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Gaz
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More shoes... Stefano Bemer for Valextra

Here is the first of two new additions to the shoe family – Stefano Bemer for Valextra oxfords in BLUE!!! BluNotte, this is for you, my friend

Before we get to the shoes, perhaps we need to do an introduction to Valextra. It does have a rather pharmaceutical rhyme to it - "take two Valextras and call me in the morning" or "Valextra is twice as potent as Viagra. Clinical test have shown that..."

Valextra is a Milanese leather goods company established in 1937. They specialise in leather bags for men and women as well as an extensive range of leather accessories. It also has a range of shoes which manufacturing and design has been outsourced to my favourite Italian shoe maker, Stefano Bemer. Who could resist? Certainly not I.



Now for the 360 degree spin…













It is so close to being a seamless back. A real pity. However, making it a seamless back requires quite a bit of additional work, not just in the construction but also in the clicking (cutting) of the quarters (the back piece of leather that forms the heel).







The soles are not as nicely finished as Stefano Bemer’s own range. In particular, the sole is not as bevelled at the waist.



Let’s check out the details…



The in-folded seam where the vamp meets the quarters is its most interesting feature.



It gives the shoe a very clean and sleek look.





The same seam work is used for the cap toe.



The midnight tone of blue makes it a potentially versatile shoe to match as its almost black. Given its pedigree, the shoes are made to the Stefano Bemer S-last. The finishing is good but certainly not to what I have come to expect from Stefano. Furthermore, these are sold without shoe trees, which is a real pity.

I mentioned earlier that this was one of two pairs of new shoes. Here is a sneak preview of the other pair...



Cheers
Gaz