“It's simply a beautiful shoe. Stylish, clean lines, narrow waist, excellent construction. Came in a nice box and with quality shoe bags. The presentation is elegant -- a derby but without brouging or a medallion, so it has a more formal look. I will say the pair I got are darker than the photo suggests -- almost black. You can see hints of blue under direct sunlight, but otherwise, I think most people would see black, particularly indoors. The closed-channel leather soles having color variation helps with the contrast, though, and I suspect with a mirror polish, the blue will come out more.
A word about the Louvre last: I have an equally beautiful oxblood pair, as well as a Miquel oxblood Oxford, all in Museum calf. They are all beautiful, but the Louvre last may not be for everyone. It's certainly quite fashionable now but more aggressive and angular than even the photos suggest (and also from shoes I have from other manufacturers in similar lasts). It's a bit of statement shoe in that regard, but if your tastes are American conservative, a more traditional rounded or almond toe might be what you're looking for. I actually considered exchanging the Miquel, but because I do like the last and because slight creases showed up on one shoe, I decided to keep them.
About the creases: I tried the Miquel on several times. I minimally paced the room with them, indoors, of course, to determine the fit and comfort. Though the creases are quite shallow, I was surprised. I tried on the oxblood Noah an equal number of times and see no creases there, nor with this blue Noah. Of course, there are always variations in leather, so perhaps that is the reason they showed up so quickly on one shoe. I'll see if significant creasing becomes an issue with regular wear.”
