I have a pair of these, custom made in merlot red and bone. They’re more comfortable than most dress shoes I’ve worn, although I have wide feet so I don’t know how they are for narrow widths.
If you want nicer shoes than that you have to be English royalty or Al Capone.
Are you sure they don’t have a dealer in the UK somewhere? Can’t hurt to ask.
Have you tried Grenson? I have a pair of brogues I bought on sale from them and they are pretty nice. They’re made in the UK so you could try them on. I’m not sure what price range you’re looking at, but Church’s or Tricker’s make some really shoes. For Tricker’s - try them on in the store to see what size works for you, and then buy them off eBay. They have a company seconds store (called retricker I think?) that sells them for much cheaper. Still really expensive though.
For the US people, Allen Edmonds are on sale in Nordstrom Racks all the time for under $200.
Quartz, if at some time you find yourself looking for walking shoes or hiking/climbing boots, have a boo at Asolo – their lasts tend to be narrower than most American lasts.
Q,
No A&E in the UK but there are resellers.
http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/AjaxStoreLocatorDisplayView?catalogId=40000000001&langId=-1&storeId=1#details
Charles Harvey Tailoring
67 Wellingborough Rd
Northamptonshire , NN10 9YG
193-335-9503
DETAILS
2 John Rushton Shoes
93 Wimpole Street
London , W1 G 0EQ
171-629-1888
DETAILS
3 John Simons
46 Chiltern Street
London , W1 Y 7QR
207-379-7353
DETAILS
4 Palmer
125 Northcote Road
London , SW116PS
207-978-4588
DETAILS
5 Rochester Big & Tall
90 Brompton Road
London , SW3 1ER
207-838-0018
DETAILS
6 The Mandon Store
21 Gladstone St
Harrogate , HG2 8DG
142-387-2797
DETAILS
7 The Master Cobbler
21 Highbury Park
London , N5 1QJ
207-226-6751
I own five pair of AE shoes, one for each day of the week to go to court in. I don’t go to court nearly that often anymore, but I’ve had the shoes for about a quarter century. Every once in while I will get new soles at the local cobbler, not sent in to the factory.
I like Allen Edmonds, but they are somewhat heavy and stiff. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but worth noting. Another option for high-quality, durable men’s shoes is Mephisto - they’re lighter and more flexible, due to rubber soles. The rubber they use is caoutchouc - natural tree rubber - and is the most amazingly durable stuff I have ever worn on my feet.
My first pair’s soles held up to being worn 3-4x a week for about three years before the pattern wore down enough that I wanted to resole them. At $440, they’re the most expensive shoes I’ve ever purchased, but on a cost-per-day basis, they’re the cheapest.
This is true and is quite common for European manufacturers versus American manufacturers. However, they are not even close to A width, unless you go with a B-width women’s boot, but then you couldn’t possibly get a size 14.
The AE’s are absolutely impeccable to look at. They are not an average shoe in the least and comparing them to Rockports is just silliness.
And the midsole in the Rockports is EVA (foamed plastic) as opposed to cork in the AEs. Not to mention the construction of those high quality materials. The AEs are welted instead of glued together, which is why they last so long and can be recrafted. I have to agree with whoever called them a work of art.
I’ve no idea what’s available for you in the U.K., but just wanted to add another vote for the quality of AE shoes. They are rather expensive, but they are one of the few producers IME that makes a variety of wide (EE+) dress shoes. I can—rarely—find sale AE shoes in my width for $100-150, which I can’t duplicate for a shoe of equivalent quality. (And then there’s the burgundy wingtip AE’s, nearly new, that I found for $20 at Goodwill. That was a good day.)
Of course, my shoe dream is to one day have the scratch to be a customer of Lobb or Cleverley.
I have two pairs of AE after a recommendation from a fellow Doper so years ago. Not all their shoes fit me, but the last in the Park Avenue are a fantastic match to my feet. I love them.
I’ve owned, and still own, shoes by both manufacturers. They’re different animals altogether.
Rockports are great. They’re comfortable right out of the box. They are (or at least the model I buy are) waterproof. Really waterproof. You can wear them in the worst kind of weather, and your feet will stay dry. They look OK with casual clothes, but not so great with a suit.
Allen-Edmonds (or Alden, or Church) shoes are beautifully made, and will last forever. But they cost a lot of money, and you won’t want to wear them when there’s four inches of slush and salty water all over the place. They can be resoled, and will last for decades. Rockports won’t. I don’t think they can be resoled, at least the model I wear (sorry - I forget the name).
The Rockports, having some kind of composition sole, give great traction on wet surfaces, especially indoors, where things can get really slippery. Leather-soled shoes are less good at this.
If I were going to have to walk ten miles, I’d choose the Rockports, although A/E shoes or their equivalent wouldn’t be far behind. If I were to walk ten miles in crappy weather, the Rockports win hands down.
If I have to wear a suit, the A/E win by a mile.
I have rung every one of AE’s U.K. stockists. Those that are still in business stock only a very limited range, and none stock anything below a D fitting.
What size and style do you want?
I can check out availability and cost of size 14 B in Provo and Kenilworth if you like.
I can’t help but think that somewhere out there is some poor shoeless bastard named Allen Edmonds who keeps ordering shoes, but never receives any due the deliveries being confused.
I have to have A-Es refurbished about every 18 months. But I also used to have to wear them every day with a suit and being in NYC I walk like everywhere.
Thanks, Qadgop. I’ve checked availability and it’s 7-10 days which is fine. I’m currently suffering sticker shock, having totted up the whole cost. They really don’t like shipping outside the U.S. It’s going to be +100%, not +40%. :eek:
I just need to steel myself to gambling $500 / £350.
A very big thank you to Qadgop for visiting their shop for me. I’m considering delaying ordering until after Christmas in the hope that they’ll have a sale.
