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T’S JUST REALLY AMAZING HOW A GREAT PAIR OF SHOES CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE IN LIFE…OUT FOR A NIGHT OF DANCING, A WEEKEND OF SIGHTSEEING OR A DREAM VACATION TO A FOREIGN ISLAND. RES IPSA IS A BRAND THAT WAS BUILT ON HAVING THE PERFECT PAIR OF SHOES, NO MATTER WHERE YOUR DESTINATION. FORMER GEORGIA BASED LAWYERS, JOSHUA MOORE AND ODINI GOGO, REALIZED THAT THEY WANTED SOMETHING MORE FULFILLING AND DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING. WITH THEIR BRAND’S ETHOS BEING “OUR BRAND IS TRAVEL”, JOSHUA AND ODINI INDEED TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD BOTH DISCOVERING NEW LANDS AND SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS. WITH BOTH QUALITY AND AUTHENTICITY, THIS PAIR IS CRAFTING FOOTWEAR OPTIONS FOR THE GUY WHO WANTS TO BREAK OUT OF THE EVERYDAY NORM. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRY OUT A PAIR OF RES IPSA’S “KILIM” LOAFER, A SLEEK SLIPPER-STYLE LOAFER THAT CROSSES THE LINE BETWEEN FORMAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL. UP UNTIL NOW, WE’VE FOUND THAT KEEPING THINGS CLASSIC IS GREAT, BUT INJECTING A LITTLE PERSONALITY INTO YOUR WARDROBE IS THE NEXT STEP IN ANY MAN’S SARTORIAL JOURNEY.
QUALITY
Your wardrobe is an investment. There’s no doubt that when purchasing quality men’s footwear you’re expecting they’ll last a lifetime or close to it. While these Res Ipsa loafers may seem unconventional, they certain don’t lack in the quality department. Though a small operation, owners Josh and Odini have a very unique product that has character and quality from the moment you see it. With your Res Ipsa Kilim loafers, you’ll receive a simple cloth dust cover. The outsole of the shoe, which consists of a Turkish rug, will indeed capture dust, even when not being worn. Best practice would be to keep these covered with the dust bag provided when you’re not wearing them. Each pair of these Kilim loafers are made by hand, trimmed in leather, finished with a thin durable leather sole and a rubber heel. You notice that every aspect to of the shoe is considered and there are absolutely no stray threads or miss stitches that can be seen. On further review, if you look inside the loafer, you’ll notice that the interior is indeed lined in leather and even lightly padded. In terms of the construction, it was hard for us find almost anything wrong with the Kilim loafer. Since they are a small company, they don’t produce HUGE quantities like most footwear companies. They’ve focused on a great overall designed loafer with a bit of personality.
DESIGN
One of the most unique things about these Res Ipsa “Kilim” loafers is their authenticity. Josh and Odini still visit Turkey to source the fabric and manufacture the footwear. Each of the panels is a 100% unique design. Each pair of shoes shares no similarities with another, and yet the quality of their shoes is maintained by hand. The Kilim is Res Ipsa’s dressier style footwear, aimed towards gentlemen who are a bit more fashion forward and like a dressier style shoe. They offer 2 other styles, a chukka boot and slip-on sneaker, both with their signature unique patterned outsole. The Kilim’s thin leather sole gives it a sleek modern look, but may not be suitable for someone with wider feet. Personal preferences aside, these bold patterned loafers can be a bit much for someone who keeps their wardrobe traditional. If you’ve ever purchased a pair of loafers/slipper style shoes, you’ll know that proportion is a huge factor in the design. The best use of these loafers is with a paired with a tailored/slim lightweight linen or cotton pants or shorts, preferably in a neutral tone. Going sockless or with loafer socks is pretty much the only way to wear them. We’re not too keen on the idea of pairing these with socks but if you choose to do so, pick something thin and solid. All in all, we couldn’t be happier with the design of these loafers. They’ll work with more toned down looks, maybe while on vacation to an island or a night out for dinner and drinks. These weren’t meant to be worn everyday, just when you want to stand out a little in the sea of boring boat shoes or flip-flops.
FIT
While our shoes generally run true to size, our first go at these shoes was unsuccessful. If you have a medium to narrow foot, we’d suggest sizing down. Res Ipsa doesn’t offer in between sizes, so er recommend sizing down. With a handmade shoe, there’s going to be some fluctuations with sizing. Do yourself a favor; avoid getting the incorrect size from the start. YOU SHOULD READ THEIR FAQ SECTION FIRST. If you pick the wrong size, you’re going to be upset if you fall in love with a pattern/style on the site. Their styles go fast, so if you see something you like, make sure it’s the right size. (You could always buy both sizes and compare, but at this price, it may be a stretch for budget conscious guys) By sizing down, we found them to be comfortable and snugger in the vamp of the foot. These loafers don’t have any lacing or tightening, so our advice would be to get the tightest fit achievable without having heel slip. Using a shoehorn or the back end of your belt can help you get them on if they too snug. Over time of wearing these, the loafer will break in and stretch. From our first wear we expected some stiffness around the upper part of the loafer , but were presently surprised they were not. After a few light wears we could only mention that wearing these without a loafer socks, for some, may leave you vulnerable to pinching around the front of the foot. Without socks, your feet may swell in warm weather on the first few wears. Since the Kilim loafer is unlined, these will mainly be worn in warmer weather climates or during spring/summer time.
PRICE
We’re going to say that these will probably be most unique pair of shoes in someone’s wardrobe and that’s going to come at a higher price. Being handmade in Turkey, these loafers will run you about $245 USD. For the savvy conscious shopper, price and overall practicality may be the problem. $245 is a lot of money to pay for a shoe that you may only wear two seasons out of the year or only be able to wear every few weeks so they don’t get boring. Teetering on the edge of being practical, most style conscious guys won’t think twice about investing in a shoe like this, but hear us out. Your typical men’s summer footwear consists of a boat shoe, a pair of white low top sneakers, an existing pair of tassel loafers or a pair of flip flops. Why not break the mold? Inject a little personality in your wardrobe.
OVERALL
For the style novice, these Res Ipsa “Kilim” loafers might be a reach. The reality is that they might not ever see the light of day except during summer (unless you live someplace that’s warm all year round). Like a cute puppy you’ve always wanted, once you actually purchase these and get them home you might be stricken with buyer’s remorse. If you don’t have confidence in your style, these may not get the use they deserve. Perhaps it’s the price that’s scaring you off. It might in your best interest in buying their cheaper and less formal style slip on sneaker for about $145 USD. They give you all the style of the Res Ipsa Kilim, but with a slightly less formal look. If you love the idea of having something a little more formal with a lot of personality, then the Res Ipsa’s Kilim loafers are a no-brainer. Their combination of being handmade and the fact that they will be a nice contrast to your normal, more serious footwear options are what sold us!
TLDR: WELL MADE, ONE OF KIND, GOOD FOR SPRING SUMMER OR WARM WEATHER, NARROW FEET SHOULD SIZE DOWN, WILL STRETCH.
We want to thank our friends, Josh and Odini at Res Ipsa. It was because of them this feature was possible. Genuine Men’s Magazine was gifted products but was NOT given any monetary compensation for this article. We wrote this review honestly for the education of our audience in the hope that you’ll both learn from it and make your own purchasing decision based on what you’ve read. Thanks for your viewership!
