Posts Tagged ‘oxford’

My Favorite Semi Casual Shoes

Got it two years ago, at Linea. Been looking for something casual for jeans and grey trousers. And found this beautiful wingtip oxford, formidable for casual, but still suffice for office. I restrained my self from regularly polishing the shoes, as I love the worn out and chaffed that it gets from the wearing.

That is the most common answer my friends gave me when I’m asking their opinion about a brown, usually in wingtip oxford or derby.

When they thing about classic shoes, they always think about wearing it to office, conference or wedding, and anytime they think about something slightly rendering toward and sign of formality, they think about black.

My say, black is overrated and brown is underrated. And then you will ask,”Care to explain why ?” I surely do.

My friends, we are living in Jakarta, on the beginning of the 21st century. Jakarta for one, is not the place for extreme tradition of sartorial perfection, in here you can go to most clubs wearing jeans, polo shirt and sneakers, and go to the office dresses in oversized shirts or ridiculously tight trousers. And if those perfunctory slack is acceptable than surely wearing a sharp, high quality brown leather shoes is acceptable too?

Let’s think about office function. Most of the Jakartans goes to the office with long sleeve shirts, dark colored trousers, few will have ties hanging , even fewer will go with French cuffs (mostly bankers or hustlers). Now check your wardrobe, and ask your self how many of your trousers are in grey, charcoal, and blue ? If the amount of is comparable with the black, congratulate your self, because you just found yourself a ticket to use your brown shoes to the office.

My good readers, the brown leather shoes, in any material (calf or suede) are excellent combination for any grey or dark blue trousers. It provides a harmonious combination, and a niche that is standing out from commonality. And truth to tell this is a perfectly acceptable combination for your office and business needs, and it works well with suit too. The brown semi brogue cap toe or wingtip oxford are several of the ideals.

If you are one of those posh who prefer to be draped in suit rather than batik for wedding invitation, try to opt for grey suit in any variation or navy blue, and then done your brown shoes, brown belt and if you have it a brown leather strapped watch. You’ll be surprise on how the color combination works, again any sign toward formality like monk-strap combinations, oxford and derby, will  provide a sound host.

What about batik ? Well in my humble opinion wearing a black trouser, black shoes with batik are dull. Next time try to opt of creamy colored batik instead of shining, silky like , dominant in black batik. And then try to use your grey-ish trousers instead of black, and then done any of your brown dress shoes (anything but moc style driving shoes), and then check yourself in the mirror. You’ll be amaze on how the color and pattern combination explode yet complementing each other, provide an elegant and exquisite look, and sublime level of confidence.

My bottom line remains, the black is overrated while the brown is underrated, as long as you have a brown leather belt, and neutral or brown wrist strapped, you have all the more reasons to wear brown.

One month, two weeks, and one day has passed ever since I’ve got my feet measured at Mario Minardi. One and a half month, is nowhere near the instant satisfaction that you get when you acquired your shoes on the shoe store. But it is also nowhere near the amount of time that you need to wait when  you order your shoes from the famous Graziano & Girling.

One thing that I can tell you my dear readers, that every single day, hour and minutes that passed, it  was all paid off, when I laid my sight on the new black caped toe oxford that is neatly packed in the printed carton box.

To say the shoes are good is gross understatement. They are gorgeous, elegant, almost as  perfect as the picture I have in my imagination, on every single aspects. The best of all, it fits me very well, and it feels, really, really, really good.

It was a really strange feeling, when I slid my feet in it, tied the laces and felt the leather draped around my skin. It is even stranger feeling, when I started to  walk, and heard the crisp tapping sound of the heels, and felt the my muscles stretched but very well accommodated on the roomy space of the shoes.  This becoming more eventual, as I started navigating my office, moving from one point to another, one surface to another, I almost felt that I wear one size too big, because frankly, I didn’t not feel any pressure, tediousness, and slightest pressure on any part of my foot. But the truth its not, the shoes were made based on my size, the length and the wide, and the height was not drastically different then those that I got off the rack. But the difference persist, that’s because for the first time in my life, I owned shoes that understand my left side as much as it understand my right side. Needless to say, this feeling is addictive.

The visual look of the shoes is even more riveting. The shape are gorgeous, the lines that flows from the heel to toe bend flawlessly, highlighting the shape of your feet and give that expensive look that many of the more expensive brand offered. The stitches are clean and neat, it flowed naturally, shaping and accentuating the contour of the foot rather nicely. The leather are supple and soft, and the inner leather lining, gives extra comfortable and sense of fit that feels very pleasant. The finishing is excellent, the darkish embossing on the sole gives an aura of exclusivity and personality that some other brand just don’t have. Even if you spent hours looking at it, without really close observation, you can and may not be able to differentiate it with USD500 shoes that carried designed label.

This is the  shoes that are made especially for me, it may be made locally, in the grim factory that hide in between of Jakarta’s sky scrappers. It also may not deserved to be called bespoke, it is a made to measure at the best. But the details, quality and aura that it presents are something that is  more than 99% of the shoes that walking around Jakarta’s surfaces difficult to match.

This is one of the shoes that can match a gentlemen breed. Too bad, at least for now, I’m the only customer who experienced the true potential and quality that Mario Minardi can unleashed.

A shot of my shoes can be observed here

When I arrived from the office about an hour ago, I was physically exhausted and worn out. Normally, in a Monday like this, I will spend the rest of the night by sitting on my beloved couch watching the DVDs that I just bought last weekend, whilst being accompanied by ice cold soda and a bag of chips, and just shut my self off the world and its problem.

But no, not tonight.  Tonight I have news too important to be hold and joy too important not to be shared.

Remember in my previous post that I found that Mario Minardi is made in Indonesia, and that I found an email address that I decided to contact ? Well, they replied, a gentleman comes by the name of Handiman Ali extended his invitation to visit his workshop, which is not far from my workplace. An invitation I’m gladly accepted and happily executed today.

Entering the gate of his workshop, I was received by a young gentleman, which happens to be Handiman Ali himself (he preferred to be called Handiman). He brought me to his meeting room where further conversation ensued.

We quickly started the discussions from historical perspective, Handiman quickly guide me on brief history of his company, much of it can be found on the company website (don’t get put off by the website design, in my pinion the website has not done justice of capturing the whole soul and full potential of the brand).

What quickly captured my respect for him  was his passion for shoes and dreams for his company, and to his credit he listens too.

Being a huge fans of the brand ever since I owned my first one (now I have two, and so is my Dad, and my younger brother), I quickly expressed my concern on how the design of the shoes has been dramatically change in the last few years, some for the good some for the bad. I also raised the issue  on how I found it difficult to find a red line that connects Mario Minardi’s line up from different seasons, and the difficulties that I encounter when I’m trying to find a refresh of the Mario Minardi classic product such as the simple smart black loafer.  It also annoys me , I told him, when I realized that it’s really difficult to find simple classic man shoes such as oxford, derby, monk strap in Indonesia, and that I have to go to Singapore to get one for my dad, or spend fortune to get it at more established brand like Zegna, Boss or Salvatore Ferragamo.

I also showed him my beloved J. Holbens semi brogue brown wing tip, which I acquired some months a go from Linea Plaza Senayan.  Like an expert he is ( he’s been working in the factory since 1998) he studied the shoes with care and attention.

To that, I further highlighted that knowing Mario Minardi’s quality, experience wise, I have no slightest doubt that Mario Minardi should have no problem producing one of the classic shoes. To this comment he grinned and barged me with his idea and plan (which in my opinion, deserves an entirely new post)for the future of his company. He also managed to impress me when he listed out some of the famous shoe brands (you will never guess) that outsourced the production to his workshop.

When I enquired about the possibility of enhancing the brand by opening a showroom and offering made to order shoes, he smiled and commented that he observing that possibility and has not ruled out the idea. To this remarks I smiled in return and offering him to commission my first bespoke shoes, to which he agreed.

Mario Minardi asembly line where shoes assembled with care and attention

When I first emailed him, I expressed my interest on having a tour on his workshop and witness the artisans in actions. Unfortunately, I came at a wrong time today, and the workshop was practically empty when I get my tour. It was during this plant tour that he showed me a beautiful, an absolute gorgeous, Goodyear welted – full brogue black wingtip oxford. Looking briefly on the shape, stitches and leather texture, it could be easily compared with the like such as Ferragamo, Church’s or Loake.

An adorable brogue black wing tip

He was also kind enough to introduce me to Marco, one of the company’s lead designer who oversee the product design and development.

To summarize the whole experience and knowledge that was acquired today in this short article would be very difficult. To say that I’m happy, and feels the joy, and all sort of euphoria, of finding and knowing that my favorite shoe maker, is actually Indonesian and in very short distance from where I live, is an understatement. And to knowing and imagine the future and possibilities that lies ahead this bright and prospectus company is priceless.

Now reality hits. Admittedly I  might be a little bit biased when talking about Mario Minardi, knowing fully that I’m an unashamed fans of the brand. But hey, as my blog tag proudly announced, this is an opinionated blogazine, meaning I am entitled to have my own opinion and is not required to be fair at any given time. But make no mistake, in weeks to come,  as soon as my feet measured and until my first bespoke shoes finally delivered  and my feet slips in it, I’ll be the fairest, harshest and toughest judge ever. Mark my words.