Current state of the shoe collection

[drzenitram]

A few weeks ago someone replied to one of my posts wondering how many dozens of shoes I have at the moment. I had replied then that I would get a pic up of what I have when the dust settled, but it's not nearly that many. So looks like I have exactly a dozen if you don't count the several pairs of Jack Purcells I use for the most casual days.

Feel free to make comments or suggestions about what might be missing or feel free to share yours.



2. Rider Boot Co chukkas

Those rider chukkas are like... the most beautiful shoe....

[LosRockets]

[MENTION=8057]Jamie[/MENTION] if they're a 9.5D shoot me a PM with a price. I'm interested in those MacNeils!

[DocDave]

[MENTION=8057]Jamie[/MENTION] I'm loving your shoe collection/porn. Very very nice. Loving the dress shoe collection.

[Jamie]

[MENTION=8057]Jamie[/MENTION] I'm loving your shoe collection/porn. Very very nice. Loving the dress shoe collection.

Thanks, in hindsight I should have used better lighting, but I was just cleaning and reorganizing my closet and decided to snap these!
[MENTION=2492]LosRockets[/MENTION], I'll let you know once I check. I'm pretty sure they're 9.5C though (although I wear a 9.5D usually).

[Vicious49]

Those rider chukkas are like... the most beautiful shoe....

My collection has changed since I started this thread but I do still have those rider chukkas. Rider puts out a great product.

I had actually totally forgotten about this thread.

[Snake Doctor]

This thread has been dead for a while, but I'm pretty curious about the size and variety of members' shoe collection still. So let's bring it back! This is where I am right now, and I believe I'm in need of paring in some areas and expansion in others.

(Always top left to bottom right)



1. Florsheim Veblen long wings 2. AE Lubbock monks 3. Lands End Archer bucks w/ laces via Bespoke Post 4. Velasca Saccent suede oxfords w/ Vibram studded rubber sole



1. AE Strand in walnut 2. AE Fifth Ave in dark chili w/ Dainite sole 3. J&M made in Italy bluchers that I've had since high school 4. Loake Langdale w/ studded rubber sole



1. JCP Stafford Deacon 2. Loake Kempton suede chukka w/ Dainite sole 3. Clarks Bushacre 4. J. Crew Kenton Pacer boots w/ Benjo's laces



1. Woolrich Yankee (unlined) w/ Benjo's laces 2. Wolverine 1000 Mile Addison w/ Vibram rubber half sole and Benjo's laces 3. Red Wing 8880 moc toe w/ RW waxed laces 4. Red Wing Iron Ranger 8119

[Snake Doctor]

1. Danner Light 2. Danner x Beckel Canvas Danner Light 3. Ugg Kaldwell (Yes, I know. But I've worn them around the world and and beaten the hell out of them and they're still fantastic) 4. Sebago Docksides in Horween leather 5. Superga Cotu Classic 6. Tretorn Nylite in linen 7. Espadrilles from a shop in Barcelona

Not pictured are a few more utilitarian pairs, like Salomon backpacking boots, athletic shoes, etc.

[cotoks]

^^^ nice collection.

I have a recent pic of my Aldens, which I've moved to from AE.




(Top Left to Bottom Right)

1. Alden x Unionmade Byron Plain Toe in Regina Grain 2. Alden x J. Crew Plain Toe Boots in Camel Suede 3. Alden Unlined Dover in Brown CXL 4. Alden x The Bureau Belfast Color 8 LWB with Antique Edge 5. Alden x J. Crew Perforated Cap-Toe Blucher in Alpine Grain

I also own AE Strands in Bourbon, Fifth Avenues in Dark Brown, and Park Avenues in Black. Aldens are much better constructed (as they should be considering the price premium) and the styling is much better IMO.

[LosRockets]

Finally posting my collection

Top L-->R: Alden x JCrew #8 PCT Boot, AE Fifth Street Black, AE Malvern Brogue Suede, AE Eagle County Grain GMTO (boots closeup) AExRL Slaton Snuff Suede, AE Macneil #8, RL Marlow (bluchers closeup)
Bottom: AE Patriot Brown Calf, Alden Snuff Suede Flex Penny Loafer, Meermin Navy Suede Tassel, Florsheim Imperial #8 Tassel (loafers closeup), Carmina Choco Suede on Simpson, AE Park Ave Black Calf, Andrew Lock Brown Calf (bals closeup)

Incoming: Carmina split toe blucher on Rain in Vegano Marron.

Very happy w/ where the collection is at. Don't really have an urge to add anything, but the weakest part of the collection are definitely the balmorals since I don't have to get super dressy at work. I would appreciate a wingtip balmoral like the McAllister and a quarter brogue like the Strands but I'd prefer to buy something from a brand other than AE going forward because most of them aren't very comfortable to me. Apart from these additions, which I don't think I'll make for a few years unless there's a screaming deal, I'm going to try to only do 1:1 swaps.

Most worn are probably the Patriots, Alden Loafers, Marlow, Macneil, and Malvern.

[srlclark]

Awesome collection! I love the fact that you have only two black shoes in a 14-shoe collection.

I've been on a no-buy challenge since the end of November, but it comes to an end in 10 days time, and I'll be picking through AE's offerings to see what's left in bourbon in my size. I love the color and don't own a shoe in it. I do agree, from trying them on in the store, that Alden are much more comfortable, so after I pick up the bourbon, I'll start saving up for my first Alden.

By the way, the Strand's a half-brogue, not a quarter-brogue. I'd say it should really be considered a three-quarter brogue, as I think a half-brogue should be a shoe with brogue detail on the toe cap and wings along the back but not a medallion. Or it could have a medallion plus brogue detail along the throat (similar to the AE Cornwallis. I believe this style is called an Adelaide). To my mind, the Strand has so much brogue detail that calling it a half brogue is just not going far enough.

Finally posting my collection

Top L-->R: Alden x JCrew #8 PCT Boot, AE Fifth Street Black, AE Malvern Brogue Suede, AE Eagle County Grain GMTO (boots closeup) AExRL Slaton Snuff Suede, AE Macneil #8, RL Marlow (bluchers closeup)
Bottom: AE Patriot Brown Calf, Alden Snuff Suede Flex Penny Loafer, Meermin Navy Suede Tassel, Florsheim Imperial #8 Tassel (loafers closeup), Carmina Choco Suede on Simpson, AE Park Ave Black Calf, Andrew Lock Brown Calf (bals closeup)

Incoming: Carmina split toe blucher on Rain in Vegano Marron.

Very happy w/ where the collection is at. Don't really have an urge to add anything, but the weakest part of the collection are definitely the balmorals since I don't have to get super dressy at work. I would appreciate a wingtip balmoral like the McAllister and a quarter brogue like the Strands but I'd prefer to buy something from a brand other than AE going forward because most of them aren't very comfortable to me. Apart from these additions, which I don't think I'll make for a few years unless there's a screaming deal, I'm going to try to only do 1:1 swaps.

Most worn are probably the Patriots, Alden Loafers, Marlow, Macneil, and Malvern.

[LosRockets]

[MENTION=13548]srlclark[/MENTION] - Thank's for the education/correction. I wasn't sure of myself when writing it. What's a quarter-brogue then? Maybe I missed it in your post. Regardless I do like the Strands Bourbon seems to be such a hard color to maintain and I'm terrible at burnishing or making a patina so I'm worried I'd just ruin the finish in no time, otherwise I'd like a pair. Isn't AE discontinuing the Bourbon because they're having such a hard time making a consistent finish in that color? TBH I don't find my Alden x JCrew boots to be very comfortable...the Barrie last is not well suited to my foot. I may wind up selling these boots someday, but they were a gift to myself for completing a major milestone almost 1 year ago, so I want to hold on to them for now (and I only paid $460 during one of those rare JCrew Alden sales).

Re: black shoes -#8 works in pretty much any scenario where you're thinking black except for funerals and black-tie level stuff IMO. I think the bes tway to grow a shoe collection is in conjunction w/ your pants wardrobe. To that end, if you look at the trousers I posted:



most of the shoes can go with most of the pants, which is what I like. I could use something in tan to go with my dark brown/tobacco brown pants, because I have a hard time pairing shoes with those colors.

[srlclark]

A quarter-brogue has brogue detail along the toe cap but that's it. So, AE's Fifth Avenue is a quarter brogue. I'm not sure if the same naming system applies to bluchers as to balmorals, but if it does then your suede AE for RL shoes are a quarter brogue, too.

Yes, I believe that that is why AE is discontinuing the color. I'm not great at burnishing, either, but I think trying to maintain the bourbon would be a good challenge. I own AE in dark brown (Kenilworth), walnut (Strand), and reddish-brown (cognac McTavish), so medium-brown is the main hole in my brown spectrum. I also have liked many of the bourbon shoes I've seen in the shop. Of course, they don't put on display the ones that didn't turn out well! But I'd ask the ShoeBank rep to e-mail me photos of the pair I was buying so that I could see for myself how they turned out before buying. The cognac is probably more brown and less red than chili, but the difference isn't all that great. I'll get a pair in chili sometime, but they seem committed to that color, so there's no hurry.

AE's walnut is basically a form of tan, so if you like the Strand, you could think about walnut Strands for your tan shoe?

I agree with you about the pant matching. I must say that your pant collection is very impressive! Are any of them from Spier and Mackay?

[MENTION=13548]srlclark[/MENTION] - Thank's for the education/correction. I wasn't sure of myself when writing it. What's a quarter-brogue then? Maybe I missed it in your post. Regardless I do like the Strands Bourbon seems to be such a hard color to maintain and I'm terrible at burnishing or making a patina so I'm worried I'd just ruin the finish in no time, otherwise I'd like a pair. Isn't AE discontinuing the Bourbon because they're having such a hard time making a consistent finish in that color? TBH I don't find my Alden x JCrew boots to be very comfortable...the Barrie last is not well suited to my foot. I may wind up selling these boots someday, but they were a gift to myself for completing a major milestone almost 1 year ago, so I want to hold on to them for now (and I only paid $460 during one of those rare JCrew Alden sales).

Re: black shoes -#8 works in pretty much any scenario where you're thinking black except for funerals and black-tie level stuff IMO. I think the bes tway to grow a shoe collection is in conjunction w/ your pants wardrobe. To that end, if you look at the trousers I posted:



most of the shoes can go with most of the pants, which is what I like. I could use something in tan to go with my dark brown/tobacco brown pants, because I have a hard time pairing shoes with those colors.

[LosRockets]

Nah, the wools are mostly Ralph Lauren by Corneliani. I have no experience w/ Spier's trousers but I've heard good things. My problems with the Walnut Strands are that they're ubiquitous and I just don't think I'd wear any walnut/tan color too much. Maybe if I go less orange and more pale, like how Edward Green does their tan, I'd wear it more. That's also a lot more expensive than I'm ever hoping to pay for shoes.

I miss my brown burnished Kenilworth! Actually, I still have them, they're 5 feet away from me, but they're listed for sale so I'm not wearing them (half size too big). I love the shape and look. One day I'll find the perfect-fitting, sleek, brown plain toed blucher to replace them. Or maybe a chelsea boot.

[srlclark]

Too bad about your Kenilworth's. I love mine. They're my fourth and most recent pair of AE. I picked them up in October for less than $100 when they started popping up on the Shoebank again. They've served me well this winter. I reach for them more often than any of the brogues.

Yeah, I also wouldn't pay EG prices but I'm sure the finishing is preferable to AE. Loake's version of tan has more of a yellow hue than an orange one, so it is paler. Have you considered them? I'm not sure they're any less loud than AE's walnut, though. Or the Alden for J. Crew waxed long wings? By the way, do you know anything about LLBean's leather shoes? They have a dark brown long wing and a dark brown chelsea boot, both of which are goodyear welted and under $200.

Nah, the wools are mostly Ralph Lauren by Corneliani. I have no experience w/ Spier's trousers but I've heard good things. My problems with the Walnut Strands are that they're ubiquitous and I just don't think I'd wear any walnut/tan color too much. Maybe if I go less orange and more pale, like how Edward Green does their tan, I'd wear it more. That's also a lot more expensive than I'm ever hoping to pay for shoes.

I miss my brown burnished Kenilworth! Actually, I still have them, they're 5 feet away from me, but they're listed for sale so I'm not wearing them (half size too big). I love the shape and look. One day I'll find the perfect-fitting, sleek, brown plain toed blucher to replace them. Or maybe a chelsea boot.

[hapablap]

Finally posting my collection

Top L-->R: Alden x JCrew #8 PCT Boot, AE Fifth Street Black, AE Malvern Brogue Suede, AE Eagle County Grain GMTO (boots closeup) AExRL Slaton Snuff Suede, AE Macneil #8, RL Marlow (bluchers closeup)
Bottom: AE Patriot Brown Calf, Alden Snuff Suede Flex Penny Loafer, Meermin Navy Suede Tassel, Florsheim Imperial #8 Tassel (loafers closeup), Carmina Choco Suede on Simpson, AE Park Ave Black Calf, Andrew Lock Brown Calf (bals closeup)

Incoming: Carmina split toe blucher on Rain in Vegano Marron.

Very happy w/ where the collection is at. Don't really have an urge to add anything, but the weakest part of the collection are definitely the balmorals since I don't have to get super dressy at work. I would appreciate a wingtip balmoral like the McAllister and a quarter brogue like the Strands but I'd prefer to buy something from a brand other than AE going forward because most of them aren't very comfortable to me. Apart from these additions, which I don't think I'll make for a few years unless there's a screaming deal, I'm going to try to only do 1:1 swaps.

Most worn are probably the Patriots, Alden Loafers, Marlow, Macneil, and Malvern.

How do the cordovan Macneils fit compared to other AEs? Do you fit similar to the 5 last or the the 511 (like a dalton). I am brannock size 9.5 but am considering a cordovan Macneil in size 9 but not sure if it would fit in length or width. Thanks