![Septieme Largeur Joffre Review]()
A Re-Review With 5 Years Of Experience
We are back today with another episode of “Was It Worth It?“, a multi-part series where I Re-review shoe acquisitions and see if things changed, improved or got worse since my original post.
In this particular post we will be looking at the Septieme Largeur Joffre in custom brown marble patina, which I received back in 2021. With 5 years under its belt and plenty of use, it’s a great opportunity to revisit it.
You can find the previous part here: Carlos Santos Double Monks 7 Year Review
Usage, Cost Updates & Overall impressions
Due to the rather special patina, this is not a model that I wear in week in week out. However according to my excel I have worn them around 100 times, which is pretty impressive given my extremely large shoe collection.
For me this means that it is a product worth keeping, I like how it looks and I still consider it excellent when I want to make a statement. The truth is I have had many people compliment the shoes. I mean, look at them they do look dashing.
One thing that has changed since my original review is the price. Back then it was around $375 if I remember right. Since then, things in the industry changed a lot and prices of everything in our lives has gone up. At the moment, the Joffre Oxford by Septieme Largeur in custom patina sits around 415 Euros (or $435 USD). It is an important increase, but if the shoes are still good it is not unheard of for patina work.
Honestly, the shoes look fantastic and still fit me well. The patina aged gracefully and can still take a decent shine. This should also dispel even more myths that patina shoes are hard to maintain or have thin, injury prone leather.
Let’s took a closer look at things.
Leather & Patina
Through their patina program, Septieme Largeur has a plethora of different custom colors to choose from.
Mine was called the M098 and is a nice blend of brown hues. Mottled, with a hint of museum calf patina look for a lack of better wording.
It’s a rather complex patina with multiple colors and layers and only back when their artist competed in the Super Trunk Show in London I got to see it in action and understand it better.
The creasing is rather gentle and the areas where the foot flexes have developed this lighter brown tone, which makes a great contrast. I like the burnishing as well.
Of course, for the less adventurous you can select a more conservative or uniform patina.
I honestly think this has aged very well for 5 years, very similar to my Carlos Santos.
Stitching & Sole
In the stitching department I have nothing really to say. I checked them everywhere and there’s no nicks or cuts, or fraying.
The backseam is good, the welt seems fine. The only thing that actually frayed was the plastic end of the shoelaces around the tip. This happened in only one of them regardless and it’s not something I care for.
As for the sole itself, it has some good mileage under its belt and still is far from a resole and replacement.
There’s a bit of wear in the front and back heel as expected, while the waist remains in fine condition.
It’s also a fun reminder that they were wood pegged in the waist and you can still see the pegs!
Fιt & Last
These shoes are on the 199 Last with a more almond, chiseled shape.
I still think it is a rather well-balanced, aesthetically pleasing last.
When it comes to fitting, I chose a UK 8.5 (US 9.5) which was spot on as they would be narrow in my usual UK 8 (US 9).
It was the right choice and I can report now that even after 5 years they fit me well and comfortable.
Can I Recommend Them?
Based on my experience, it was never difficult to recommend Septieme Largeur.
It is a small family company and the owner is an excellent guy. I have had a few people complain in the comments that the sizing is hard or their customer service can be iffy at times. This is not for me to say however, since I always dealt directly with the owner.
One thing that I am inclined to mention is that these used to be made in a very famous factory in Spain. This factory closed their dress shoe business last year, so such companies had to find a replacement around. This means that my pair might be a bit different than the one you will receive now (the patina however is done in house). So I cannot speak about the quality of the construction or the leather. If they are open to sending me a pair to review, I would be happy of course to compare.
The price has gone up by around $50, but this is something everybody has been forced to do. Then again, you do not have to get the more expensive patina and even their regular collection shoes are fairly priced.
You can find their shoes on their website, or by visiting their store in Paris.
Conclusions
This brings me to the end of my 5 Year Re-review of the Septieme Largeur Joffre in Marble Brown Patina.
A very pleasant experience and a shoe that holds up well until this day. If you are in the market for something cool and functional, give them a look.
Since both of my revisits have been good so far, maybe it’s time for the next one to be with a few more faults?
The truth is that I have gotten rid off of most of the ones I did not like, so it might prove a challenge.
Nonetheless, thank you as always for reading and enjoying the comeback!
Thank you for reading,
Kostas Mandilaris,
Misiu Academy
