Tricker's Robert Plain Derby Shoe

My time with these Tricker’s Robert Derbies from Division Road was marked by lessons. When I first bought the shoes, I worried over a small blemish on the toe of the right shoe. To my embarrassment now, I even sent Division Road a concerned email, despite the fact that I had purchased the shoes specifically for the Thunderdome. Thankfully, Jason was gracious and explained that scars are common with veg tanned leathers like Natural Dublin, and that it would add to the character of the article. I had thought I was ready to accept imperfections, but in reality I had to work for that acceptance and change my frame of mind. The toe box of the 4497S last squeezed my toes at standard UK sizing (1 down from Brannock), so I purchased these at .5 down instead. At first I congratulated myself for internalizing the gospel of toe splay and sizing for the shape of my feet, but I soon realized that volume was a different matter. The Tricker’s were very roomy. My feet swam in them, and no socks were thick enough. Eventually I consulted a local cobbler for advice and bought tongue pads. They worked like a charm. Were it not for that adjustment, I might not have completed the 6 months. The last lesson occurred during my first thorough brushing. I had marked up the shoes on long walks and time in the office. Their surface was smudged and streaked with scuffs. “I’m on my way,” I thought. Then I brushed them and watched as the surface waxes rearranged themselves, obscuring any vestige of that precious patina. It turns out that Dublin is sensationally dynamic and does not give lasting patina easily. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved with this pair but it took patience and many walks in inclement weather to get here. Patina requires work and a level of acceptance I didn’t have when I started. It’s a lived experience full of lessons. I know that now and look forward to enjoying this pair for years to come creating something beautiful.