This is my first pair of Maftei, a special order with great upper pattern. What satisfies me so well is the leather quality and comfort.
Pattern
It is almost exactly the same as John Lobb St Crepin 2008.
Use thin leather strips to form the Cap Toe and the Quarter near the shoelaces.
Riccardo Bestetti made the same style.
Anthony, this pair, uses a very Austrian last, or a Central European flavor, and the code is 775.
This last was selected by Asian customers who went to Maftei for bespoke shoes.
The benefit of this last is giving dress shoes lovers a diversified choice in aesthetics. Wide, round and high. Compared with the most traditional and conservative round toe last in Britain, this one will be a little square, and then the height of the toe box is more.
The downside is the banana last. From the photo above, you can see the obvious arc on the outside. Although it is more in line with the shape of the foot, there is a problem with the aesthetic feeling at this angle.
A really good last shape certainly needs comfort, but at the same time there should be no compromise on beauty.
Other angles are quite good.
Comfort
Touch
When I first wore this pair of shoes, every enthusiast I met was amazed. It’s not the style, and I don’t know if it’s Maftei. Just because of the texture, or the luster of leather. This gloss doesn’t mean mirror wax on the toe.
This color is considered a little light by many people, I don’t deny it, but the more times you wear it, the more times you take care of it, the darker the color will be, and it will be closer to brown from Tan.
It does take time and I only wear it with a very light suit now.
Last
The last has Italian flavor as the toe has elongated. I didn’t realize it at first, because the toe cap is wide enough, and it doesn’t feel elongated in proportion, but it is actually!
I don’t elongated toe. I know that long leather shoes make people’s legs longer. I am short and need this, but I just don’t like it! I want to be a confident dwarf.
Fit
This last is a bit wide for me. I chose this last to suit the Asian foot type, so it was almost EE-like, and my foot was standard e-wide.
But other aspects of the size are good, for two reasons. One is that Oxford’s shoelaces are tightly tied, which can completely hold the feet down and will not move back and forth, even though the front is wider and there is room for moving forward.
In addition, the heel is closed at the ankle, which will be more obvious than most ready to wear shoes, and it can also make the heel feel caught.
Leather
Top notch.
Mr. Alexandru Maftei goes to the leather factory twice a year by himself, selects and pays for it on the spot, and the quality is completely under his control.
Wood pegging
According to many articles, wood pegging is not good. In my eyes, its most important function is aesthetics. As long as the leather sole has enough wear resistance, it is not a problem.
The order of dress shoes elements is beautiful first, leather second, and there is nothing behind.
Summary
Banana last and wood pegging construction are things that consumers in China don’t have much contact with at present, and for me, it is this leather that I admire most.