They were a gift from the customer’s wife which is a service we inceasingly offer – the Carreducker Promise.

The customer came in and was immediately taken with our more unusual styles on display at the workshop. So we went away and riffed on a couple of designs and came up with the Tallis. He loved the mix of leathers, colours and textures.

He also wanted something hybrid in style, somewhere between a classic oxford and a trainer. This allowed us to throw some unusual lines and shapes into the mix. Along with the suede/smooth leather/lizard combo.

He asked for striking and striking is what he got!

UPPERS: tan Pueblo veg tan calf by Badalassi Carlo; chocolate reverse suede by Stead; brown lizard skin; plain vamp with straight toe cap; padded bagged topline; five lace holes with eyelets; lizard facings; lizard shield on the back; 3 eyelets in the waist; padded tongue

LINING: purple lamb nappa and straw calf

MAKING: hand lasted; hand welted; 5/16″ leather sole; standard heel height; regular welt; 8 spi; natural finish throughout; Vibram sticker sole

If you like hybrid oxford shoes, you might like these.

The post Tallis Oxford Shoes appeared first on Carreducker.

They were a gift from his wife to celebrate an important anniverssary and the customer naturally erred towards this classic style

The soft chisel toe seems to compliment the style and the colour perfectly.

To add a personal touch by adding a row of tiny 1mm holes punched along the topline and a complimentary green kid lining. A very tasty pair of bespoke shoes.

UPPERS: Siena veg tan Minerva calf by Badalassi Carlo; plain vamp with double row of stitching; five lace holes; slip beading; backseam with dog ear; 1mm hole punched on topline; integral half moon tab on the vamp; stitched in tongue

LINING: green glace kid

MAKING: hand lasted; hand welted; 1/4″ sole; standard heel height; regular welt; 10 spi; natural finish throughout

If you like these tan oxford shoes, you might like these which are similar but with a grain leather and toe cap.

The post Dorset Oxford Shoes appeared first on Carreducker.

The shoes themselves are classically simple – a plain fronted oxford with a simple backseam and dog ear. So far, so simple.  But the choice of both the colour and the suede elevate them to a level gorgeousness rarely reached. Can you tell I like them?

The elegant chisel toe seems to compliment the style and the colour perfectly.

I would definitely wear these shoes, just as they are, no changes.

UPPERS: mustard yellow suede by Stead; plain vamp with double row of stitching; matching slip beading; five lace holes; slip beading; backseam with dog ear

LINING: straw veg tanned calf

MAKING: hand lasted; hand welted; 1/4″ sole; standard heel height; regular welt; 10 spi; natural finish throughout; integral half moon tab on the vamp; stitched in tongue

If you like these oxford shoes, you might like these which are similar but with a grain leather and toe cap.

The post Morgan Oxford Shoes appeared first on Carreducker.

The customer came in wearing a pair of very old, very battered R M Williams chelsea boots which he said were the only footwear he could wear. The reason being that he had developed large bunions on both feet over the last few years. They had become painful and regular ready to wear just couldn’t accomodate them any more. They really were on their last legs, so he decided that bespoke was the root to go down

We made a version of the boots with a few adaptations to suit his foot shape. We added a zip into the inside quarters of the boot to allow his feet to get in and out with more ease

The upper leather is a black veg tanned Minerva Box by Italian tannery Badalassi Carlo. It is robust, yet has a soft enough handle to cater for his bunions. The customer chose a natural finish for the sole edges and heel edges which relaxes the overall feel of the boots.

UPPERS: Black veg tanned calf; zip on the inside quarters; lightly blocked vamps; fabric tugs front and back

LINING: Peach glace kid quarters; veg tanned calf vamps

MAKING: 1″ heel height; 3/8″ sole; hand stitched welt; square waist; stacked leather heel; hand finished heels and edges; natural finish throughout; 10 SPI; commando rubber sticker sole

If you like bespoke chelsea boots, you might like these from our Gallery.

The post Melior Chelsea Boot appeared first on Carreducker.

We started with the bespoke lasts she used on the course because they fitted well and looked super elegant. We also riffed on her original design, adding in some caviar grain for an extra pop. The galosh derby design narrows her feet and the boots look amazing on. That is something we can do in all of our designs – accentuate or minimise certain features of the foot of each customer.

The upper leather is black Italian Softee for comfort. It is characterised by its soft handle and comfort on the foot.

UPPERS: Black Italian Softee Calf; galosh derby; hand stay stitch; short backstrap with tab; seamed tongue

LINING: Black glace kid

MAKING: 1 and 3/4″ heel height; 1/4″ sole; hand stitched welt; stacked leather heel; hand finished heels and edges; black finish throughout; 10 SPI; bevelled waist

If you like bespoke derby boots, you might like these from our Gallery.

The post Riley Derby Boot appeared first on Carreducker.

Not again I hear you cry, but hold on, the Kingscote is not your run of the mill black bespoke oxford. And anyway, black oxfords are generally a thing of beauty with a myriad of detailing which makes them sing.

They are for one of our favourite customers. These are his second pair from us and this time he came in with his daughter who he treated to her first pair of bespoke boots, The Baynard.

These are a plain oxford with no cap or counter. The interest comes in the red contrast stitching, the triple rows of stitching and the single red eyelet which is the customer’s signature on all his shoes.

The leather is a black veg tan calf by Tempesti from Tuscany in Italy and the lining is a scarlet glace kid.

The customer chose to have trees too but he will break them in first and then return them to us to make the trees. This is actually the best way to do it as the last maker can get a better fit for the trees.

He wanted an oxford that he could wear with a suit to work and also with jeans at the weekend, so we opted for a lightweight rubber sole by Vibram which is fully repairable, something we insist on at Carreducker.

UPPERS: black Italian veg tan calf; plain fronted; no counter; blind eyelets apart from a single red metal eyelet; five lace holes; contrast red stitching; triple row of stitching on the vamp seam.

LINING: scarlet glace kid

MAKING: hand lasted; hand welted; leather midsole; black rubber sole unit;

If you like these black bespoke oxfords, you might like these.

The post Kingscote Oxford Shoe appeared first on Carreducker.

The customer wanted something he could wear on most occasions with most colours. So a derby was a good choice as it spans both work and weekend.  If you add in the fact that burgundy is a very flexible colour, it becomes an excellent choice. The addition of the wing cap, counter and full brogue punching make the Frazier a very desirable pair of shoes.

The style is a classic so we did not want to play with it

The colour is a burnishing calf from Italian tannery Zonta. It arrives from the tannery unfinished which gives us the opportunity to give a more subtle finish using creams and polishes. The brogue punching and toe medallion give them a timeless aesthetic.

UPPERS: Burgundy burnish calf by Zonta; slip beading; wing cap; counter; hand stay stitch; toe medallion; brogue punching on cap and counter

LINING: straw veg tan calf

MAKING: 1″ heel; 1/4″ sole; bevelled waist; natural finish throughout

If you like these wing cap derby shoes, you might like these which have a little more decoration and a paler hue. Consequently, they are a particular favourite of ours, we absolutely love the leather which is a veg tanned baby calf, soft and full of life.

The post Frazier Derby Shoe appeared first on Carreducker.

The Whittlesea is about midway on the chelsea boot spectrum. Although we made them with a square waist, we pulled it in quite a lot to give them an elegant curve. The thin leather sole also adds to the elegance. However, the toe shape is roundish and the last curves up at the toe which give a more relaxed look.

The upper leather is a dark blue Museum Calf by Italian tannery Zonta. It is characterised by a subtle mottling and is really suited to a boot because you get more of the leather to enjoy.

UPPERS: Navy Museum Calf; hand blocked vamps; backseam; wholecut

LINING: British Racing Green glace kid skin; hand blocked

MAKING: standard heel height; 1/4″ sole; hand stitched welt; stacked leather heel; hand finished heels and edges; black finish throughout; 10 SPI; thin rubber sticker sole

If you like bespoke chelsea boots, you might like these from our Gallery.

The post Whittlesea Chelsea Boot appeared first on Carreducker.

They are for one of our oldest customers. He placed the order in 2013 and we got to the fitting stage, but then he disappeared for a few years. He recently got back in touch saying he was getting married and could we get them finished. Obviously we said yes and the Watling is the result

A super simple plain oxford with a straight cap and double rows of stitching. With that colour, no more adornment is necessary! We chose a very soft calf leather as he has sensitive feet and a sore little toe.

The leather lends itself to a good shine so we concentrated on the toe area for maximum impact.

The customer chose to have trees too but he will break them in first and then return them to us to make the trees. This is actually the best way to do it as the last maker can get a better fit for the trees.

When he came to collect them, he commented on the way your foot slips into a pair of bespoke shoes with a characteristic “whoosh”. So satisfying!

UPPERS: navy Italian Softee; straight cap; counter; blind eyelets; five lace holes

LINING: straw calf

MAKING: hand lasted; hand welted; 1/4″ sole; machine stitched sole; solid blue finish throughout; high shine on the cap; sticker sole

If you like these navy blue oxfords, you might like these which are similar but in black

The post Watling Oxford Shoe appeared first on Carreducker.

We suggested a black wholecut as this would create the look he wanted. He felt it might look a little plain, so we added the lizard facings which really make them pop

I think the result is very pleasing and he was delighted so an all in all a success – just what we like to achieve at Carreducker

The upper leather is a black calf skin by Weinheimer and the lining is black glace kid.

The customer chose not to have the optional bespoke trees.

UPPERS: Black Weinheimer calf; backseam with dog ear; black lizard skin facings; black slip beading

LINING: Plum glace kid with matching sock

MAKING: standard heel height; 1/4″ sole; hand welted; hand built leather heel; bevelled waist; sticker sole;  black finish on the sole, heel and edges.

If you like these adelaide shoes, you might also like these shoes which are a particular favourite of ours.

The post Hatfield Adelaide Shoe appeared first on Carreducker.