Tuesday
Feb092010
Visvim Patrican Long Wings
Posted on 
February 9, 2010 by Ryan Willms
February 9, 2010 by Ryan Willms 
The evolution of Visvim's footwear growth and development has been clearly documented in their catalogs and online through blogs since their inception in 2000. The collection has taken tremendous strides as Hiroki Nakamura continues to learn and strive to make the best possible products. In the last couple of seasons we've see Visvim take aim on some of the more traditional items in American history, such as the long wingtip shoe. The Patrican last fall was done very nicely and can be spotted in our first issue of Inventory. This spring's long winged brother however is again a step up in the use of high quality leather's for the suede outer and the extremely soft liner. They come in sand, black and white and seem to have shed the ribbon-like detail that the sample adorn, which is a good decision. The shoes will probably not be for everyone, but as a fan of both the long wing and Visvim, there was never much doubt in my mind.
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Tags : Visvim
Visvim 
Reader Comments (41)
the piece on the back just kills the look of these shoes
I completely agree. Feels forced and out of place.
Personally, I don't have an issue with the heel tab.
I can understand the concerns certain individuals may have, but I just feel the heel tab in fact sets these apart from 'the rest'.
Furthermore it's not at all an issue on the black model.
Great shoe and the flat sole is just perfect.
STOOPS. Its a VISVIM TRADEMARK. Get a regular wingtip if you want your shit boring. The profile of this shoe is dumb stupid retarded shit hot.
Beautiful shoes indeed.
^Thx is right. Funny response too! Visvim always has put a twist on classic pieces. Same thing is how they would put Goretex into a classic looking peacoat, if you wanted a regular one why not just buy one from a surplus store. These shoes are beautiful.
beautiful..just too expensive for my budget.
The shoe is insane, but I CANNOT for the life of me get past the heel counter thing. It's a shame because Visvim always kills it with their footwear. The chunky welt/sole area looks great and definitely sets them apart from other long wings. THX is right in that the profile of this shoe is ridiculously good, but that's just the problem...they're uniquely perfect other than the heel counter.
Amazing shoe....the tab is the trademark. What I can't get over is the price but I still might have to get a pair of these for spring. These and some Highwaters!
Some things need to be left well alone.
The heel tab isn't exactly a twist! Visvim should have been brave enough to have a shoe without the heel tab, their brand is trong enough. In this case the plastic detracts (imo).
It's those little details that keeps Visvim from acquiring more retail real estate. Perhaps that's the point,
doing what they do with total disregard for acceptance from certain retailers. More accurately though it's Hiroki's unique perspective that's an acquired taste. Being a long time Visvim consumer I've always shied away from Visvim shoes with these details present. It's a detail that could get one's self into trouble depending on how and who's wearing them.
I don't think Visvim is too worried about the backlash of the heeltab, as it seems to be a detail they have been putting on most of their repros for a while, I don't mind it, subtle reminder to self (and notification to others) as to EXACTLY who/what you are wearing. It also seems the crowd is pretty split on it, so undoubtedly, some of those naysayers will jump ship when they get a chance to purchase, IMO.
I agree the heel support ruins it for me. THX, people are allowed to have opinions without you calling them stoops.
VISVIM does not care what we think. VISVIM just is.
It's a matter of branding I guess that keeps the loyal audience happy, but keeps them from expanding to capture a wider swath of the audience.
the people who buy these dont mind the shiny part on the back because they were wearing patent leather dunks a year ago
that heel piece looks awful on wingtips. they worked on the virgils, but not this. this is like if nike made a pair of wingtips and puts a nike air bubble on it. just because its a trademark doesnt mean it belongs on such a shoe.
you people think you know what you are talking about when you really, really, don't. IT'S NOT ABOUT MAKING A TRADITIONAL WINGTIP SHOE. IT'S ABOUT MAKING A V I S V I M WINGTIP SHOE. Visvim has been accenting their shoes with that detail since it's inception, because it's a FREE INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY. It's a reminder of mixing visvim style modernity with worldwide classic. Thats why you people are STOOPS.
Plus Its a HEEL STABILIZER, which I'm almost certain is Carbon Fiber. It's not just a plastic accent added for no reason.
THX. Heel support, heel stabilizer, what difference does it make. It still looks awful, get over it.
Nothing like some caps-lock action to get your point across: Unless you haven't figured it out yet, it shows that you, unlike others, do know what you're talking about!
STOOPS!
The form is off on this shoe....period
I just saw those shoes in person. In all honesty the heel counter looks really ugly on this shoe. I don't mind it on the other shoe, somehow it just don't work on this! It''s like glossy plastic. Can someone who has seen these shoe in person testify?
I don't think visvim will change this about their shoes, They have never been about a strict authentic reproduction, compared to brands like RRL. If you would not buy this shoe for it's aesthetic value, specifically talking about the heel stabilizer, there are many, many, many less expensive and better suited options.
I don't think Visvim ever thought about catering to the traditional crowd. Hiroki worked at Burton and is heavily influenced by street fashion which is where he garnered his respect for new technology. I think this is why he places technology above traditional aesthetics most of the time.