We just received several MTO’s from Gaziano & Girling much to the delight of their new owners. Most of these orders were placed in August and September.

Mitchell - Vintage Chestnut TG73 Last

Hughes - Vintage Cedar DG70 Last

Wiltshire - Vintage Maple MH71 Last

Barclay - Mole Suede TG73 Last

Mitchell - Espresso Calf MH71 Last                            Fairmont - Vintage Rioja TG73 Last

Thorpe - Arran Grain MH71 Last                               Cambridge - Espresso Calf MH71 Last

Salt, great for defeating ice and snow but terrible on leather or suede. Lately I’ve seen salt stains on quite a few shoes and have been asked how to deal with it. It usually looks something like this.

The best way to combat the stain is to rinse the shoes off while they are still wet. If that’s not possible the salt will dry leaving a white stain, and the longer it’s left on will begin further damaging the leather.

Yes there are products made to remove salt stains, but I’ve always used a 50/50 mixture of warm water and white vinegar. Use a soft cloth and wipe away the stain, after the shoe is dry proceed to a leather balm or conditioner and then polish.

If your shoes are soaking wet stuff them with newspaper (not trees) lay them on their sides if they have leather soles and let them dry away from direct heat. Once they are dry replace the trees and use the conditioner and polish. Never polish shoes while they are wet!!!

This week we have the new Edward Green Midford in Black Calf on the 82 last in our window. I think of this new cap toe as an updated version of the Chelsea. I also like the 82 last, which is more tapered and modern than the traditional 202 last.

In addition we are showing the classic English cashmere scarf and silk tie by Psycho Bunny, as well as the black travel polish kit by La Cordonnerie Anglaise Paris.

Welcome to 2009, this is a good time to take stock of your shoe inventory, what you still wear and what you don’t. A basic shoe collection should consist of 3 to 4 pairs for dress and casual wear, and should of course be in good condition and worn in rotation.

I recommend one pair be black oxfords even if “you never wear black shoes” trust me there will come a day you will need them. The rest should be according to your work/lifestyle. It’s also a good idea to have a pair for bad weather.

Here is a sample of what a Basic collection could look like of course it can grow exponentially from here:

Church’s Consul

Alden All Weather Walker

Corthay Bucy                                                          Edward Green Westminster

We’d like to take this opportunity to express a most sincere “THANK YOU” to every one that has supported Leffot during 2008. We wish you a wonderful 2009 one of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Fabulous Footwear.

One of my favorite styles in the store is the Gaziano & Girling Mitchell, I wear it in Vintage Maple but it’s also one of my favorite shoes in black.

I love the way the wingtip is achieved by stitching into the upper creating a lighter more contemporary version of this most classic of styles; combine that with the medallion on the toe and the TG73 last and you have a black shoe that is both modern and classic at the same time.

The new January/February issue of Gotham Magazine is out and they’ve included Leffot as one of their “Headline Makers”. Thank you Gotham we really appreciate being on your radar.

May you and your loved ones enjoy this Holiday for all it is worth. We wish you peace, health, and happiness, and may the joy in your heart and the shoes on your feet have you “Walking in the Air”.

I was more than a little surprised when Santa Claus pulled up in front of the store today to delivery this pair of Edward Green MTO’s for Joe S. He’s a lucky man since he just had a pair of Arca’s delivered to him by Pierre Corthay earlier this month.

Joe placed this order for the Newmarket on October 28, quite good delivery on EG’s part. These are in black calf on the 888 last. A classic Chelsea boot if ever there was one.

Sure Christmas is upon us and there’s so much to do but we just received two new Artioli’s that are absolutely drop dead gorgeous, not to mention amazingly comfortable.

We received only eight pairs of this wing tip loafer and one has already been sold. These are very special in color and design and quite limited. We detailed them to our own specifications and they are the only pairs in the US, quite probably the entire universe.

Artioli - Wingtip Loafer in Chocolate and Burgundy Calf

The color of this Cap Toe in Bourbon is hand finished and gorgeous, this is a shoe that can go from boardroom to a night on the town.

If you’ve never owned or tried on a pair of Artioli shoes you have no idea what you are missing.

Artioli - Cap Toe in Bourbon Calf with elastic laces