Style police: Teach us!

[PepsiFree]

I second the Clark's Desert Boot. The beeswax ones (picture) wear in so nicely.

I also will never, ever understand this forum's obsession with Allen Edmonds.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I wouldn't call it an obsession. There are just very few options for properly made shoes without the price getting beyond what most people want and AEs are widely available so that's what people buy.

Those suede NST boots look good but I know nothing about the company. They appear goodyear'd so that's promising.

[PepsiFree]

Yeah by "obsession" I definitely mean "mentioned here more on average than anywhere I've ever seen," not so much a Dan Flashes situation where a bunch of middle-aged men are fighting each other for shirts priced based on the complexity of the pattern.

[firebug]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I second the Clark's Desert Boot. The beeswax ones (picture) wear in so nicely.

I also will never, ever understand this forum's obsession with Allen Edmonds.

AE's are an easily found 'good shoe' made in a wide variety of styles sizes and widths that are easily found in any city in North America. Its one of the few brands you can name where someone can find a shoe in a style they like, in a size that fits, available in-stock in a store convenient to them. Plus with a modicum of care they can last decades. I've owned and flipped dozens of them and probably have 25 pair in my house right now. It's tough to find another brand that checks all of those boxes.

Now you can find better looking shoes, and better built shoes but it's tough to argue that they haven't found a bit of a sweet spot in the dwindling North American shoe market.

I've sold and listed all sorts of quality brands but AEs definitely generate a lot of traffic

I'm quite partial to vintage shoes and are often my go-to choices, but they certainly aren't easy to find.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah by "obsession" I definitely mean "mentioned here more on average than anywhere I've ever seen," not so much a Dan Flashes situation where a bunch of middle-aged men are fighting each other for shirts priced based on the complexity of the pattern.

I think that it's a combination of the forum's average age being in the 30-40 yr-old range as well as the fact there is a large proportion of users that have worked white collar professional type jobs in a fairly conservatively dressed city.

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I second the Clark's Desert Boot. The beeswax ones (picture) wear in so nicely.

I also will never, ever understand this forum's obsession with Allen Edmonds.

I'll be uploading some size 12 options on the Buy/Sell tab shortly. I ordered a bunch of colours while working remotely. I kept the pair I liked and missed my return window for the rest.

[81MC]

Yeah, AE’s presence here, and probably most other places, is because they actually fit the bill most of the time (though their ownership group is doing everything possible to ruin the brand IMO).

The shoes at slightly less than the AE price point at say Nordstrom, or Saks, or Harry Rosen, Henry Singer etc are much closer to an Ecco than a goodyear welted, living wage shoe. If you’re spending $300 on a pair of ‘Boss’ shoes, you’re wasting money.

The shoes more than AE price points are either very nice and ‘worth it’ (if you’re the type that can spend $600 on a pair of shoes (Crockett and Jones as an example) or brand hyped and way over priced (most Ferragamos, Grenson, Loake etc). I think Gravity Pope wants $6++ for a pair of Grensons stitched in India with lack lustre finish quality. It’s exceptionally hard to find quality alternatives here, but if you were looking online, Cheaney, NPS, Trickers, Meermin, Carmina can all be found on sale variously and at your door for about what AE will cost locally.

By no means is AE a panacea, and with their increasing offshore production, reduction in available lasts, and general decline in what Id call ‘detail’, even they are becoming a questionable value proposition. But locally anyway, it’s hard to beat the availability and traditionally styled product.

Ps now that o think about it, O’Connor’s carries Mezlan and Magnanni as well. Both have various levels of quality, but both have really nice stuff available that’s a little more fashion forward and hip than something like a Bradley or LeSalle

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Ferragamo Tramezzas used to be absolutely awesome shoes, not sure if they've fallen off the past 10 years. They are always pretty italian though so not to everyone's taste.

[nik-]

Allen Edmonds are popular because of classic styles in a relatively affordable price range in a great range of sizes so you can actually get proper fitting shoes. Are they they really "great" anymore? No. Especially some QC issues in their Dominican factory, but overall they're a good shoe.

I own a couple pairs of them, they're not my go to brand, but they're much easier to acquire for people with odd foot sizes than some other brands.

[_Q_]

I have a pair if Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenues and they're awesome.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Ps now that o think about it, O’Connor’s carries Mezlan and Magnanni as well. Both have various levels of quality, but both have really nice stuff available that’s a little more fashion forward and hip than something like a Bradley or LeSalle

I have a couple pairs of Mezlans from O'Connors (one is from the Mezlan Impronta line) and I love them. Beautiful shoes.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I second the Clark's Desert Boot. The beeswax ones (picture) wear in so nicely.

I also will never, ever understand this forum's obsession with Allen Edmonds.

What shoe do you suggest of similar price point, build, and style?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah by "obsession" I definitely mean "mentioned here more on average than anywhere I've ever seen," not so much a Dan Flashes situation where a bunch of middle-aged men are fighting each other for shirts priced based on the complexity of the pattern.

A lot of people ask about quality dress shoes at good prices. AE are by far the best option. Not the ultra highest quality, but when you get them in sale for $150-300, they have the quality of a $500+ shoe.

Also very versatile. For anyone looking for a quality entry level dress shoe, there's no better answer.

[blankall]

I bought my red wings chukka about 10 years ago, and they been amazing. I found the boot formed around my foot and was much more comfortable than the Clarks.

I'd highly recommend checking out Rose Anvil's YouTube channel before buying any kind of boot.
After 10 years is pretty regular wear they have some battle scars and I'm thinking of replacing them.

[81MC]

I think the cheapest you’ll find AE on sale is $250, when O’Connor’s has their random shoe sale. Which is a hell of deal still, but I think an average sale price of AE is $425 at best?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by 81MC

I think the cheapest you’ll find AE on sale is $250, when O’Connor’s has their random shoe sale. Which is a hell of deal still, but I think an average sale price of AE is $425 at best?

You can get them through their shoebank website, which is "seconds" but the type of imperfections you'd get after a few wears anyways. Their regular website also regularly has very good sales too.

Certain styles like the strand or fifth avenue are harder to find cheap, but there are so many styles that are almost identical. The website does have both on sale in their clearance section for $283 cad right now.

I love them, but don't think they hold up to the $600 or so regular price.

[81MC]

Good to know. Last time I tried to buy direct from their website, their conversion was ridiculous and it was actually cheaper to order directly from the physical stockist and have them ship to Canada.

Re shoebank, it can be woe to it to speak directly to the shop if you’re looking at several pairs, the guys down in Destin were really helpful with letting me know what kind of issues the pairs I were purchasing had.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Good to know. Last time I tried to buy direct from their website, their conversion was ridiculous and it was actually cheaper to order directly from the physical stockist and have them ship to Canada.

Re shoebank, it can be woe to it to speak directly to the shop if you’re looking at several pairs, the guys down in Destin were really helpful with letting me know what kind of issues the pairs I were purchasing had.

Yeah. The shoebank just shows what inventory is available at each individual AE outlet store. If you pick up the phone, the guys on the other end are very knowledgeable about the shoes and are very helpful with getting everything shipped to you. I think last time I paid an extra $30 for shipping to Canada.

The shoebank itself also has good clearance sales.

https://www.shoebank.com/

They have a Dalton boot on sale in Coffee for $150 USD that is very tempting.....I have a perfectly good Captain boot from Thursday Boots though...

[Swift]

Pepsi, Corsi, Peter, the rest of us

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

That's a hard no to those shoes and socks, and I don't wear a tie except for work. But the suit is nice. I'd wear that with some Lanvin mids and a T shirt.

Based on Peter's description of his style he might literally own that shirt that Bill is wearing.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Swift

Pepsi, Corsi, Peter, the rest of us

I laughed.