Originally Posted by STG

After all, all drivers need to wear shoes. The 991 board
has its favorites. The GT board have different tastes?
No ADM's and no PTS windows.

Originally Posted by saeyedoc

Not lace up, but these are nice. The Original Car Shoe, made by Prada

Originally Posted by Z356

Let me take issue with Prada on this matter.
The latter would have you believe that they
originated the shoe in their company.





*
But in fact The Car Shoe Company was an
independent manufacturer for nearly 40
years since it's founding in 1963! And they
made shoes for other 'labels', which I will
get to in a minute. Prada took it over not
that many years ago - 2001!

Early years
Car Shoe was founded in 1963 by Gianni Mostile.
The brand soon became best known for its signature
moccasin which feature tiny rubber nubs. The brand
earned a patent from the Italian Ministry of Industry
and Trade and its advocates included Giovanni Agnelli,
U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Roberto Rossellini.

Prada takeover
In 2001, Car Shoe was assimilated by Prada, which soon
opened stores in Milan and Capri in the next two years
and introduced the line into over 200 major boutiques
internationally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_Car_Shoe
***
The company that really put the 'Car Shoe' mocassin
on the 'map' was Hunting World, a safari apparel &
hunting accessories company with its principal store in
NYC (16 East 53d Street). It was founded by a very
wealthy & well traveled adventurist & safari hunter
named Robert Lee:



This individual became one of the greatest collector
of automobiles in the whole United States. His cars
won many awards, including 'Best of Show' at Pebble
Beach's Concours d'Elegance. And unfortunately, Lee
passed away just recently:

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Medi...naissance-man/
*


Hunting World is probably best known for their 'battau
fabric' travel bags. If you are of a certain age & lived
in NYC or other elegant locations in the East Coast, you
would remember them. They were a necessary fashion
accessory for any New Yorker of means on his way out
to the beaches of Long Island on the Hampton Jitney!
And they also became the practical bag of choice for
press photographers travelling the world in part because
they were 'weatherproof'!



***
But in the 1970s & 1980's, Hunting World marketed
their private label Italian-crafted 'Car Shoe' very (very)
effectively! I bought my first pair in 1977 when I was
working for Bankers Trust Company at 280 Park Avenue.

In 1983, the fashionistas at the New York time started
to notice their popularity:

"And for those men and women willing to spend $85,
Hunting World has a version called the driving shoe.
Low-cut and square-toed, it has a leather sole pierced
with little rubber ***** that form a tread. Why the
tread? The saleswoman said they pass the car's
vibrations straight to the foot, so you can drive
and get a foot massage at the same time. Well,
she swore it was true."

http://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/01/st...n-fashion.html

*
And in 1988, the same NY Times fashion critics
followed up with this report:

"At 60 East 52d Street, Belgian Shoes is still selling
the same loafer-***-moccasin that has been its
trademark for more than 40 years. The price is
now up to $125 a pair. And at 16 East 53d Street,
Hunting World continues rolling out its dashing
moccasin with a fretwork of ***** on the soles
(to facilitate driving) at $95 a pair."

http://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/21/st...lk-softly.html
*
I must admit to all of you that I also have a very
expensive pair of 'Belgian Shoes'. These are probably
the most comfortable shoes I own. But they are not
designed for driving...just hanging around with other
'Preppy Swells' in the Upper East Side! And I strongly
recommend them if you are looking to match your PTS
Porsche!



http://www.belgianshoes.com

*
I ran into Robert Lee & his then fiance (now his
widow - Anne Brockinton Lee) at a restaurant in
Reno when I had a second home nearby at Montreux.
We reminisced about 'Hunting World' & his safari
travel business he also owned (Lee Expeditions, Ltd.).
And I told him how much I had enjoyed owning his
'car shoe' mocassins. He perked up & invited me to
tour his amazing car collection at a giant warehouse
in Sparks. And I did that a few days later...truly
unforgettable!

*
I believe that 'Hunting World' closed their NY store
in 2008. But they outlasted venerable Abercrombie
& Fitch, the original luxury 'sporting goods store'.
The latter was a company founded in 1892!

*
This is probably more than any of you wanted to
know about 'the original car shoe'...or any other
shoe frankly! But I am down with a stomach flu
and have some time in my hands!

Originally Posted by STG

Now I just need to have my own shoe someday

Originally Posted by Guest89

Belgian shoes in the iconic "Mr. Casual" style are supremely
comfortable and only people "in the know" are clued in to
them. Strongly recommend trying on at their store at Park
and 55th (their sole retail location worldwide), as the sizing
is proprietary.

Originally Posted by Guest89

I prefer Tod's to Car Shoe personally; also a great shoe
but they are borderline disposable when it comes to wear
(have a pair that's 3 months old, worn a few times a month
- maybe 12-15x total - and many of the gommino nubs are
quite worn already).

Originally Posted by Z356

...

And Prada has an alternative driving
shoe now. When I was in Düsseldorf
in 2015, I bought a pair of Prada's
'Driver Shoes' in that city's beautiful
Königsallee shopping zone.



These 'drivers' have a totally different
kind of sole than 'The Original Car Shoe',
so they are easier to walk in.



I frankly had not seen that quality
of thick leather in years & reminds
me of the original Gucci loafers from
my youth (that I still own). And not
surprisingly, the quality of the leather
& workmanship has its high cost! They
sold originally in Europe for 470 Euros!

Originally Posted by kfmcmahon

this is my usual track footwear....Italian loafers with white socks

channeling my "inner Senna"