Thanks. What can I tell you, mate...

aesthetic taste evolves :)  Prior to the net forums era, I was a somewhat brand whore myself with closet full of Bally, Ferragamo, and etc  (how dreadful!).  Thanks to the online forums, posts from various style-conscious people stoke me as a beacon that enlightened my whole sartorial life.  Once I started to understand the balance, construction, material quality, there was no looking back.

I am on the same page with you regarding the northampton shoe makers.  In my current collection, they are all but from english makers except a pair of suede chukka from Alden, a pair of back captoe from VASS, and a pair of single monk from Kiton.  Kiton was the least favorable in my book.  The leather is just way too supple forming too much unpleasant creases.  They fit extremely comfortable though (and that is important too).  Hence they are still in my rotation.  But I won't touch another pair with a ten foot pole especially with Kiton's exorbitant price tag.  Haha.

Here is the Kiton:

While Corthay is still eye catching, they are a bit to eye-talian-ish, IMO.  And I haven't been bold enough to own a pair :):)