First off, I gotta admit, I always kinda thought Bruno Magli was this super-high-end Italian brand, like, only rich dudes and maybe mob bosses could afford ’em. But then you hear about ’em turnin’ up in TJ Maxx? What the heck? Makes you wonder, right? Is it like, the real deal discounted, or is it… *dun dun dunnnn*… the dreaded F word: *fake*.
And then there’s the whole O.J. Simpson thing. Seriously, those shoes. Talk about baggage! Suddenly, Bruno Magli shoes become synonymous with, well, you know. And it brings up all sorts of questions. Like, if those photos of him wearin’ ’em at the Bills game finally surfaced, how many OTHER photos are out there we ain’t seen? And were *those* shoes legit, or some knock-off he picked up to try and throw people off the scent? I mean, the guy was a football star, but he wasn’t exactly known for his impeccable taste after a certain point, ya know?
See, that’s where it gets muddy. ‘Cause one of the snippets up there talks about “the world of outlets” and how some think their quality is… questionable. So, even if you’re buyin’ a “real” Bruno Magli, are you *really* gettin’ the same quality as you would from a fancy boutique? Or is it like, a slightly cheaper version made specifically for the discount rack? It’s like buying a “genuine imitation” or something. Makes your head spin.
I read somewhere that only a few hundred size 12s of that particular model (the “Salvatore Sneaker”?) were sold in the US. If that’s true, and O.J. owned a pair, then wow, coincidence much? But that STILL doesn’t answer the fake question! A good fake could fool just about anybody, especially in the days before everyone had a smartphone and could Google “real Bruno Magli stitching” on the spot.
Honestly, after all this, I’m not sure I’d even *want* a pair of Bruno Maglis, even if they were dirt cheap. Too much drama, too much… *association*. Plus, the quality thing kinda worries me. I mean, I scored some “leather telma bruno magli’s” (whatever *those* are!) a while back, and while they WERE comfy, the heel started to come unglued after like, two wears. Maybe I got a fake? Maybe I just got a dud? Who knows anymore?