Perfect Staple Brown Shoe?

[Quack]

Ive been looking for the perfect brown shoe for work to wear a few days a week. I'm looking for something like the walnut color AE has. I'd like the shoe to be a bit plainer so it doesn't stand out out if I wear it 2 or even 3 days in a week. Also I'm looking for something preferably less than $200 or close to it.

Something like the AE Weybridge or Flatiron without the medallions. Thought about the J&M Letson medallion but that is a bit dark and once again the medallion is a bit flashy.


I just saw the perfect shoe through a link someone posted here. If only they weren't $400! You guys have any suggestions around $200?


http://andrewlock.storenvy.com/produ...sympson-oxford

Perfect toe shape. Good Color. Bit much on the burnishing But gotta love the whole piece.


Thanks for the help


Side note: 1st post. Lurker for awhile. Y'all don't know it but you've helped me a ton on improving my wardrobe. Thanks!

[zerostyle]

Honestly, anything in a walnut color is going to standout a LOT.


If I could re-do my shoe collection, I would probably go with the Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue as my go-to brown shoe. It's a more inconspicuous color, with just a little touch of broguing to make it interesting. You can find them for $230 or so on sale.


There are other brands that I prefer that have smaller broguing, but they are more in the $400+ range.


If you are set on the walnut color and want something simple, you could consider the Kenilworth plain toe shoe as well.

[Acousticfoodie]

@quack: Are you looking for a balamoral specifically? I do pretty well with my AE kenilworth bluchers. Which give me pretty decent versatility between casual and business casual.

[shad0w4life]

If you know your size you can go on ebay for under 200 easy, if they look new then no issues(I've bought 3 used pairs and all were great. I was afraid of ebay due to people saying shoes mould to your feet... I think that's BS my AEs are the stiffest feeling insoles ever there is no foot forming happening.


Just from my experience

Magnanni or Allen Edmonds are good


J&m are ok


You could also try:

Mezlan

Cole hann

Church's

Ferragamo (sp?)

Brooks brothers(outsourced to various quality shoe makers)

[Quack]

Thanks for the quick responses all.

Yep looking for something simple for my main go to brown shoe. I can branch out more later.

Thanks for pointing me to the Kenilworth, that looks like a good option. Just need to look out for a sale.


Your right walnut does stand out but I prefer wearing brown shoes with gray and navy instead of the standard black.


I need to find my size in AE, I have a pretty narrow foot and usually wear a 10 or 10.5. Anyone know how the Kenilworth fit?

[Quack]

I have a pair of JM black cap toe I was going to upgrade to 5th aves when they wear out. So I was thinking something a lil different for my brown shoes.

[shad0w4life]

Quack, ae has a print out you can use to gauge your length and width search for that on their site its pretty good.

[Quack]

Shadow-Thanks. I'll try that out. Seems my local Nordstrom doesn't carry them to get fitted.


Any chance these will be on sale during the upcoming Nordstrom sale?

[Deke]

I also agree that AE 5th Ave in brown is probably my ideal "staple" brown shoe. I'll likely be picking up a pair one of these days.


However, in the meantime I'm wearing the Cole Haan Air Adams and I like them a lot. They're very comfortable (more so than my Strands), and being that they're rubber soled, they make for a better beater shoe. They retail for ~$200, but with sales you can get them closer to $100.

[kmarizo]

@Acousticfoodie: The Kenilworth, is that the 'Walnut Burnished calf' or 'Brown Burnished in that pic? Nice pair of shoes.

[JEH]

@Quack - When I looked at the shoes you linked to, I immediately thought of these Mercanti Fiorentini from DSW that Joe always seems to feature: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/mercanti+fiorentini+men%27s+cap+toe+oxford?prodId= 225006&productRef=SEARCH


But yeah, agreed with the rest. I bought my first pair of Allen Edmonds less than a year ago, and I'm sold on them. Agreed with Deke; I plan to pick up a pair of brown fifth avenues in the future as my staple brown shoes.

[zerostyle]

OP: The Kenilworth definitely runs a bit longer/wider than other AE's, so you -might- have to size down 0.5. I'm normally a 9D in AE's. The 8.5 was just a touch too tight for me, but the 9's were quite large, so I ended up just deciding that the Kenilworth wasn't ging to work for me.


The color shown is brown burnished calf - the walnut is a lot lighter.


I've seen them go for ~ $180 on good deals at Endless.com.


Also though, while I was originally looking at plain toes, I now think they are just a bit too boring. (The AE Leeds is another plain toe option).


My problem is that I own the AE Strands in burnished brown, so it seems a little crazy to me to also buy the 5th avenues since they are so similar in that color. UGH. What to do.

[threadblazer]

my go to brown shoe is the brown john varvatos oxford. ive had it for about a year and i absolutely love it, i get lots of compliments on it, and its super comfortable:


http://www.zappos.com/john-varvatos-...rown-calf-skin

[allen_luo]

My go to brown shoes are the AE Clifton's in Walnut (they also come in brown). They were on sale during Nordstrom's last couple half yearly sales for 199.