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Why would anyone need
custom-made shoes?
FEET OF
ENGINEERING
Custom-made
shoes can last a
lifetime.
Guys buy custom shoes
for one of t wo reasons:
Ready-to-wear shoes
don’t fit their feet, or
they appreciate true
craftsmanship. In times
past, gentlemen required
bespoke armor and
riding boots; today’s
custom-made shoes are
a legacy of that tradition.
English boot company
John Lobb (johnlobb
.com), for example,
crafts bespoke shoes
using techniques that
have barely changed
in 150 years. Each pair
requires at least seven
measurements of each of
the customer’s feet and
60 hours to complete,
but the resulting shoes
can last 20-plus years
with proper care, such
as using a shoe cream
once a week to maintain
the luster and shining
the shoes every two
weeks with a wax-based
polish. Custom-made
shoes are extravagant,
but they offer everyday
comfort and elegance,
and have enduring value.
Can the same be said for
bespoke ski boots, road
bikes, and other custom
“essentials” that gather
dust in guys’ closets?
ERIC VILLENCY
Villency is president of the
Maurice Villency design
studio and a contributor to
NBC’s Today. ››
JONATHAN KANTOR
BestLifeOnline.com
