Florsheim by Duckie Brown
I know most of you are probably not the same kind of statement makers as Nick Wooster. And it’s not common to have blazing yellow brogues on your feet while you’re struttin’ about, just doin’ your thang. Well, just in case you are in the mood to take that wardrobe of yours and add some pop to it, the Duckie design duo is there. Wuh, wuh!
I won’t get all Wikipedia on you, but the story goes that in 1892 Milton started making shoes in Chicago. He believed in quality. Today the company makes their shoes in India and rely on the name to sell the shoes instead of the US-based craftsmanship they once depended on. (via AskAndy) The real Florsheims were made in the 50’s and 60’s. Seek out a pair of Royal Imperial Kenmoors to see what I’m talking about—something like this.
It’s not all bad news for Florsheim, though. In 2007 Florsheim had a mid-life crisis and married the eclectic brand Duckie Brown. The wedding was beautiful and the fashion forward tastes of Steven and Daniel has brought rays of color and quite honestly a new perspective to the old stodgy geezer. I’ll let the Wall Street Journal tell you more about it. So yeah, Florsheim can no longer be considered just the cheap formal shoe. It’s stepped out of its conservative shell and into a contemporary one.
I’m not sure if Wooster is wearing the Duckie Brown Florsheims below, but he’s not wearing something far from it. I know he’s been called a taxi cab, but you gotta give him credit for not gettin’ his ass beat while walkin’ around in those bright ass joints in NYC. That’s a tough motherfuckah.
Anyway, back to the brand, the brogue is my favorite from their latest collection and it looks surprisingly solid. It looks like what Wooster is wearing and the shoe is fitted with calf uppers (There’s a cordovan upgrade, too.) and a triple-plied Goodyear welt. And lastly, you can get them in most colors of the rainbow.
The article The Florsheims, Back in Their Own Shoes is a good read if you want to learn more about the company.
photos courtesy of Florsheim
(Source: florsheimbyduckiebrown.com)
