Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[PhiPsi32]

I heard on the street that there will not be a fall catalog per se. AE will release a fall "supplement". Take it however you want.

And, no, I haven't received anything.

 

[seer]

Some good pics here lately. Wore the Elgin's today, I like them more and more every time that I wear them:

What make are those socks?

 

[PhiPsi32]

Looks like the black and brown Ridgeway has made it into the AE line up. Available on the website.

 

[kmdsimpson]



So i placed an order for Delrays in burgundy cordovan with a natural colored sole. My wallet is hating me right now, but i have been digging the 8 last, and i wanted to do something special with this custom order. My SA had to get authorization to see if cordovan was an option, and he got the go ahead. Now i wait for 6-8 weeks, and hopefully have some great pics to share

I'm with you on the 8 last. I think I'm going to get rid of my non-8 last shoes and only buy that last from now on. But I'm waiting for a nice oxford without too much brogueing or punch holes on it; e.g.: McClain, Hale, Vernon, Weybridge are all too busy for my taste.

Can't wait to see how your shoes come out.

BTW, what is the difference between the Delray and the LaSalle? They look almost the same, except maybe the piece on top (forget what it's called) that appears lower and closer to the toe on the LaSalle.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I'm with you on the 8 last. I think I'm going to get rid of my non-8 last shoes and only buy that last from now on. But I'm waiting for a nice oxford without too much brogueing or punch holes on it; e.g.: McClain, Hale, Vernon, Weybridge are all too busy for my taste.
Can't wait to see how your shoes come out.
BTW, what is the difference between the Delray and the LaSalle? They look almost the same, except maybe the piece on top (forget what it's called) that appears lower and closer to the toe on the LaSalle.

2 of AE's best shoes: Delray; Weybridge.

 

[Cold Iron]

What make are those socks?

Smartwool. I can't remember which ones though.

 

[mudmutt]

Been reading forum for a couple of months now (first post) and made my first AE purchase. I tried the Strand locally and was fitted for an 11D. After doing research on the forum and finding out about the AE Factory Seconds I purchased a pair of Cordovan Bradley's in the 11D also. My foot is not narrow at all and when I read about the Strand is says the 5-65 last is "long and narrow". So I felt comfortable that the Bradley would be an equivalent fit, if not a bit roomier in the ball of the foot or toe area.

I've been trying to break them in by wearing them in the house last night and this morning. My right foot (which is the slightly larger of my two) feels very snug on my little toe. Enough that if I try and "stretch" my toes out I can see where my little toe is pushing out on the leather of the shoe.

So after all this background, here's my question(s). I expect that the shoe will stretch/break-in a bit more and that it could end up being completely comfortable to wear. I hate to think it wouldn't and that I should have gone up another half size. The other concern is the way the leather is on the Bradley. If my toe is pressing against the outside of the shoe enough to stretch the leather, will this stretching ultimately make the shoe stretch in the one spot making the shoe not look correct anymore?

I know this is the whole downside to purchasing online, but I was very eager to get the Bradley's and couldn't beat the cost of getting the factory seconds (which look to be great). I appreciate any advice in advance.

 

[Cold Iron]

Been reading forum for a couple of months now (first post) and made my first AE purchase. I tried the Strand locally and was fitted for an 11D. After doing research on the forum and finding out about the AE Factory Seconds I purchased a pair of Cordovan Bradley's in the 11D also. My foot is not narrow at all and when I read about the Strand is says the 5-65 last is "long and narrow". So I felt comfortable that the Bradley would be an equivalent fit, if not a bit roomier in the ball of the foot or toe area.

I've been trying to break them in by wearing them in the house last night and this morning. My right foot (which is the slightly larger of my two) feels very snug on my little toe. Enough that if I try and "stretch" my toes out I can see where my little toe is pushing out on the leather of the shoe.

So after all this background, here's my question(s). I expect that the shoe will stretch/break-in a bit more and that it could end up being completely comfortable to wear. I hate to think it wouldn't and that I should have gone up another half size. The other concern is the way the leather is on the Bradley. If my toe is pressing against the outside of the shoe enough to stretch the leather, will this stretching ultimately make the shoe stretch in the one spot making the shoe not look correct anymore?

I know this is the whole downside to purchasing online, but I was very eager to get the Bradley's and couldn't beat the cost of getting the factory seconds (which look to be great). I appreciate any advice in advance.

The Bradley is on the 1 last. I own a fair number of shoes in both the 1 and 5 last, they both fit me well but the 5 is a bit better for me. I can not fit in the 8 last to save my life so it rules out a number of shoes that I would like, but they just do not fit me so are not an option.

Couple of years ago I developed a bunion on my left foot which is slightly larger than my right foot at the base of my little toe and had it removed twice over a year and half time. I was able to trace it back to my shell Leeds and Shelton's which are the old cobbler leather, both of which has very little give to them and are on the 1 last. All my other calf shoes on the 1 last have never given me a problem, I think that calf may stretch more than shell or the cobbler leather. My left foot barely touched the sides of those two shoes however it was enough to cause problems. I used a shoe stretcher with a bunion attachment to slowly stretch that part of both shoes. When I first did it yes it did bulge the shoes out enough at those spots that it was noticeable but likely only to me. Over time they came back in enough that they look normal but not enough to cause me problems now.

So in my experience anyhow your foot is going to loose the battle with shell and cause you problems down the road. I have been trying to get a pair of shell Bradley's since Dec. of last year and have had to return 2 pair of firsts so far. I have purchased several pairs of seconds from the shoebank and they have been flawless from what I can tell, yes they can be hard to beat for the price. But first and foremost they have to fit IMO.

 

[seer]

Smartwool. I can't remember which ones though.

thanks, they are a nice looking sock...

 

[thebeebs]

I'm with you on the 8 last. I think I'm going to get rid of my non-8 last shoes and only buy that last from now on. But I'm waiting for a nice oxford without too much brogueing or punch holes on it; e.g.: McClain, Hale, Vernon, Weybridge are all too busy for my taste.
Can't wait to see how your shoes come out.
BTW, what is the difference between the Delray and the LaSalle? They look almost the same, except maybe the piece on top (forget what it's called) that appears lower and closer to the toe on the LaSalle.

I have seen and tried on both the Delray and Lasalle, and IMO, it's not even close. The Delray is a piece of art, esp in Chile Burnished Calf. Sleeker, dressier, better silhouette, on and on...

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

Made the drive to the Brooks Brothers CountryClub store to compare the AE pert. cap toe vs. the C&J pert. cap toe. A side by side comparison, so you all can look at the proportion differences:

THe C&J looks better in proportions, and the leather quality and details are a bit better. But at retail, i don't feel it is twice as good as the AE, i was hoping it would be more sleek in person.

 

[kmdsimpson]



I have seen and tried on both the Delray and Lasalle, and IMO, it's not even close.  The Delray is a piece of art, esp in Chile Burnished Calf.  Sleeker, dressier, better silhouette, on and on...

Thanks. You couldn't tell there is much difference looking at the pics on their website!

 

[blue collar]



You inspired me yesterday. I went to work and scrubbed these puppies for a while. Introducing the burgundy shell fleet I have succumb to so far! Hope to have a collection of brown someday like this....

I'm not a huge AE fan but this set makes me reconsider...

Nice stuff.

 

[New Shoes1]



Made the drive to the Brooks Brothers CountryClub store to compare the AE pert. cap toe vs. the C&J pert. cap toe. A side by side comparison, so you all can look at the proportion differences:

THe C&J looks better in proportions, and the leather quality and details are a bit better. But at retail, i don't feel it is twice as good as the AE, i was hoping it would be more sleek in person.

The welt and the cap toe line are the major differences between the two. Also agree that $420 for the Peal is tough to justify. For me, there was no way I would ever buy 5th Avenues and I had a few hundred in gift cards, which was why I went with the Peal on sale. For what it's worth, my next cap toe will probably be Meermin.

 

[mudmutt]

The Bradley is on the 1 last. I own a fair number of shoes in both the 1 and 5 last, they both fit me well but the 5 is a bit better for me. I can not fit in the 8 last to save my life so it rules out a number of shoes that I would like, but they just do not fit me so are not an option.

Couple of years ago I developed a bunion on my left foot which is slightly larger than my right foot at the base of my little toe and had it removed twice over a year and half time. I was able to trace it back to my shell Leeds and Shelton's which are the old cobbler leather, both of which has very little give to them and are on the 1 last. All my other calf shoes on the 1 last have never given me a problem, I think that calf may stretch more than shell or the cobbler leather. My left foot barely touched the sides of those two shoes however it was enough to cause problems. I used a shoe stretcher with a bunion attachment to slowly stretch that part of both shoes. When I first did it yes it did bulge the shoes out enough at those spots that it was noticeable but likely only to me. Over time they came back in enough that they look normal but not enough to cause me problems now.

So in my experience anyhow your foot is going to loose the battle with shell and cause you problems down the road. I have been trying to get a pair of shell Bradley's since Dec. of last year and have had to return 2 pair of firsts so far. I have purchased several pairs of seconds from the shoebank and they have been flawless from what I can tell, yes they can be hard to beat for the price. But first and foremost they have to fit IMO.

Thanks, that helped me determine that I do need to exchange them. I called and spoke to Nathan at the outlet and fortunately they had a half size up (which he's sending to me now). I asked about the going wider 11D to 11E vs going longer 11D to 11.5D and he said the 11E and 11.5D are almost the same width, so if I was okay with a bit more toe room (which I am) he recommended going up. I'm glad they had them, I didn't think the Cordovan Bradley is one that's always readily available in the outlet.