Finally found what i've been looking for oh so long - My 2nd birthday present to myself - A SOLEMATE

13 Sept 2008

Sometime around this time of year, last year, i set off on a search which became a hunt for what i thought could be all encompassing. Something which could be suitable for an informal occassion. Something which could be suitable for a formal occassion.

Searching high and low became hunting high and low. In the end i stumbled upon what i thought then would suit the background brief. And here it is:

The 2nd opinion coming from my companion in the search was a favourable one. Making it an even easier decision to get it quick. For the next couple of months, it served its purpose perfectly. Dressed mainly in jeans and shirts or semi casual pants with shirts daily, it became the perfect shoe.

Once formality set in, somewhere in the beginning of this year, i found myself not feeling comfortable in my own shoes - literally - for the look was spoilt due to the mismatched visage.

The mismatched look was not something which others pointed out nor was it something that was spotted from afar.

Looking down in the mornings before leaving house, i realised on my own that it looked weird. More so, it was a mismatch because that look was something which i couldnt carry off. I'm not the tough alpha male cowboy who's rough around the edges. It was a total turn off to me.

For the next few months thereafter, i was on a subtle search for something which i knew would last me through the seasons and through a timeless journey. The intense search which was done in bursts began in the periods of February; March; March - April; May - June; all with different companions tagging along for a 2nd opinion.

The last burst May-June was coincidentally with the same original companion of old from the last search a year back, but this time companionship meant much more. Search led to a hunt yet again, athough nothing fruitful came out of it in the end.

So, the hunt stopped for quite sometime due to many unforeseen, unexpected incidents - not to mention unbelievably unbelivable events. Now that the stormy waves and whirlwind has died down, the search resumes.

This time, i had no need for any companion, i had no need for a 2nd opinion. I felt like i'm all i need. Finding the place wasn't exactly like following a yellow brick road. Finally finding the place was checkpoint 1.

Stepping into the store, the music was just so me. The setting was just so me. Looking at the styles displayed on the racks, from belts to shoes to accessories everything was just so me. Slipping my feet into just one pair i was eyeing was enough to tell me that this was the point of no return. Not only the point of no return for the shoe itself, it was the point of no return to tell me that mass produced retail shoes just dont make the cut.

The shoe didnt just cover my feet, they engulfed and embraced me from bottom up. The feeling of having good grounding and surefootedness was personified through that split second uplifting feeling of being rooted. How paradoxical yah? That's the difference in a handcrafted pair of shoes and a pair that came out from the automated production line. Even the sewing and heming are of such unmatchable precision, which explains the durability and timeless effect with a style that doesnt die off cause it's a part of you. It's you personified.

Speaking with the shop owner...nay the shoe maker...nay the eminent maestro, i came to realise that being comfortable in one's own shoes has such a rich and deep meaning. The shoes we wear will determine the entire wardrobe. From pants to belts to shirts, even the walk, the talk will change.

Now here's a guy in front of me who is really spiritually in tune with his shoes and his trade. Yet his humble little shop is in a part of the coutry which needs effort to locate much less get to. This humble little shop couldnt keep up with the rising rental fees. Hence the shift to this part of the world. Thats what makes it so special.

He could have been a Charles and Keith, an Aldo, which is catered to the masses. Big bucks isnt it? Sadly within these mass catered shoeline i see an extensive product positioning business model. Hence, when we shop at these places we can just find a nice pair of shoes. We can find a suitable fit. We can't find a solemate. I found mine.

The last time i recalled buying a birthday present for myself it was a small pack of marlboro. Since then my life changed. I stepped out through a door into another world in which i became something more than what i was. That was in 1998 when i was 18 years old.

At the age of 28, ten years later, i bought myself another birthday present. Much bigger the price tag is but the other things which come along with the present is priceless and invaluable.

Here are my solemates.

This will journey with me through semi casual occassions and when the appropriate pants present themselves to me, so shall a belt and then it'll walk the mile even in formal occassions.

As for this pair, it shall be the vice versa. It'll be the one to journey through formal occassions first. As semi casual occassions pop up, time to time it shall suit semi casual semi formal settings where i'd probably feel that i should dress just slightly one notch up above the crowd.

Before i end, one more thing caught my eye before i left the shop. Bags. Nope not that i'm going to start carrying bags but i've always had a thing for bags made of animal fur. What i saw was Fox Fur Bags. They were damn cool. This time last year, i was in search for a fur bag as well. Man, everything just seems to come like a double whammy, triple whammy, quad whammy.

Not that it matters anyway, i wanted to get it for mum, but i doubt she'll appreciate it anyway. Chances are Fang will think he's got a friend.

So then i left. Parted with 300 but yah, somethings are just worth it. 300 euros by the way.