The Wizard Of Oz Shoes

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes
33 Ubi Avenue 3
#03-34 Vertex
11am - 7pm Mon - Fri, 11am - 5pm Sat, Closed Sun

https://www.thewizardshoes.com/

Shoes Leather Formal, Black, With Snake Skin Pattern (SGD $320)

Good Quality, Stylish Men's Footwear & Accessories

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Product Lifespan: 12 - 36 Months
Product Quality: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $300 per person.

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There is a fine line between genius and madness. Those who walk the line, we call them eccentric, equal parts brilliant, wacky, or maybe just very passionate about their subject of choice. So it is with the owner of The Wizard Of Oz Shoes, an elderly gentlemen dressed partly like a coffeeshop uncle, partly like he was visiting a dance club, and partly like a cowboy, who when asked, introduced himself with a dramatic flourish by saying, "Call me... The Wizard." Having been forewarned by friends who told me about The Wizard Of Oz Shoes, I was rather prepared, and only later did I find out his real name was Mr. Yeh.

Founded in 1996, The Wizard Of Oz Shoes offers mid-priced, European made, fashion footwear, belts, bags, and accessories for primarily men, though they also have a small selection for women. The Wizard will regale you with the tale of how he previously had 4 outlets across Singapore, but ever increasing rental costs, and the shopping mall landlords insistence on him retailing more women's products (he prefers to sell only men's products), let him to eventually give up all his stores. Now The Wizard Of Oz Shoes operates out of a hidden location in the industrial area of Ubi, on the 3rd floor of the Vertex building, as well as through their online store. The Wizard is also much happier now, as he can sell whatever he wants!

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes has a wide variety of designs for men's footwear / shoes, belts, and cufflinks. Many of them are modern, casual formal in design, with sharp, attractive, eye-catching patterns, and some are even in vibrant colours, which is a rarity for men's fashion! Most of the products here are handmade by artisan craftsmen, from Italy, Spain, and Portugal. This means good quality, durable shoes and belts, made from quality materials such as leather or buckskin. The stitching and finishing is intricate, and when you slip on a pair, you can immediately feel the difference. The shoes here are soft and comfortable, almost moulded to your feet, while the belts are smooth and clasp well. I feel the belt buckle designs aren't as attractive as other brands, coming off as rather normal.

The prices for men's shoes and belts at The Wizard Of Oz Shoes range from SGD $80 - $350 an item, which is reasonable considering the high quality of craftsmanship put in. Durability and life span of a pair of shoes or a belt is around 12 - 36 months (or 1 - 3 years), depending on how you treat the item and your daily usage. Personally, I was satisfied enough with The Wizard Of Oz Shoes to return to make additional purchases! However, I do wonder what will happen to this small business should The Wizard choose to retire, as it's not easy to find this kind of high quality shoes and belts at reasonable prices in Singapore.

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The Wizard Of Oz Shoes Signage

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes Exterior

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes Interior

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes Address

The Wizard Of Oz Shoes Opening Hours

Range Of Products

Shoes, Hand Made, Ready To Wear

Belts

Cufflinks

The Shoes Buckskin Casual, Brown, With Criss Cross Pattern (SGD $270), design code NU6710, have an attractive, eye-catching pattern, and it's really soft and comfortable. Stylish yet smart casual, it pairs well with formal trousers and jeans. Have to avoid getting this pair of shoes wet though, as drying it out takes longer than normal.

Shoes Buckskin Casual, Brown, With Criss Cross Pattern (SGD $270)

The Shoes Leather Formal, Black, With Snake Skin Pattern (SGD $320), design code F6503N, is sleek and modern, fashionable in its design, with a protruding sharpness that makes the shoe look fierce! Comfortable to wear, but you'll have to be careful when climbing stairs, as the pointed toe tends to dig right into the steps. Otherwise, I love its sharp, executive feel, and understated snake pattern which lends a textured look. Update Sep-2016: A random stranger once commented that with this pair of shoes, I could kill cockroaches in a corner.

Shoes Leather Formal, Black, With Snake Skin Pattern (SGD $320)

The Shoes Leather Formal, Red, With Crocodile Skin Pattern (SGD $428), design code F7258, is bold and visibly striking from afar. The rough textured pattern gives it a stylish rugged feel, yet the sleek pointed shape lends a sense of sophistication. The full metallic red colour is vibrant and eye-catching. On the foot, the shoe feels comfortable with its cushioned heel and elastic arch. The curve towards the toes is just wide enough to provide a comfortable grip, without being loose or tight.

Shoes Leather Formal, Red, With Crocodile Skin Pattern (SGD $428)

Shoes Leather Formal, Red, With Crocodile Skin Pattern

The Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Blue Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern (SGD $457) is part of the Fall / Winter 2016 collection, design code FK7258N2. I love the bright, vibrant, whimsical design, which looks like a collector's art piece. The random placement of the blots reflect the free, uncaged spirit of the wearer! A vivid royal blue lining within lends a sense of luxury and status. While it's comfortable, I notice the flap on the arch tends to fold in slightly when worn. Overall, a suitable pair of luxury shoes that is trendy, and carries personality.

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Blue Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern (SGD $457)

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Blue Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Blue Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern

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Update Apr-2018: Returned for more. On this visit, I got the Shoes Leather Formal, White & Black, With Zebra Skin Pattern (SGD $320), design code FA7258. The bold, striking, wild design of zebra strips is outstanding, and the usual high quality craftsmanship of the shoes, with its sharp lines, cushioned heel, and elastic arch, make this so comfortable. Feels wild and untamed, like an unleashed inner animal. Nice.

Shoes Leather Formal, White & Black, With Zebra Skin Pattern (SGD $320)

Shoes Leather Formal, White & Black, With Zebra Skin Pattern

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Update Jul-2022: More than 6 years on, and I've become a regular returning customer of The Wizard Of Oz Shoes. On this visit, I got the Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Red Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern (SGD $457), design code FK7258N2, because the previous pair I owned for the other version, was out-of-stock. I love the bright, vibrant, whimsical design, which looks like a collector's art piece. The random placement of the blots reflect the free, uncaged spirit of the wearer! A vivid royal red lining within lends a sense of alertness and status. While it's comfortable, I notice the flap on the arch tends to fold in slightly when worn. Overall, a suitable pair of luxury shoes that is trendy, and carries personality.

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Red Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern (SGD $457)

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Red Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Red Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern

Shoes Leather Smart Casual, White With Red Black Blots, With Alligator Skin Pattern

Also got the Shoes Leather Smart Casual, Grey With White Black Dots, With Snake Skin Pattern (SGD $191), design code F1540. This understated pair emphasizes the shape of the shoe, with the textured leather dots of black and white forming sleek stripes that highlight the length. The curved angular lines of its silhouette exudes hidden strength.