Entry level shoes

[amathew]

I have been updating my wardrobe and one of the "final" products I need is a nice pair of dress shoes (or two). I'm not sure where to begin. I hear people saying good things about Allen Edmonds, Brooks Brothers shoes, etc. Can anyone provide suggestions.


I work at a tech start-up which is very casual (think silicon valley attire). I get away with just a dress shirt and chinos/trousers to work. Currently, I have a couple suede dress shoes and a pair of Eastland mocs that I wear. They are all "casual" shoes so I need some nice dress shoes.

[greg_s]

Budget? Preferred style (wingtip, cap toe, plain toe)? Color?

[amathew]

Budget: 0 - 400 .... but cheaper is always preferred.


Style: wingtip


Color: Eventually want to have a mix of brown and a couple black dress shoes. Not sure what to start with.

[shad0w4life]

General consensus seems to be Allen Edmonds park or fifth Ave black. Should be wearable most occasions

[huynhct]

Stafford Ashton Wingtips.


http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/stafford%25c2%25ae-ashton-mens-wingtip-dress-shoes/prod.jump?ppId=1b9aceb


Went to check them out in person earlier this week, the sole is more dark brown than black. if I wasn't so broke from tailoring expenses, I would have purchased them on the spot.

[shad0w4life]

They are cap not wingtip though. You could try players walnut from AE for more casual looking wingtip but will limit pant colour choices.

[amathew]

OP here with one important side note.


I also have a slight disability and I run through shoes like none other due to how I walk. I don't have cerebal palsy, but my walk is characterized by dragging of the feet and instability.


I note this because I always read on Dappered and Styleforum about getting 300+ dress shoes because "they will last a long time". And while they probably do for most people, I doubt they would for me. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to own one or two pairs of expensive shoes, it's just not practical for daily usage.

[greg_s]

What part of your foot drags? Also, go with brown. Look into the variety of styles offered by AE. For the $ they are hard to beat. They should have a sale this summer sometime where you can get a great price.

[bj]

I've had really good experiences on eBay. I've purchased two pairs of Allen Edmonds, one for $60 and one for $110 and both are in great condition. If you want to buy new, check out a Nordstrom Rack store if you have one near you. You can often find several models for around $200 (that's $100-$150 off of retail).


If you're looking to go cheaper, Johnston & Murphy are alright, though not very durable. The Mercanti and Mike Konos from DSW that Joe regularly posts about look good too. Also, Florsheim sells some Goodyear-welted shoes for under $200.

[trash]

I'm wearing the Stafford brown plain-toe derbies right now, I'm pretty pleased with them. You can get JCP gift cards for 25% off at cardpool.com right now, so they were about $40 total. Great shape and color, and while the leather isn't premium, it's not stiff and plasticky like other cheap shoes I've seen. It actually feels a lot like Mercanti shoes I've handled in stores. The wingtips and longwings look quite good as well. Worth checking out I think, for something below the full-grain, Goodyear-welted, leather-soled category.

[amathew]

@greg_s

It's usually the heel of my foot. Usually that area of the shoe will wear down very quickly.

[greg_s]

There may be things you can get put on the heel to make it wear down less quickly (I forget the name). The beauty of a shoe like Allen Edmonds is that they will do a full resole for about $90.

[amathew]

I'm in CO and just contacted the AE Outlet in Ohio so I might pursue that 2 for $200 deal.


Even though they may be discontinued, it'll be good as my first nice dress shoes.


Thanks for the help folks.

[nicholascrawford]

amathew - You might be the perfect candidate for Topy - a piece that adheres to the sole and extends the life. Or taps - metal edges that would last for ages. If they impair mobility or make noise, you can forget about it, but it's worth checking out.

[zerostyle]

Amathew:


I'd recommend just mixing up a few basic shoes for your rotation:

1. Black park avenues (plain cap toe)

2. Brown fifth avenue (quarter-brogue cap toe)

3. Walnut or burgundy McAllister (full wingtip)


Definitely get toe and heel taps - they help a lot. I absolutely destroy the outer edges of my soles somehow.


Imagine this but 3x worse: