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mec
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Seeking Your Advice, Gaz

I am a frequent visitor to the Patek Philippe forum but was trolling off topic and stumbled upon this thread.  You appear to have had significant experience with bespoke shoes, so I was hoping you might be able to give me some learned advice.

After having spent half a lifetime squeezing into RTW shoes--even those made by among the best craftsmen, such as Edward Green--I have decided to explore the idea of going fully bespoke (having a wooden last made to the specifications of my feet, etc.).  You see, my feet look like short, wide bricks; to compound the matter, the widest part of my foot is in the toe-box area (think duck-like!).  Even width size G in Edward Green (which converts approximately to EEE in American lasts), which I have worn for the last couple of years in size 9, is too tight.  Had EG or any other maker such as Gaziano & Girling  been able to extend their widest standard lasts somewhat, that might have worked.  Alas, I have inquired, and they cannot.

I have two questions, which appear simple but whose answers I fear may not be. 

First, do you think going bespoke will work in my case?  By that I mean, will I (1) achieve the comfort that has forever eluded me; and, at the same time, (2) be able to have the style of the finest RTW shoes?

Second, are certain bespoke shoemakers better equipped to deal with someone who is a difficult fit?  I particularly like the aesthetics of John Lobb Paris and G&G but haven't had any experience with their bespoke process, obviously.  I live in New York City, so JLP would probably be the easiest to work with as they have a boutique here, while G&G come to New York only twice a year.

Given the significant investment of going bespoke, I just don't want to make a mistake.

Thank you so much for your advice.

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