoes.....so basically theyre scrapped

obviously not the case with leaher soled shoes

Also, I always get comments that people can hear me as I walk down the hall to my office.... clik clik clik..... I like that

MrR

"Give me the luxuries in life and I'll gladly go without the necessities"

 

I don't really understand why people believe that rubber soles are think and ugly. I have one pair of rubber soled shoes with soles that are exactly as thin as the soles of my leather soled shoes.

Here is an example of a rubber soled shoe:


Compare with a leather soled shoe:


I personally like leather soles since they are less common than rubber soles. But the practical aspects are important for me too: rubber soles are just more durable, particularly here in Sweden where we have snow and ice a large portion of the year. Every street has a thin layer of gravel that is put out to reduce slippage on the icy streets. In spring, the ice is gone but the gravel stays and destroys your leather soles within a few meters of walking.

 

When people on this site attack rubber soled shoes they are probably thinking of ugly, clumpy, cheap rubber soled horrors worn with suits or dinner jackets - just cheap, nasty, and ignorantly inappropriate.

Nothing wrong with rubber soles per se, it's just that in general, they are not as well made, attractive or with as durable uppers as leather soled shoes.

This poses a problem, does one wear ess attractive shoes with more durable rubber soles, or more attractive but less durable leather soled shoes?

One way round it is to buy leather soled shoes and have rubber tips or patches put on - I do this with all my shoes.

For all your pantomime requirements visit www.pantomimesonline.co.uk
'The casual idea is the triumph of misguided egalitarianism. By playing to the desire to seem non-judgmental, the Slob has succeeded in forcing his tastes on the world at large (because to object to inappropriate dress would be judgmental)'- Patrick07690

 

Rubber soles have their place, provided they're stitched. One big drawback of some rubber soles is that they pick up mud and snow and then shed it - particularly Commando soles, which is why I prefer Dainite.

 

quote:Originally posted by JLPWCXIII

To continue forth with your motorcar analogy, the tyres are not only rubber, but inflatable as well. So ought one have inflatable shoes, then? It's a slippery slope, my good fellow. And running a marathon? Whatever for?

Rubber-soled shoes are wrong because they are ugly and common.

I recall in the 1980s that Dr Marten's 'The Boots with the Air-Wear Sole' ran a campaign that said 'You don't drive on solid rubber, so why walk on it?'

For all your pantomime requirements visit www.pantomimesonline.co.uk
'The casual idea is the triumph of misguided egalitarianism. By playing to the desire to seem non-judgmental, the Slob has succeeded in forcing his tastes on the world at large (because to object to inappropriate dress would be judgmental)'- Patrick07690

 

quote:Originally posted by JLPWCXIII

Rubber-soled shoes are wrong because they are ugly and common.

Blimey, that's utter bollocks. What climate are you living in? No rain in the West Indies?

 

quote:Originally posted by Albert

quote:Originally posted by JLPWCXIII

Rubber-soled shoes are wrong because they are ugly and common.

Blimey, that's utter bollocks. What climate are you living in? No rain in the West Indies?

Uhh, the fact that a shoe would have such a utilitarian characteristic would make it a common shoe.

 

I vote for replaceable rubber soles, even with suits. Function over form.

Administrators could walk around and see what's happening outside their offices. Walks to cars in the wet or snowy outdoors would be less hazardous. There would be fewer foot injuries.

MDSuits

 

Wear shoes with leather soles and get a pair of rubber overshoes for the rainy or snowy days.

That gives you the best of both world.

 

Really,if some of you judge men by the soles of their shoes,I might suggest an ask Andy forum on extreme mental illness.[xx(]

"It's always fun until someone gets hurt"