A Secret About Sears
These days it seems like only the few, fawned over brands bother with building goods handsome and built to last. But once upon a time that wasn’t the case, and even at not-so-chic Sears you’d find scrumptious sweaters made by Ohio Knitting Mills and wingtips as deadly and dapper as the four in my collection.
The first pair wound up in my possession randomly, as part of a costume for a film, and a size and a half too large for me. But the second set were selected because they were the most striking of all the brown wingtips in my size at a local vintage shop.
The rest were sought out specifically on e-bay, and although the era and interior Sears emblem varies a bit from style to style, each pair is rock-solid outside and pillow soft inside. With vintage wingtips, if the leather is too pebbly or too dull the shoe reads as too dusty, dated and drab – but the Sears shoes are grained and glossed just perfectly so.
And, apropos for a Sears shoe, even a rare vintage one, I’ve never paid more than $19.99 for a pair. If Alden or Trickers wingtips elude you economically, go see the softer side of Sears.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 am
Just bid on a brown and black pair. Thanks.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:38 am
Good luck bidding, Jason!
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I own a pair of Florsheim Imperials almost exactly as your very top pair. Reminds me how nice and sturdy their pebbled leather is. Also their shape… Its pure American. Not too sharp as Italians like them or not too rounded as Englishmen would do it. Perfection.
Talking about Sears – I got my secret with them. Its not really a secret – but anyway. That Daytons building downtown (the one that hosts Sears these days), in its basement level, hosts what probably is the best cobbler shop in town. I once had a half an hour long conversation with the older gentleman who runs it – real old school craftsman, pleasure to talk to. Now buy something like those wingtips on ebay – take them there and get them resoled and restored and you got yourself brand new bench made shoes that will last you for a long time….Oh I could talk about it forever
August 4th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Vadim, that cobbler sounds really great. Do you mean in the basement at Macy’s/old Daytons in Mpls – or a place in St. Paul? I can’t think of any sort of Sears presence in Mpls proper.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:52 am
Oh damn… that changes everything. You’re right – its Macy’s. What used to be Daytons/Marshall Fields.
August 5th, 2010 at 6:06 am
How is the sizing on these? True to size or big/small?
August 5th, 2010 at 6:13 am
Hi David.
I’d say the sizing runs pretty accurate. Go toward the higher side/size if stuck, I’d say, since wingtips are a more narrow-fitting style of shoe and made of a harder stiffer leather. Just a little extra room will save your toes some pinching pain.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:48 am
opening ceremony WHAT? im head to SEARS! cue the jingle boys
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:26 am
Question, is there a way to restore the color on my own? I own two vintage pairs myself. One from the early 60′s, the other a Sears pair from the 70′s in it brilliant canary yellow. My main concern is the yellow pair. I need the color restored, they have dulled and turned a mustary gold with age. Which would be fine, but the color is not fluid, more patchy, like cow spots.
I live in St.Louis so if you could help point my compas in the right direction I would be eternally grateful. Thanks!