Hope your Sunday is off to a great start! We have Francene back here today to chat with you about a fabulous Highland Village store that she recently popped into for a wonderful Trunk Show. Take it away…
In 1883 Salvatore and Joseph Lucchese moved to San Antonio, Texas to set up a bootmaking shop at Fort Sam Houston. This is where it all began for Lucchese, and since this point it has grown as a luxury sought after brand for the best boots made by hand locally.
Lucchese has strived to become the world’s leading bootmakers. Here are just a couple of key memories of this brand, a glimpse into it’s beautiful life so far and how far the brand has come. It has truly taken the western style into modern every day wear.
April 7, 1942 –
Singer and actor Bing Crosby writes to Lucchese, requesting a catalog and a pair of boots to be made for him in “nice, soft leather — the best you have in stock.”
July 5, 1968 –
U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson is photographed on his ranch in Stonewall, Texas wearing Lucchese boots.
May 9, 1977 –
An article titled “Sam Lucchese’s Boots are for the Rhinestone Cowboy in Everyone” runs in People magazine.
February 29, 2008 –
Lucchese builds a pair of whiskey buffalo boots for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
When I first walked into the store last weekend for the Clint Orms Trunk Show, it wasn’t just the items which caught my eye, it was the finer details documented all over the shop floor. From the gorgeous aged chairs with LL detailing leather cushions to the private area where you can sit comfortably while picking your personal leather for your individual piece (while enjoying a whiskey cocktail surrounded by historic pictures which each hold memories of how the Lucchese brand started and progressed to the strong quality entity they are now). On the right hand side of the shop dark mahogany wood fills the space where men’s items are on show and on the left hand side is sandy wood where all the women’s items are on full display.
Kim Park, from Kimberly Park Communications, was assisting putting together this event and with her knowledge of the brand and hospitality it made it a brilliant day to be a part of.
The store manager, John, was kind enough to give me a private tour around all their pieces, showing me his favorite items as well as giving me further detail into their pieces on display. It was a pleasure to spend time with someone who was so passionate about the luxury of the brand and items. It was also great to see every staff member rock their boots with great comfort!
I didn’t realize these boots were handmade, how many hours went into a single pair and how difficult it is with skins to match and make each boot symmetrical. They have a pair of tanned hippo skinned boots, snake skin, alligator skin, you name it they had it, along with the more traditional leather cowboy boot.
The main event of the day was a personal appearance and trunk show with Clint Orms. Clint is a renowned born and bred Texan silversmith of Clint Orms Engravers and Silversmiths. I had the absolute pleasure to spend time with Clint one to one and find out more about his amazing talents.
Very modest to his talents, some of his pieces were laid out in glass cases, sparkling shinny silver with personalized pictures, figures and gem stones. I had never seen belt buckles like this before! Clint, personally, only has a couple of buckles he will rotate, which I was surprised by (coming from a girl that if I ever worked in a shoe shop I would own every single pair in an array of colours!). He said to some it’s a family tradition and heirloom passed down through generations. Clint also explained that for us gals we have so many options when it comes to showing off our style in jewelry and accessories that to many men, apart from watches, his belt buckle is the ultimate piece to express them.
Clint makes all of his items, as you can see from the tools used it takes a great talent and eye to create these. Only making a limited amount, when you purchase an item there won’t be many of the same, which makes it all the more special. He has been working as a partner with Lucchese for approximately 10 years now and said it’s a great partnership to show off items locally.
If you are struggling to find a perfect sentimental father’s day gift, then look no further Lucchese will definitely be your go to shop! Not only can you engrave and personalize Clint’s pieces but you have wondrous selection of western attire in different styles to suite the inner cowboy in each of our fellas or fathers! Lucchese now offers boots which have initials or your college initials embroidered.
I need to single out the alligator skinned knee high boots which I instantly fell in love with and obviously had to try on and trot around the shop. Unfortunately they didn’t come home with me, but I now have a goal for my next bonus! As well as the cute knee high boots, they had ankle boots which would be great for day to day wear in three styles, along with these fantastic stiletto snake skin detailed heels.
For us ladies, they have everything from cowboy boots in western, equestrian, roper and tall, among other styles. Their leather is top quality, and skin selection is the best in the USA. If it’s good enough for the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders then it’s definitely good enough for me!