Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Toad Slippers

Well, not really but Toad did send me a great book called The Gentleman’s Slipper by Fiona Dreesmann. Such a gesture simply reinforces my belief that Toad’s the real-deal, friend wise. 
We share many of the same interests and also a mildly curmudgeonesque view of almost every damn thing in the world. Except daughters and granddaughters…we both shed the cranky affect when it comes to this delicate and sublime subject. Same thang, shoe-wise.
So yesterday I roll in to pick up the mail and there’s a parcel from England. Too thin to be my Cleverley shoes and thank God, too soon for their arrival and final invoice as well. Much to my great pleasure, it was this stunning book.
 My views on foppish shoddings are clearly known around these parts. I’ve been accused of being a shill for Belgian Shoes even though I’ve never received anything from any supplier as a favor for writing about their goods. Conversely, Roxanne Burgess threatened to sue me unless I STOPPED writing about her goods. Sometimes a fella just can’t win for losing. Shut up.
Oh, sorry, that’s right, this is about slippers. I started thinking about Roxanne Burgess and a craving flung itself on me. Plus I’m taking a few days off from Adderall and this is the price we pay. Ok, back to slippers. “The slipper speaks of carpets and boudoirs and soft, shaded places where the wearer may relax and be themselves. Unlike our more public costumes, the slipper speaks of the real, private person” writes Julian Fellowes in the forward to Ms. Dreesmann’s book.
Fellowes goes on to tell a great story about his slipper shod second cousin Peregrine Fellowes.“…those slippers spoke of a man who is content in his own skin, of one who fears no judgment and seeks to make no judgment of others. The male slipper is not just a statement of physical comfort, but of a comfort within oneself. They tell of the man who wishes to be no one but himself. This is surely the man we would all want to be.” Indeed Lord Fellowes, indeed.
And I love the story that Ms. Dreesmann tells about her foray into the world of slippers. She wanted to make a special gift for her father’s seventieth birthday and so decided on needlepointing a pair of slippers for him. But she confesses that alas, after completing them, she didn’t have the funds to have her needlework converted into slippers. I’m sure that her father was just as proud to have, for his seventieth birthday, her loving handiwork pre-completion, as he was anything. The slippers in question are shown above.
So the book is just brimming with the oddities and eccentricities that can manifest so clearly in slippers. Every nuance and proclivity that might be conveyed shoddingly is visually evidenced herein.
I mean really. Please. Prince Rupert Lowenstein manifests a slipper led trifecta. Great shoes, beat-to-hell corduroy trousers and a single breasted peak lapelled jacket. 
That’ll be me in another twenty-five years butcept I’ll have a monkey instead of a dog. A little monkey with an Alan Flusser bespoke outfit on. And a cigar. And little slippers. Monkey slippers. Lowenstein’s oldest son stitched his. Nice.
Cartier chairman Arnaud Bamberger is also noteworthy here. His needlepoint slippers are stronger than new rope. 
Bam! Berger.
The 14th Duke of Bedford’s slippers.
More Bedford contrivances. His wife made all of these for him.
 And perhaps the greatest slipper manifestation in the book is the Sir Jackie Stewart story.
His are Cleverley and Stewart pays great respect to the shoe making legend.
The dog ate this guy’s shoes. Literally. And his gal worked on them for two years.
Toad wrote about the book as well. Go here to read his take. Thanks again Toad. I owe you.
Onward. In Kilim.

ADG, II

15 comments:

Renée Finberg said...

i have given you an award ....come see

Toad said...

For reasons unknown at the time I felt The Gentleman's Slipper just might speak your name. I'm so happy you enjoyed it.

megs-giving said...

I wore some of my Stubbs & Woots when I lived in Wales, and the just weren't appreciated by the local population.

That Toad, he's one of the good ones. {as are you}

Gail, northern California said...

Perfect gift for 'ol Maxminimus and Toad's timing, impeccable. Always a comfort when you're a little down to know at that very moment someone thought of you. This was just the sort of thing you needed after losing your beloved Aunt Kat. Well done, Toad.

Anonymous said...

Clearly, I need to chuck the knitting and take up petit point if I have any hope of finding the man of my dreams.
Muffy
aka Madeline

Main Line Sportsman said...

I am waiting 'til they make a pair in max-hd duck blind camo.

ilovelimegreen said...

Did you get the cane chair repaired or is it the angle at which it was shot??

ADG said...

LimeGreen...that's an old picture.

MainLiner...I think Stubbs has camo ones.

Muffy/Madeline...I'm right here.

Gail...thanks.

AnonymousMonkeyBastard...it ain't funny.

Meg...Toad's great. I'm worthless.

Toad...thanks again.

ReneeFine...thanks I'll go look.

Main Line Sportsman said...

Happy Thanksgiving ADG....Hope your are with LFG chowing the traditional menu and having a blast!

NCJack said...

When I saw Toad's blog on the slipper book, I thought of you immediately...Jeez, that's disturbing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and young LF.

BTW, bet you ain't wearin' them bad boys to the Target in Florence

Anonymous said...

I particularly liked the Delta Gamma Sigma ones. Someone is either pretty funny or has funny initials. Someone needs to remind Jackie Stewart of the Two Tartan rule, too.



Cousin Willie
(no turkeys harmed in the forming of these opinions)

Memphis88 said...

I know you been back posting for a little while now but I wanted to tell you I am so glad to have you back. I recommended your blog to a friend of mine the other day. As for slippers, I just pulled the trigger on pair of black slippers from BB that are currently on sale. I'm not much for black clothing though so I am sure a navy or green pair is not far behind. Not to mention a pair of those Kilim slippers.

Trailer Trad said...

Never got the whole slippers thing.

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Magnificent! And it makes me feel better about the red and white striped espadrilles I'm padding about in this am.

But this sentence takes the cake: "Fellowes goes on to tell a great story about his slipper shod second cousin Peregrine Fellowes.“ You couldn't make that up. No one would believe you. Brilliant.

Anonymous said...

I have always heard that only the rich wear these slippers. But I have at least 20 pair made by different companies. Whether cheap or outrageously expensive they are a joy to wear.