Exotic leather shoes - Something to indulge after you have owned the basics

Fratelli Rossetti Crocodile Balmorals (l) and Teju Lizard Derby shoes (r)

What every working man should have are shoes to rotate so that the shoes do not die a premature death. I had suggested that working men have at least two good pair of shoes to rotate every other day. They should then build this up to at least five pairs of dress shoes and about two or three good pair of casual weekday shoes as well as a pair of patent leather oxfords or formal patent leather slippers/pumps for those black tie functions. With this outlay, it is easy to ensure that the shoes you have invested your money will actually last a decade or so with proper maintenance and care.



When you've done so the shoe cabinet gets a little bit varied. You add colour which I've mentioned in this article here. Now when that is basically done things get slightly more decadent. You may start yearning for exotic leather. There are ostrich, peccary, snakeskin, crocodile, alligator, stingray as well as others. These are usually shoes that costs about double what you normally pay for and triple for crocodile or alligator. Some even more exotic leather like rhinoceros or even shark could be used too. There is also something called Russian leather from a ship that sunk in 1768. Really exotic as it is aged, textured leather that has been survived the shipwreck and has been brought up bit by bit by salvage divers. Somehow, the leather is still preserved in its packaging after all these years.

Some of these leathers are suitable to be used as shoes. Some, like ostrich  and snakeskin takes a whole lot of skill in order to look good as on some style of shoes Ostrich leather (the part taken from the body and not the leg - which looks like budget croco or aligator instead) looks like your shoe has suffered from a million bee stings or has chicken pox. Some look plain garish if not done properly. What ever the case, there are some of us shoe aficionados that want the texture and the look these leathers give. Alligator and Crocodile are somewhat sought after. Especially alligator, with its squarish scales like this beauty by Riccardo Bestetti pictured below.

These leather shoes are an indulgence instead of a necessity. This is usually the case for leather other than those you can get from most shoe stores. There is no denying the fact that exotic leathers are a luxury. But as with life, some of these are experiences that are worth savouring.

Now if I can only get a pair of Alligators soon.