I’m looking for people’s experience with men’s dress shoes. Especially when it comes to dress shoes that can be worn in a conservative business environment (e.g.: closed-laced cap toes and wingtips), are comfortable and durable.
So far, I’ve heard of Allen Edmonds, Rockport and Florsheim. Anyone have experience with those brands? How about others?
I’ve been buying Florsheim shoes ever since I started working in 1985. I find them comfortable and durable. And I think they look good too.
Alden and Brooks Brothers are two more excellent American retailers you should consider. In fact, Brooks Brothers doesn’t actually make any f their shoes, they rebrand other makers’, including Alden among others.
If you’re not limiting yourself to American brands, you should also consider Crockett & Jones, Alfred Sargent, and Tricker’s, just to name a few.
I’ve got a pair of Allen Edmonds black captoe balmorals (the Park Avenue), a pair of Alden for Brooks Brothers brown captoe bluchers, a pair of Tricker’s medium brown wingtips, and some Ralph Lauren brown loafers. I can attest to the quality of all of these products. The first two, at least, should be very welcome in a conservative business environment.
I forgot to ask: Manufacturers often say you shuld have 2 or 3 pairs of shoes and wear them on alternate days. How much effect does this have if you’re using shoe trees when you’re not wearing them?
Shoe trees are a great way to keep your shoes lasting longer. They keep the shape and the wood naturally pulls moisture out after wearing it all day. You should put the shoe tree in as soon as you take them off. And yes, you should have a few pair of shoes to match different outfits and spread out the wear.
I don`t know if you’re looking for style advice too, but if you want to look good in a conservative office make sure you get shoes with leather soles and a rounded or chiseled toe, not a ducklike square toe. Allen Edmonds and, as hobscrk777 suggested, Alden are great American brands that are affordable and look pretty good. They’re “affordable” in the sense that they’re classic looks and will last many years.
Also, depending on budget, Edward Green and John Lobb.
I’m afraid I’m terribly conventional and only plan to have black shoes to match my black and navy suits. My stand alone pants are black, navy and dark green.
If you have two pairs and wear them on alternate days, will they last more than twice as long as they would if you wore one pair everyday? If they last 2.5, 3 or more times as long as having just one pair, then it becomes cost saving.
I appreciate the style advice. I thought leather soles looked better. But I’m in Canada and I’ve gotten the impression that walking on icy streets with leather soles might not be desirable, even with rubber strips.
I’m not wedded to any nationality as far as products go.
I already have these in black: Shop Men's Dress Shoes, Casual Shoes, Sandals & Boots | Florsheim Shoes
I have shoes from all three of those brands. My favorite of them is Allen Edmonds. The Rockport shoes I have are less dressy, cheaper and more geared to comfort (e.g. rubber soles rather than leather). It’s possible Rockport makes shoes the equivalent of Allen Edmonds, but I haven’t seen them; I think they aim for a different part of the market. The Florsheims I have are fine, I just don’t really like the fit and style as well as the AE. Obviously YMMV on both of those.
Allen Edmonds fit my feet very well. I had a pair of these made in merlot and bone.
I’ve heard the opposite; to let them air out for a day or two before putting the shoe trees in.
Another question:
Are shoe sizes constant accross manufacturers? If a 10D from Florsheim fits me, can I be reasonably sure a 10D from another maker will?
A few caveats. Many of the better brands of men’s shoes have several price and quality tiers. It’s important to know that the 150 shoe is not always the same quality or durability as the 250+ flagship shoe of a reputable brand.
Rockports are quite comfortable but many Rockports have a lightweight structure and soft leather (compared to other brands) that wears and creases quickly, so they will not last nearly as long in presentable shape as some other brands.
Johnston Murphy was my go to shoe for years but I’m not sure the current quality is the same as it was 20-30 years ago. Allen Edmonds are also excellent shoes and come in several quality levels. Florsheim’s can be good but only in the upper tiers.
If you are on a budget a surprisingly affordable shoe with very acceptable quality for the price are upper end of the hard leather Bass loafers and oxfords. For $ 80 - $90 a pair or so at outlets they will last at least a year of two if rotated while looking good. They are not (IMO) worth resoling once the sole is significantly worn.
No. In fact, even within brands, various shoes marked the same size can fit differently. This is due to the pattern used to make various models (the so-called “last”). Your best bet is to either try them on in person or order online from a retailer with a generous return policy.
Vote for Allen Edmonds. I bought a pair in 1983, and they still look and fit good. Granted I don’t wear them too often, but they are my “go-to” conservative dress shoes.
At the time I thought it was a lot of money, bought now realize it was a wise investment.
Edit: I’ve been using shoe trees all along.
Sizing is much more consistent in men’s shoes than women’s shoes, so yes, you have a reasonable shot at fit across brands based on sizing.The place where this falls apart (somewhat) is in width. Some brands “medium” or “D” width is a medium wide in other brands, and sometimes styles of shoes within brands will run wider than other styles. It pays to shop in person at last for an initial purchase.
Hob, astro,
There is minimal variation within the same model though, isn’t there? If I go try on the Anniello Rockport in a store then buy it online, same thing right?
Online or store is identical for the same brand/style. Zappos is a good online shop. There are also some large sellers on ebay wth good deals for new shoes.
Thanks. I’m also seeing a pair on Amazon. In every other online store I’ve seen, they go for around 120. But they’re 43$ on Amazon (new, not used). Either an unmissable special or too good to be true.
I have finally found a brand that is comfortable and I want to wear even when I’m not in business attire… I saw you were in Canada too, and this manufacturer is Canada born and bred - John Fluevog.
They have some more modern, out-there type shoes to cater to the trendy hipsters, but their more traditional styles are great, I got hooked on a few dress pairs here and
here and then ended up finding the most comfortable casual leather shoesI have ever owned.
I’m afraid i’m not really sure. I haven’t worn 1 pair of shoes over and over since I was a teenager. On the other hand, I don’t work in a conservative environment so I normally wear cheap $60 loafers as my weekly rotation. I have some that are 8 years old and perfectly wearable, although starting to look worn. I find it hard to believe they would have lasted that long if i had one pair that I wore every day. And that’s a cheap loafer. Allen Edmonds or Alden should last basically forever, or 20 or more years.
Good point. Safety first.
When my husband used to work as a stockbroker, Cole Haan was recommended to him. He’s had two pairs of them since the mid-90s and they still look good. They have been re-soled once or twice during that time.
I generally go with a pair of black Allen Edmonds for work. I actually have two pairs of similar shoes. When one wears out I take them to the store to be refurbished and then start wearing the other ones. Since I don’t have a car and walk everywhere, they last about a year between reburbishings.
I also have a pair of Cole Haans for more causual dressy wear, but I don’t find them as comfortible.