The B-C-N (aka Barcelona)

Ok. Ok. I'm finaly getting caught up. I just got back from 7 days in Barcelona, taking a Spanish immersion class in the north part of the city. OMG! Those people know how to live! Wine for breakfast. The city was freezing and I didn't pack enough. My goal was to visit Norman Vilalta, a bespoke Spanish shoemaker but I didn't get the chance. I wanted a pair of custom ankle boots (please give me your ankle boot stories - do you wear them with suits? I luv 'em!). He makes unbelievable shoes and is very low key, which is rare in the world of bespoke. Rent an apartment from someone off Craigslist - you'll save a ton, spend it on tempranillo, and then be too drunk to make your appointments. How does anything get done in the Eurozone?

Ahoy Maties,

So what do you wear on a daily basis?? For daily beaters, I wear Ferragamo. Really, for the price, you can't beat them. A great place to buy Ferragamos are the outlet stores in the US. If you know your size (and Ferragamo is very consistent, you can order them from the outlet and they'll mail them to you inside the US, of course). I got a nice pair of RENO for $225 at the outlet and bought my BRUCE model (laces) for $139 on Ebay from Foot Doctors (very reputable). Keep in mind, these shoes - the Studio Line - are so so. Most of them are mass-produced. The fit is somewhat long and i always have the feeling I'm sliding around in them. But they look great and I get lots of compliments. For going out, business, etc I wear higher- end Italian or Edward Green. Your daily beater?

While I was getting some groceries......

Shipmates and loved ones-

OK. I go into Carrefour - that's a French supermarket in Italy frequented by this American- and on top of the canolis and one euro wine, I find a pair of size 44 shoes by 'Tex Man' - apparently the Carrefour brand. Well anyway, these things fit like a glove. A little soft on the construction but get this - 26 Euros! To me, these look like the Edward Green 808 last (Edwardian). No shoelaces, though. Whaddya think?

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