BUILDING A GREAT SHOE COLLECTION ON A SMALL BUDGET

[@Agerskiold]

To ‘train’ myself in shoe ‘building’ I bought a second hand pair. They have been satisfyingly sold now, and/but I got a lot of valuable training experience that I can use on my more expensive shoes. It’s actually really a great hobby and you get to look good too, so a win win 👍🏻 Thanks for a great episode 🙏🏻

[@TheChapsGuide]

Be careful - shoe buying on ebay is as addictive as hard narcotics - I started out the same way.

[@Agerskiold]

@@TheChapsGuide It certainly can 🙏🏻 I’ve had to say no several times or take a step back. The shoe you find ‘today’ will also be there ‘tomorrow’. So a word of advice is to take your time 👍🏻

[@iansoutryer3189]

Slightly off topic: I got hold of a pink tie by Tyrwhitts from a household clearance - however, I have felt not confident enough to wear it. Now, that I have seen it on you for a full 17 minutes, I'm going to give it a try. :-)

[@TheChapsGuide]

Pink is in fact the historic colour associated with the male gender - wear your pink tie with pride (no pun intended).

[@FragranceGame85]

Pink Ties are actually masculine. I always wear one when i have a suit on

[@ardentdfender4116]

@@TheChapsGuide What I do appreciate in your videos is advice in fashion and style that is rooted in some far back historical significance as to why it became so in the first place. Not always to learn history, but to gain some understanding of why and because you as a person may have no complete understanding of that thing in the first place. I don’t yet have a solid color or patterned pink tie, but I do have several very nice pink shirts that I do enjoy wearing. Its a nice color to rock or layered under a Jacket of any kind.

[@nigelmcmorris9096]

Really enjoying and appreciating this channel. Apart from the value of the advice, and everything being superbly presented, it is the UK-orientation of the products being discussed, and the extensive focus on shoes, which make the channel special, in my opinion. Thanks for all you share.

[@nigeldarcy]

Great content. What I've done lately is dye my tan loake brogues to oxblood, I now wear a shoe that was sat in my shoe cupboard unloved and saved me buying the same shoe in oxblood

[@barrysanaloginsights]

Lovely colours today Ash - they work really well together! Thanks for the shoes tips :) Take care.!

[@jameswise8396]

Waited for the Allen Edmonds sale and picked up 3 pairs for under $425. Great advice

[@TheChapsGuide]

Awesome result - what did you get?

[@bigbadbith8422]

Well, it's Saturday and here I am again at The Chap's Guide - another very enjoyable and useful episode

[@TheChapsGuide]

Enjoy!

[@Konsaliki]

Couldn't agree more: Once you get over being put off by the thought of buying pre-owned shoes, a world of quality opens up. I currently own about ten pairs of quality shoes - many of them pre-owned, most of them only slightly worn. Herring, Tod's, Loake, Allen Edmonds etc. - all between 30 and 50€. Once this foundation had been laid, I felt comfortable with adding brand new pairs to my rotation.

[@TheChapsGuide]

It’s the only way to achieve that level of quality at incredibly modest prices. I’ll never go back.

[@ardentdfender4116]

I can and do agree that pre-own shoes does have a place in ones wardrobe arsenal. Within this discussion is a perspective of something that few people ever discuss as well and that’s people who but expensive shoes usually go thru some lengths to try to take care of them, maintain them or rotate their shoes having the option to wear other shoes. Thus those shoes don’t look as worn or get worn as much. There will always be a percentage exception in everything and that’s not the majority of shoe owners I’m talking about. Some people may have died, divorce ir anything as such and their family chose to sell ir donate that persons shoe collection in order to get rid of their stuff. That shoe may find life serving another person in wearing. But it’s my personal belief as a shoe owner and still starting out in my collection that people who like shoes do try and take care of them. Thus your very likely to find great deals at budget prices on places like EBay. It can have a place in a persons shoe budget for finding good deals there as long as you look at the item closely with the info at hand.

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

Ash this is what I have done. EBay is where I purchased 5 pair of Allen Edmonds. All in excellent condition. And for 1/5th the price. I have have bought 2 pair AE boots from their website because the were on sale. Great advice. Keep up the good work. Cheers. Ron

[@alexanderdylanthomas1891]

Another fantastic video Ash! You have succinctly explained my own shoe finding tactics in this video, including the all-important ‘eBay arbitrage’! I am still very much looking forward to your ‘embarrassingly extensive’ shoe collection video, as such videos help to reassure me that I’m not alone in the scary world of dress shoe obsession! Much appreciated one again, Alexander.

[@TheChapsGuide]

You are not alone sir, I'm desperately trying to man age my collection down to more reasonable levels, but I am in the process of preparing a video on my arbitrage adventures on ebay.

[@willmarshall4685]

I own a pair of their vintage brogue oxfords from the 60’s. Lovely shoes. I had them refurbished with day night soles. They are incredibly comfortable and versatile shoes and the leather is silky soft.

[@arindambasu9850]

Love your channel, the content is right up my alley. As someone just foraying into classic menswear, the content really resonates with me. Just ordered a pair of Trickers stows in chestnut, after getting inspired by your videos on English classic footwear 😀 you certainly deserve way more subscribers!

[@TheChapsGuide]

Trickers - very nice!

[@malcolmspillett8172]

I have several pairs of shoes bought from charity shops, many of which have never been worn. My mother used to volunteer in a local charity shop and told me that a lot of menswear stock was donated unworn, as the owner had died. This turned out to be the case when my father died, he had numerous items of clothing that he had never got around to wearing.

[@Alandale45]

Lesson here is to wear and circulate what you have because we don't know when we'd transition. There is also the saying that "What we own is what we use". I used to keep things for special occasions. I've now learnt that every moment is special.

[@dazd8306]

Best channel on YT

[@TheChapsGuide]

Thank you sir.

[@tristinsims726]

Hi Ash, great tips all around. I have an affinity for Florsheim Wingtips. My collection is also quite extensive but I have never paid over $40.- US. E-bay, thrift stores and consignment are my friend. Like you I shop and compare and have found several New Old Stock for penny's on the dollar. I think every "Gentleman" should consider second hand shoes, if you hunt you can find a great deal. Again thanks for the tips.

[@___1980.]

Thank you Ash for really strategically pinpointing the way to go about the footwear journey. These are things we should know, but always good to put into perspective and congratulations 🎈🍾🎊🎉 on your new cap toes…!!! Excellent destined shoe for you! I personally could never wear another man’s sweated shoe, but you finding a brand new pair is beyond belief✨👌🏼

[@prometeoderiad3629]

Fabulous video. You are an extraordinary man!

[@TheChapsGuide]

Glad you think so!

[@ardentdfender4116]

I’ve been enjoying your vids. I like shoes, very good shoes, stylish shoes with elegance in design that looks comfortable. I often clip a picture of a shoe I like and save it on my PC and who made it. I could never afford to buy them all at full price. I started just having enough of a variety of shoes that looked great but at the lower end, just to have a variety of shoes so I’m not wearing them everyday the shoe to let them rest. That alone is a reason for men to have many leather shoes so you have enough variety the shoe leather can rest in between wearing. Now I’m upgrading to buying much better shoes slowly. While I’m aware of places like EBay for looking up maybe some the very same shoes I have a picture folder of to pick up a few deals, I just haven’t thought about it in mind usually. But this video has reinforced the thought that I should consider occasionally seeing if I maybe can find a few good deals for budget quality buys that can add to my curated shoe collection. That is my takeaway from this video.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Good luck on that shoe journey - Ebay has been the biggest win for me.

[@canadafree2087]

I have one pair of Allen Edmonds (UK brands are almost unheard of around here) and I am looking at getting some of their factory seconds. The US$ is currently 33% higher but AE has 30% off sale shoes now. This brings down my cost being on par with US$ plus the seconds being at least $100 cheaper. A $200 shoe on sale is much better than a poor quality $200 shoe at full price. make sure to do the math gentleman on both exchange rates and shipping.

[@mohawkdriver2504]

I bought two pairs of Allen Edmund black oxfords at my local thrift store for $20 each. Looked like they had never been worn.

[@williammack9512]

Shoes are the first thing a woman notices about a man. I don't know why, but it's true.A great show, as always, Ash. I think you should change your theme music to "sharp dressed man". Thanks, William, from Dublin (Ohio).

[@michaelmclaughlin7328]

Thank you for solving the County Classics mystery for me. I was issued a pair of the same shoes as part of the Kent Ambulance service dress uniform to collect an award at the Palace of Westminster. Some people would call it a bravery award, I prefer to think of it as recognition for being too stupid to run away. I took them to my local cobbler who judged them inferior to Loake’s, due to the plastic heel and synthetic lining, but a good quality shoe nonetheless. He advised that I wear them as people would assume that they were a better quality shoe than they are. I wear them when driving to meetings, and if they get marked en route, I change into a pair of Loake’s, which I keep in the boot of my car.

[@ABC-rh7zc]

Used shoes are the real heroes here. I bought a par of Church's custom grade £900 shoes for £90, another £800 pair of Ferragamo Tramezza line shoes for £90, a pair of Dior £800 goodyear welted loafers for £40 and a pair of Martegano £400 shoes for £60 and a pair of slightly flawed and used Doucal £350 shoes for nothing (due to the flaw). All looked like new after I gave them some attention. A total of £3,250 worth of shoes for £280 - a discount of 91%.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Great job sir

[@guitarplayer5611]

Excellent video once again!

[@keshavvikram3397]

Hey Ash have you ever had experience with tlb Mallorca artista shoes they are great shoes around the 350 quid mark with lasted shoe trees. There black cap toe Oxford looks like and Edward Green and the last is very elegant.

[@TheChapsGuide]

I’ve heard of TLB and looked at their shoes on my trips to Mallorca over the years. They look excellent and have garnered an enviable reputation for value for money. I’ve not yet owned a pair, but I would not hesitate to invest in a pair at that price point. Thanks again for the advice. Ash

[@davidwillsofthenorth]

Fantastic video! I use a number of these tips already. It used to be that Church's owned Dack's and Hartt's here in Canada, and the shoe quality was easily the same or very comparable. I wouldn't wear anything but a solid, classic, men's style of shoe or boot anymore just because of the comfort level on my feet. I recently found a pair of oxblood/cherry coloured brogues in a thrift store. The company name was Rockleigh of England, Lane Crawford Ltd, made in England. Is this company still around? I can not find a source of information on them.

[@TheChapsGuide]

I'm not aware of that brand - they may have been manufactured under that brand by another, more well-known shoe-maker.

[@holla5263]

Can you do a video on how to break in new shoes please. Many thanks

[@tomvandebospoort4803]

Good suggestion. Don't always need a break in period for dead man shoes, another point going for them. I tend to put saphir renevateur on them in 2 layers, it gets them broken in quicker and conditions the leather nicely too. There are other gimmicks such as using a hair dryer or heavy conditioners, but this will ruin the shoes. I think you just have to condition them, wear them around the house or on short journeys etc.and put up with a bit of sore feet for 24 hours of wear.

[@robo2606]

Great story about the strategy of buying and selling on eBay 😎

[@ZoomZoom-ng6sn]

Usually not a good feeling to overspend. Strange guilty-like feelings start to emerge. LOL

[@viclucyzia]

I would love to go to Northhamptonshire and look for some discounted 2nd grade or discontinued style shoes.

[@SuperTravisbickle]

I've been following your advice and have found a very nice looking pair of sanders and sanders black brogues. However, the soles are not in the best condition. Before I buy them, how much do you think it would cost to get the soles replaced in the UK? Its quite difficult to find an answer online.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Most goodyear welted shoe makers offer a factory resole service, these usually begin in the £100 - £150 area. Not cheap, but worthwhile if the shoes merit that sort of investment.

[@SuperTravisbickle]

@@TheChapsGuide Thank you very much for your advice. I don't think its worthwhile for me at the moment, it's not really a matter of needing the shoes but rather wanting them haha. I will bear it in mind for the future though and keep my eyes open for a pair with soles in good condition.

[@moimeme6533]

How many pairs in your shoe collection? :)

[@TheChapsGuide]

20 - 30. I'm actually trying to downsize

[@moimeme6533]

@@TheChapsGuide nice, that sounds like a good rotation. Bravo for jumping on those black cap oxfords...and if you're gonna have multiple versions of the same color & style, that is the first one to do it with IMO. 😎

[@navigatelegalservicesllc]

Next video, showing your entire shoe collection and how/why you acquired each?

[@TheChapsGuide]

Coming soon!

[@paulrobinson3042]

40, 50, 60% off is nothing more than marketing. Don't be sucked in by it. Buy the shoes you love with a bottom line you are comfortable with. Don't buy just because it has been discounted.

[@chrishalle1982]

In germany resoling shoes isnt expensiv. Shoepassion want 105€ for resoling a pair of shoes thats about 90 pounds. I dont know why the UK is so expensive.