TimeOut

Not sure where this post would belong so I thought I'd just post it on the public forum and perhaps it will get moved to the right spot.  Apologies in advance mods.

Has anyone had any experience with Berluti shoes, I am considering getting a pair.  Would love to hear your experiences.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Gaz

2000 which have been cleaned up.  Berluti have become my favorite shoemakers  because not only are their shoes very well made but they have a creativity in style that few others have!

The craftmenship is just amazing.  Thanks for sharing.  Would love to hear more about your experience on wear and tear, if you have any.

Cheers

Gaz

past few years I have only bought Berlutis!

most comfortable shoes I have.  The ability to colour, grade, and gain patina over time on the leather is unique (I think).  They are not the heavy leather type shoes that english manufacturers create (and of which I am also a fan), they are flexible of form, yet able to withstand daily wear.  Love them: particularly the Physiologie (I think thats right).  Note that working the leather with polish is an essential part of ownership and creates its own reward over time as the patina of the leather can change and age (with grace and subtlty).

However, they are not cheap!

Andrew H

Given that, I am amortising the cost of a pair over 20 years to justify the purchase

You mentioned that polishing is part of the ownership, which I believe is something the Swann group take very seriously.  I am more concern with sole wear and tear.  What has your experience been in replacing the soles when they wear out.  Does it go back to Berluti?  The pair I am interested in is the Indio, which as the most amazing sole.  I am assuming that the work is best done by Berluti themselves.

Look forward to hearing about your experience.

Gaz

yet, and some pairs are over 5 years old.  By comparison, a couple of pairs of church shoes that have had similar wear are already set to go back to the company for new soles. 

Polishing is part of the ownership, not only for the sheen and patina of the leather, but also for conserving the leather against european weather conditions.  It will increase the lifetime of the shoes and adds to the way they look and feel on the feet.  Luxury goods I would argue are less about acquisition and more about experience.  Polishing your Berlutti shoes is an experience that adds to the ownership and longevity - thereby comfort and wear.

Just my 2 cents (as they say).

Andrew H

PS BTW, the last shoes I bought were a pair of Crockett and Jones suede loafers - love them too and they are perfect for jeans and summer slacks.  Do buy other pairs of shoes, but Berlutti's are a little special in my book.

Berluti have a special place.  But I am not sure why other than the fact the cost mucho dinero.  I still like my JL and my C&J just slightly more because the fit my particular feet better.  But typical consumer that I am, price, messes with my mind and my value perceptions.

Bill

PS I was a churches man till I became a snob of sorts.

I as many of you gravitate to what is most expensive and associate quality with the price.  Yes Berluti make wonderful shoes, very creative, cool custom patina and great boutiques in Paris.  But be careful as the pre made shoe do not feet every foot type and style, unless you are having a bespoke pair made for you.

I tend to wear Lobb and Crocket & Jones mostly.  When I bought one of several (Yeah I really tried to make it the perfect shoe and gave them a chance) pair the gentlemen in the store told me that unlike my British shoe, Berluti needs no breakin time and will fit like a glove. He said  "your British shoe are stiff".  I am sorry to say though I love the 4 pairs I have even after several years they fit is not like my Lobb's or C&J.  Now having said this I am sure the same experience is true for buyers of Lobb that they did not fit well and the Berluti's fit like a glove.

The moral of the story is the high price does not always mean best fit.  We can also consider the quality of most high-end shoes to be on par with each other.  Advance cautiously in any case.

Good Luck.

PS.  where do you plan on buying - Paris?

What I have done so far is only desk research on the brand.  I am captivated by their design, particularly the big bold stiching.   There is a retail store in Hong Kong and my intention is to visit the store and check them out in the flesh.  The next step is to take a test drive.

My intention is to test out their "off the rack" pair before going anywhere near a bespoke pair.  If all goes well with that, I may travel to Paris to get a bespoke pair made but only if ...

As I had suspected, bespoke or not, the make and design of the shoes may not complement everyone, given the diversity of shapes and sizes of the human male feet.  There is also a Lobb in Hong Kong and I will also be paying them a visit.

This little foray into shoe is a little birthday gift to myself, so I am pretty open to finding the one that fits.  Having said that, my 2 pairs of Lloyds, worn in rotation, have been serving me faithful for over 5 years.

Thanks again for your insights.

Gaz

I eve worn!! Different friends who had the same experience (from a different maker) told me it was normal and it took some time to break in ones bespoke shoes, with mine I was limping by the end of the day. No more bespoke for me :-(

Gaz

...and love them both.  The Lobbs that I own are not bespoke, and I believe they are owned by Hermes.  The finish on the Lobb is excellent, it is a museum brown and the fit is pretty good but not excellent.  The Crocketts that I own are a pair of chelsea boots, which are the most comfortable dress shoe I believe one can own.  They also are well constructed and beautifully crafted.

Godspeed,

Scott D

The Berluti's will hav4e to wait until summer because I leave those in Europe.  The C&J and the JL's  are in ready for the shoot.

Watch this space  - or a new thread soon.

Bill

Gaz

No message body

Bill,

 

I had one of those once with a few of the Harlem Globetrotters.  One of their sponsors is Reebok and three of the HG’s were at the local mall doing some kind of promotion with their owner who lives here in AZ.  I went into the shoe store wearing my Reebok Walking Shoes when the HG owner spotted them and stopped me.  He said he knows his Reeboks but he’d never seen a pair like mine before so he asked me if he could get some shots. This was about ten years ago. 

 

Unfortunately, almost two years ago, my daughter’s one-year-old Great Dane took a bite out of one of them, where the tongue would be, if they were tennis shoes.  Fortunately, I can still wear them with long slacks.  I loved those shoes, though being casual and sporty they could also pass as dressy with the right outfit.  These were the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. 

 

Grrr … puppies,

 

Helen

Having been reassured both at the point of sale (and again on the telephone today by a sales assistant in their Harriet St, London store) that Berluti are "shoes for life" ( a phrase possibly stolen from John Lobb in St James) I have purchased three pairs of Andy loafers from them over the last few years - black leather, brown leather and brown nubuck suede. I returned all three pairs recently as each had come apart in the same place - between the upper and sole on the inside of the shoe adjacent to the ball of the foot with the upper torn away from the stitching rather than the stitching coming undone or failing. Not only this, but two pairs had also split all the way through on the uppers on the outside of the shoe slightly rearward of the little toe. After waiting seven weeks for a response, I called in at the store yesterday to be met with a blank stare but a reassurance that "we will call you back later". It didn't happen and I duly followed up with a call today. I was told that "quality control have decided that nothing is wrong with the shoes but we can repair them at cost to you".  In view of the assurances given above and a price paid of between £650 and nearly £1000 per pair (yes, the price has gone up that much) I told the store that this response is unacceptable and that I would expect better of Berluti, upon which I was curtly told that in which case I was "welcome to collect my shoes from the store".

Not only am I more than disappointed with the quality of the shoes, I am even more appalled by the rude and supercilious manner of the shop assistant. I have requested that the issue be raised with a more senior person in Berluti and that I will be called back early next week. My experience tells me that this would never happen with John Lobb.  Watch this space.........   

What was the time from initial purchase to failure of the product?  If you paid via credit card you can dispute the charges if it falls within a certain time frame on new purchases.  Some cards give you extended warranties as a incentive for being a card holder.  If it is 'torn away' as you say, isn't that from abuse and not normal wear and tear?  Usually this is not covered by warranty as it is not a manufacture defect.  I do have to say it is odd that all 3 pairs broke at the same place.  Got pics?

-MW

+ Great upper shoe design and craftsmanship.