Not many videos of people keeping the camera on a single pair of shoes for 20 minutes are worth watching. Very thorough and captivating review. Well done.
Aprox 3 yrs ago I bought a pair of 1880 "Edward" Brogues, Tan coloured. I wore them once, very briefly and put them away because I decided I did not like the colour. I recently came across your video guides and was impressed at the way you showed how to change the colour of the leather using creams and polishes. Lacking the confidence to do it myself I contacted Loakes directly and spoke to a lovely helpful lady. Upshot was I sent them off with a printed posting certificate requesting a mahogany colour. 2 weeks later they were returned with a mahogany finish as requested. No cost whatsoever to me including postage. Thanks to you and your helpful guides Saphir creams and polishes are now my "weapons of choice" to maintain and enhance them.
That is a great story and stands as testament to the value they place on customer service. Thanks a lot for sharing, brought a tear to my eye (as a long time Loake fan).
Ash, I just received by Cadogans from the Loake Factory Store (Mahogany). It was *soft as butter*! 😳 Really didn't expect that. If you can recall 3 years back, were yours well supple too out of the box? If so, that really says a lot for the Loake 1880 range. If not, then perhaps mine were returns and the prior purchaser had lathered them in leather cream before sending them back! 😄
Hi Azian, My Cadogans were and remain a great and soft leather shoe. I think the calfskin leather is of a great quality and this contributes to the softness qualities of the shoe considerably. Well done on your purchase, you should get many years of outstanding service from your Loakes - Mine still look like new today, some 4-years down the road. Best regards, Ash
The shoes in the video are made of very good leather. The way to polish is also very nice！ Loake and Barker are not widely distributed because fashionable people in Japan like Edward Green and Church. However, I like the high-end lines of Loake and Barker because they are very well made.
I am considering Loake brogue boots. I have a pair of their brown leather Bannister trainers. When dressing casual with trainers, they add a bit of style to a casual dress style. They are however Made in Portugal, but I am OK with that for a smart looking trainer.
Hello, I generally use Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish in medium brown on these shoes, with occasional applications of dark brown to get that antiquing-effect of patina around the seams and brogue areas. You can easily play about with darker colours to get the look you are aiming for. There is also no need to worry, as the cream polish can easily be removed if the colour is not to your choice as its only pigmentation and will not impart any permanent dyeing of the leather (only alcohol based dyes especially designed to do tht will change the colour permanently.
I'm afraid I can't vouch for the origins of the leather itself, but I know that all the 1880 line shoes/boots are entirely constructed in Kettering in England. In fact, some of the Shoemakers range are also made there, at least all the Goodyear welted shoes/boots are made there.
Loake1880 seem better value than the Church’s offering. More affordable than both Crockett and Jones and Cheaney whom I consider the best value for those who cannot Edward Green prices. Another great review. I’ll have to try out Loake 1880.
Ian Arnold Loake 1880 are a good deal if you are looking for a decent shoe at a good price. But they are not quite the same level as Church or C & J. I visited the Cheaney factory yesterday by coincidence, as I was passing through Desborough in Northants. Their factory shop is a treasure trove of excellence at great prices. I didn’t buy anything - but that was only because I couldn’t think of an excuse to tell the wife.
@The Chap's Guide. Thanks for your enjoyable and informative reviews, Ash. Aberdare Boys Grammar School boy here. I read somewhere that the leather used in the 1880 range is also sourced in India. Do you know if that is the case?
Good to hear from another Aberdare survivor. I'm not sure about the origins of the Loake leather, I suspect it is sourced from overseas due to the price-point that Loake are able to achieve, but that should not detract from the quality. Not much leather is still tanned here in the UK and India is fast becoming a centre for shoe making excellence.
@@TheChapsGuide Thank you, Ash. Makes sense. Can you tell much of a difference in the quality between Loake's 1880 Export range and Church's Custom Grade? On a separate subject I bought a pair of Loake Bedale boots this week on line from Loake's factory shop for a bargain price of £108 and my small left toe is up against the leather. Just wondering if the leather will give as I wear them?
Hi Ash! I have brogues, but they are the cheap versions, around £10-15 _($20-25 NZ)._ I am looking at the *Loake 200B $470* (NZ) (£232). Yes they are not 1880 shoe _(made in the UK),_ however the 200B is made in India, with top/corrected grain. Are they any good for a chap with a limited budget? I have a pair of Black capped Oxfords and I have no idea who and where they were made, they could be a knock off AKA made in China with cheap leather (genuine), may be valued at retail for about $200 (£100)...
The lower tiet Loake models (i.e not 1880), are OK if you cannot stretch to the 1880 versions. But personally, I would go second hand and hunt through Ebay to find a nice pair of the 1880s model of your preference. I have used this method to find many of my own shoe collection.
Hello Mr. Ash (Elegant Chap), Thanks for sharing a well organized and detailed review, exactly what I was looking for. Since you have rich experience with quality dress shoes, I have few queries. 1. Is the upper of these 1880 series made up of full grain calf skin? 2. How is the quality compared to Allen Edmonds (or AE segment shoes) I live in Singapore and here I can get Loake shoes at few stores however getting AE at stores is not possible here. And since I am new to dress shoes, will not be able to spot the leather quality. Additionally, please share your recommendations of brands offering similar/better quality in similar price range. Thanks again for the good work and these videos. Take Care and Stay Safe.
Hi, good to hear from you. the 1880 grade of Loake shoes are all top quality calf leather and manufactured in the UK. They are a favourite of mine as their price is quite reasonable compared to some of the big Northampton brands (Church, Crockett & Jones, etc.) I would compare Loake 1880 to Allen Edmonds, although I've never owned a pair of AE for a full life-cycle as they are rare in the UK (although they sell here via their online site) but they are comparatively expensive. I would look towards Carmina (Spanish) or Meermoin (Spanish) as good, mid-level price options. Great shoes at modest prices. Good luck.
The Chap's Guide Thanks Sir for your response, highly appreciate your efforts, will look into the suggestions you made. Thanks again and have a great time ahead 👍
I would encourage you to use a brand new Stanley knife blade to gently scrape the polish from the area between the toe box and the laces then feed it with Saphir cream. It needs to be kept supple and the lack of shine exaggerates the look of the bulled toecap.
@@TheChapsGuide People talk about using acetone or Renomat cream but that's fraught with risk, you're putting all sorts of nasties into the leather. If you're very gentle and use a new blade which you "drag" at an acute angle you can remove old wax polish without risk of damaging the leather.
I normally use Reno Mat and have found this to be a good stripper, although I am always very careful to immediately cleanse the leather thoroughly with saddle soap after I use removed the polish build-up. It has not presented any issues to date, but I fully agree with your sentiment. Use as few foreign substances as possible on the leather to keep it in tip top shape.
I thoroughly agree with the merits of Loake, as a student in the early 90s when I couldn’t afford old school Church (before the early terrors of the Prada buyout), Loake was my go to brand, and I still have a few pairs knocking around from that era and can attest to the fact that they have lasted extremely well with good care 👍🏻 There used to be another brand, Jones the Bootmaker which I used to rate between Loake and Church, but God alone knows what’s happened to them? They’re still about (and also have a shop on Jermyn Street) but they seem to have lost their edge with poor quality cheap shoes now made on the continent and unlike the admirable Loake, I wouldn’t touch them now with a barge pole! Just for future reference, London’s Jermyn Street is pronounced “Jer-Min”, not “Germain”.
I bought that from a cobblers shop situated in Lower Marsh Street in South London for a remarkable £16. He still has then in stock if you are ever passing through London - well worth the diversion.
Hi, I've just bought very lightly worn (actually look brand new to me) Loakes Cadogan on eBay for 55£. I wanted to know more about the shoes, but there is very little info about them, actually there is no mention of their existence at the official website. What's more, the ones I bought are in tan colour, which I wasn't able to find at all. Can you give me a little insight on them? I already have experience with 1880 line (owning Aldwych and Chester). Thanks
Hi Robert, I've owned a few pairs of Cadogans for a few years now. They were discontinued from the Loake range about 18-months ago after a run of a few years. Loake frequently only run shoe lines for a few years then retire them and bring a similar new model out. Its an unusual strategy and even confuses the staff in my local Loake boutique, as they often retire very popular shoes, which are selling extremely well. The Cadogan is a very solid Loake shoe, I believe the original price was around £250. I have 2 pairs (as seen in my video) with Dainite soles.I have found them to be excellent and very functional shoes, no complaints after many miles of use. If you own a pair of the Aldwych and Chester Loakes there will be no surprises for you in these shoes. I hope that you enjoy them in good health. Best regards, Ash
@@TheChapsGuide Thank you very much for a quick reply and a nice insight into Loake's business strategy, it is indeed strange, especially considering how conservative their range generally is. Looking at their 1880 range now tho, there is not many styles, I think they might have decided to shrink the range to make it less confusing and dumping Cadogan would then make sense, considering it is basically the same as Aldwych except for the broguing (and the little flap at the top of the vamp, I've always wondered whether it has a name and some interesting story, any idea?). If you look at Barker's range, which is a mess, I think such strategy makes sense if you want to strike the "heritage pose".
i disagree with your opinion regarding the quality of church’s, they are merely on par with the top end of loake, wouldn’t suggest them at all. overpriced and should be overlooked.
You have a right to disagree sir. I've visited both factories in the last year and can attest that they are very different entities indeed. Loake is a mass-market manufacturer with numerous tiers of products, with most being made in developing countries and are clearly aimed at high profit margins, but in my opinion, offer questionable quality levels. Only the very highest level of Loake shoes (1880) are worth considering for a reasonable fiscal investment and even then, in most cases sizable discounts can be obtained with only a little effort. Church on the other hand seems a much more heritage brand and it is clear from seeing the factory, that quality is not compromised for cost. I personally have owned both brands and actually I wear more Loake shoes than anything else, but if I was to be brutally honest - the reason for that is that I cannot afford to break into the higher tier of mens shoes due to the enormous costs. My prefefrence for all sorts of reasons is actually Cheaney.
The Chap's Guide in regard to church’s, their quality dropped substantially given the takeover by prada. the quality of leather used on many currently manufactured shoes is equal to that of both loakes and barkers. cheaney, on the other hand i have no argument in dispute of their quality. cheaney were in fact purchased by the church family after church’s was bought by prada. so the heritage of church’s lives on through that. but in reference to prada they use the once elite status of church’s to shroud the quality differences. the construction is absolutely the same. yet the quality of leather has noticeably dropped. corrected grain leathers are awfully common throughout their ranges. they are more fashion forward. that alone can be deduced by their presence at bicester designer luxury shopping village.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Not many videos of people keeping the camera on a single pair of shoes for 20 minutes are worth watching. Very thorough and captivating review. Well done.
Thank you - we have now evolved since that video and the shoes get less screen time, but we still love them!
Aprox 3 yrs ago I bought a pair of 1880 "Edward" Brogues, Tan coloured. I wore them once, very briefly and put them away because I decided I did not like the colour. I recently came across your video guides and was impressed at the way you showed how to change the colour of the leather using creams and polishes. Lacking the confidence to do it myself I contacted Loakes directly and spoke to a lovely helpful lady. Upshot was I sent them off with a printed posting certificate requesting a mahogany colour. 2 weeks later they were returned with a mahogany finish as requested. No cost whatsoever to me including postage. Thanks to you and your helpful guides Saphir creams and polishes are now my "weapons of choice" to maintain and enhance them.
That is a great story and stands as testament to the value they place on customer service. Thanks a lot for sharing, brought a tear to my eye (as a long time Loake fan).
Loake 1880. Beautiful shoes. Wearing shoes like those just enhances your life to be more interesting.
Glad you like them!
Very nice review. I usually polish the sole of my shoes, both leather and rubber.
Dear Ash, thank you for explaining the difference between a brogue, and an oxford mens shoe.
My pleasure!
Great review, the mahogany variant is a stunner.
They have taken a very nice colour indeed. I added some patina by applying dark brown cream, which has accented the joins in the leather wonderfully.
Thomas, John and William, what a formidable Britannic trio
Ash, I just received by Cadogans from the Loake Factory Store (Mahogany). It was *soft as butter*! 😳 Really didn't expect that. If you can recall 3 years back, were yours well supple too out of the box? If so, that really says a lot for the Loake 1880 range. If not, then perhaps mine were returns and the prior purchaser had lathered them in leather cream before sending them back! 😄
Hi Azian, My Cadogans were and remain a great and soft leather shoe. I think the calfskin leather is of a great quality and this contributes to the softness qualities of the shoe considerably. Well done on your purchase, you should get many years of outstanding service from your Loakes - Mine still look like new today, some 4-years down the road. Best regards, Ash
The shoes in the video are made of very good leather.
The way to polish is also very nice！
Loake and Barker are not widely distributed because fashionable people in Japan like Edward Green and Church.
However, I like the high-end lines of Loake and Barker because they are very well made.
Loake (1880 range) offer remarkable value for money. Good construction and solid performers.
A very fine review. First time watching. Subscribed.
Welcome aboard!
Excellent video, will consider loakes in future. One comment: they are 270 deg. Gy welted, aren’t they?
I believe they are 360GW, the product videos showing construction of the items on the Loake website strongly seem to confirm this.
@@TheChapsGuide They are definitely 270 degrees, there are no stitches around heel, only country styles uses 360 in UK.
I am considering Loake brogue boots. I have a pair of their brown leather Bannister trainers. When dressing casual with trainers, they add a bit of style to a casual dress style. They are however Made in Portugal, but I am OK with that for a smart looking trainer.
With Loake, stick to the 1880 range - British made and superb quality (good ebay prices available too).
What colour polish do you use on the mahogany shoes ?
Do you do anything special to get that darkening effect on the brouging and stitching area ?
Hello, I generally use Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish in medium brown on these shoes, with occasional applications of dark brown to get that antiquing-effect of patina around the seams and brogue areas. You can easily play about with darker colours to get the look you are aiming for. There is also no need to worry, as the cream polish can easily be removed if the colour is not to your choice as its only pigmentation and will not impart any permanent dyeing of the leather (only alcohol based dyes especially designed to do tht will change the colour permanently.
So..i have prs of Loake, which do offer to date good value for money products.
But up there with Cheaney, Barker, Alfred Sargent, etc.
Another great video. Thank you. Are the 1880s make entirely in England? Are the uppers made elsewhere?
I'm afraid I can't vouch for the origins of the leather itself, but I know that all the 1880 line shoes/boots are entirely constructed in Kettering in England. In fact, some of the Shoemakers range are also made there, at least all the Goodyear welted shoes/boots are made there.
Loake1880 seem better value than the Church’s offering. More affordable than both Crockett and Jones and Cheaney whom I consider the best value for those who cannot Edward Green prices. Another great review. I’ll have to try out Loake 1880.
Ian Arnold Loake 1880 are a good deal if you are looking for a decent shoe at a good price. But they are not quite the same level as Church or C & J. I visited the Cheaney factory yesterday by coincidence, as I was passing through Desborough in Northants. Their factory shop is a treasure trove of excellence at great prices. I didn’t buy anything - but that was only because I couldn’t think of an excuse to tell the wife.
Just bought a pair of these in black, but in a derby and leather sole. Off the Vinted site. As new, hardly worn. £20!
@The Chap's Guide. Thanks for your enjoyable and informative reviews, Ash. Aberdare Boys Grammar School boy here. I read somewhere that the leather used in the 1880 range is also sourced in India. Do you know if that is the case?
Good to hear from another Aberdare survivor. I'm not sure about the origins of the Loake leather, I suspect it is sourced from overseas due to the price-point that Loake are able to achieve, but that should not detract from the quality. Not much leather is still tanned here in the UK and India is fast becoming a centre for shoe making excellence.
@@TheChapsGuide Thank you, Ash. Makes sense. Can you tell much of a difference in the quality between Loake's 1880 Export range and Church's Custom Grade? On a separate subject I bought a pair of Loake Bedale boots this week on line from Loake's factory shop for a bargain price of £108 and my small left toe is up against the leather. Just wondering if the leather will give as I wear them?
Hi Ash! I have brogues, but they are the cheap versions, around £10-15 _($20-25 NZ)._ I am looking at the *Loake 200B $470* (NZ) (£232). Yes they are not 1880 shoe _(made in the UK),_ however the 200B is made in India, with top/corrected grain. Are they any good for a chap with a limited budget?
I have a pair of Black capped Oxfords and I have no idea who and where they were made, they could be a knock off AKA made in China with cheap leather (genuine), may be valued at retail for about $200 (£100)...
The lower tiet Loake models (i.e not 1880), are OK if you cannot stretch to the 1880 versions. But personally, I would go second hand and hunt through Ebay to find a nice pair of the 1880s model of your preference. I have used this method to find many of my own shoe collection.
@@TheChapsGuide I agree, second hand, as Loake 1880 is about $600 (NZ). A bit of dettol and water, should kill any bacteria?
Hello Mr. Ash (Elegant Chap),
Thanks for sharing a well organized and detailed review, exactly what I was looking for. Since you have rich experience with quality dress shoes, I have few queries.
1. Is the upper of these 1880 series made up of full grain calf skin?
2. How is the quality compared to Allen Edmonds (or AE segment shoes)
I live in Singapore and here I can get Loake shoes at few stores however getting AE at stores is not possible here. And since I am new to dress shoes, will not be able to spot the leather quality.
Additionally, please share your recommendations of brands offering similar/better quality in similar price range.
Thanks again for the good work and these videos.
Take Care and Stay Safe.
Hi, good to hear from you. the 1880 grade of Loake shoes are all top quality calf leather and manufactured in the UK. They are a favourite of mine as their price is quite reasonable compared to some of the big Northampton brands (Church, Crockett & Jones, etc.) I would compare Loake 1880 to Allen Edmonds, although I've never owned a pair of AE for a full life-cycle as they are rare in the UK (although they sell here via their online site) but they are comparatively expensive. I would look towards Carmina (Spanish) or Meermoin (Spanish) as good, mid-level price options. Great shoes at modest prices.
Good luck.
The Chap's Guide Thanks Sir for your response, highly appreciate your efforts, will look into the suggestions you made. Thanks again and have a great time ahead 👍
Great review.
Glad you think so!
I have 2 pairs of Loake. Great price and great quality.
Good to hear
Please a question,,,
Any difference between Cadogan and Aldwych ??
More broguing on the Aldwych
@@TheChapsGuide what do you mean more broguing ??!
I would encourage you to use a brand new Stanley knife blade to gently scrape the polish from the area between the toe box and the laces then feed it with Saphir cream. It needs to be kept supple and the lack of shine exaggerates the look of the bulled toecap.
Storming idea-I'll give it a try.Thanks for the tip.
@@TheChapsGuide People talk about using acetone or Renomat cream but that's fraught with risk, you're putting all sorts of nasties into the leather. If you're very gentle and use a new blade which you "drag" at an acute angle you can remove old wax polish without risk of damaging the leather.
I normally use Reno Mat and have found this to be a good stripper, although I am always very careful to immediately cleanse the leather thoroughly with saddle soap after I use removed the polish build-up. It has not presented any issues to date, but I fully agree with your sentiment. Use as few foreign substances as possible on the leather to keep it in tip top shape.
I thoroughly agree with the merits of Loake, as a student in the early 90s when I couldn’t afford old school Church (before the early terrors of the Prada buyout), Loake was my go to brand, and I still have a few pairs knocking around from that era and can attest to the fact that they have lasted extremely well with good care 👍🏻
There used to be another brand, Jones the Bootmaker which I used to rate between Loake and Church, but God alone knows what’s happened to them? They’re still about (and also have a shop on Jermyn Street) but they seem to have lost their edge with poor quality cheap shoes now made on the continent and unlike the admirable Loake, I wouldn’t touch them now with a barge pole!
Just for future reference, London’s Jermyn Street is pronounced “Jer-Min”, not “Germain”.
Hello ash where can I purchase the brush you were using on your show?
I bought that from a cobblers shop situated in Lower Marsh Street in South London for a remarkable £16. He still has then in stock if you are ever passing through London - well worth the diversion.
Where did you get your shoe trees from?
All info you need here:ua-cam.com/video/8QxmmcZt0tQ/v-deo.html
Any size guide please
Loake generally fits very true to size.
@@TheChapsGuide thanks ♥️
Hi, I've just bought very lightly worn (actually look brand new to me) Loakes Cadogan on eBay for 55£. I wanted to know more about the shoes, but there is very little info about them, actually there is no mention of their existence at the official website. What's more, the ones I bought are in tan colour, which I wasn't able to find at all. Can you give me a little insight on them? I already have experience with 1880 line (owning Aldwych and Chester). Thanks
Hi Robert, I've owned a few pairs of Cadogans for a few years now. They were discontinued from the Loake range about 18-months ago after a run of a few years. Loake frequently only run shoe lines for a few years then retire them and bring a similar new model out. Its an unusual strategy and even confuses the staff in my local Loake boutique, as they often retire very popular shoes, which are selling extremely well. The Cadogan is a very solid Loake shoe, I believe the original price was around £250. I have 2 pairs (as seen in my video) with Dainite soles.I have found them to be excellent and very functional shoes, no complaints after many miles of use. If you own a pair of the Aldwych and Chester Loakes there will be no surprises for you in these shoes. I hope that you enjoy them in good health. Best regards, Ash
@@TheChapsGuide Thank you very much for a quick reply and a nice insight into Loake's business strategy, it is indeed strange, especially considering how conservative their range generally is. Looking at their 1880 range now tho, there is not many styles, I think they might have decided to shrink the range to make it less confusing and dumping Cadogan would then make sense, considering it is basically the same as Aldwych except for the broguing (and the little flap at the top of the vamp, I've always wondered whether it has a name and some interesting story, any idea?). If you look at Barker's range, which is a mess, I think such strategy makes sense if you want to strike the "heritage pose".
Quarter brogue
Nice shoes but not the sole
i disagree with your opinion regarding the quality of church’s, they are merely on par with the top end of loake, wouldn’t suggest them at all. overpriced and should be overlooked.
You have a right to disagree sir. I've visited both factories in the last year and can attest that they are very different entities indeed. Loake is a mass-market manufacturer with numerous tiers of products, with most being made in developing countries and are clearly aimed at high profit margins, but in my opinion, offer questionable quality levels. Only the very highest level of Loake shoes (1880) are worth considering for a reasonable fiscal investment and even then, in most cases sizable discounts can be obtained with only a little effort. Church on the other hand seems a much more heritage brand and it is clear from seeing the factory, that quality is not compromised for cost. I personally have owned both brands and actually I wear more Loake shoes than anything else, but if I was to be brutally honest - the reason for that is that I cannot afford to break into the higher tier of mens shoes due to the enormous costs. My prefefrence for all sorts of reasons is actually Cheaney.
The Chap's Guide in regard to church’s, their quality dropped substantially given the takeover by prada. the quality of leather used on many currently manufactured shoes is equal to that of both loakes and barkers. cheaney, on the other hand i have no argument in dispute of their quality. cheaney were in fact purchased by the church family after church’s was bought by prada. so the heritage of church’s lives on through that. but in reference to prada they use the once elite status of church’s to shroud the quality differences. the construction is absolutely the same. yet the quality of leather has noticeably dropped. corrected grain leathers are awfully common throughout their ranges. they are more fashion forward. that alone can be deduced by their presence at bicester designer luxury shopping village.