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

[MoneyWellSpent]

I just got my cognac ones back from AE after a little misguided snafu, and I could lay them (both colors) out next to khaki colored pants and jeans if you want an idea of how it'll look.

I'm curious, but are you referring to your post from a couple of months ago regarding the color fading after using saddle soap? I thought of you when I posted a couple of pages back about my experience with my Long Branches (look at my post from earlier today). I started to have similar fears about the finish on my boots and that was part of what prompted me to do some digging and found that their recommendations are different on the shoe care pdf on their website. Interestingly, one of the discrepancies that I have caught is between the Rapid City and the Cognac McTavish. Both shoes are made from Horween Cognac Dublin Leather. However, they say to use Conditioner/Cleaner and Walnut Polish on the Rapid City, whereas they say to use Saddle Soap on the McTavish. The care should be the same for these two shoes I would think. Just curious about what happened with yours.

 

[JilSlander]

Hey, guys, a place around me has the AE Van Ness in black for $210.

I'm usually wearing business formal at work. Are these fine for the office/is the price good?

Thanks.

 

[newbie369]

Thanks guys. I'm afraid I won't be able to exchange them as they are factory seconds that I purchased for an event late December. I used the measuring tool online and the width of my feet lined up perfectly with the suggested width. In retrospect, sizing up one width would've been a great choice.

I assume shoe bank does not accept exchanges for (gently) worn shoes?

 

[Cold Iron]

Basically I want some good boots for snow or rain, made in the USA, etc. I live in NYC so the rain and snow isn't too heavy most of the time. I was going to go with the 6" Chippewa boots but the AE Yuma is on sale for nearly the same price and looks so much better (and I just LOVE AE). Would the Yuma's be suitable for NYC weather? Since there's leather on it, I'm afraid it'll get ruined and deteriorate quickly as well.

Yes the Yuma would be fine. You wouldn't want to wade through a stream of water with them but for what your describing they should hold up just fine. I own 3 pair of Bison leather boots including the Yuma. Bison leather is very tough yet light and supple. Not as light as Roo hide but close. The soles on the Yuma are fairly thin and without a shank they feel more like a stalking boot to me. They also are fairly snug so you might want to keep that in mind if you want to wear them with heavy socks in the winter. But Bison is also decent in the warmer months, not nearly as hot as the other boots your looking at. And yes the Yuma will look better compared to a work boot like the Chippewa if that is a concern. Although I own plenty of work boots too. What size are you BTW?

 

[TheSizzle]

I'm curious, but are you referring to your post from a couple of months ago regarding the color fading after using saddle soap? I thought of you when I posted a couple of pages back about my experience with my Long Branches (look at my post from earlier today). I started to have similar fears about the finish on my boots and that was part of what prompted me to do some digging and found that their recommendations are different on the shoe care pdf on their website. Interestingly, one of the discrepancies that I have caught is between the Rapid City and the Cognac McTavish. Both shoes are made from Horween Cognac Dublin Leather. However, they say to use Conditioner/Cleaner and Walnut Polish on the Rapid City, whereas they say to use Saddle Soap on the McTavish. The care should be the same for these two shoes I would think. Just curious about what happened with yours.

They might have changed their advice, but before they managed to do that, I'd been advised by the sales rep at a local AE store and their online customer support to use saddle soap specifically on the cognac colored ones. I thought it was odd advice, which is why I asked a few times, but they kept insisting. So, I sent them pictures. They apologized and said that was bad advice for the cognac variety. Actually, the rep in the store was shocked, and I think self-conscious, about her advice. So, they paid for shipping and got them back to looking like they should. After that, I went back to using just leather lotion on those.

I can tell you this: I will not be putting saddle soap anywhere near those uppers again, and I would advise others with cognac McTavish to avoid it as well.

 

[cbtaylor]

Hey, guys, a place around me has the AE Van Ness in black for $210.

I'm usually wearing business formal at work. Are these fine for the office/is the price good?

Thanks.

I think they are fine for office. Price is not bad, but that is up to you

 

[JilSlander]

I think they are fine for office. Price is not bad, but that is up to you

I'm just wondering what the difference between the Van Ness and the Clifton is.

I can get the Clifton for much cheaper on eBay.

 

[TheSizzle]

I'm just wondering what the difference between the Van Ness and the Clifton is.

I can get the Clifton for much cheaper on eBay.

For starters...

The Van Ness is a balmoral, while the Clifton is a blucher.

 

[JilSlander]

Clifton, it is. Thanks for the heads up, guys.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

They might have changed their advice, but before they managed to do that, I'd been advised by the sales rep at a local AE store and their online customer support to use saddle soap specifically on the cognac colored ones. I thought it was odd advice, which is why I asked a few times, but they kept insisting. So, I sent them pictures. They apologized and said that was bad advice for the cognac variety. Actually, the rep in the store was shocked, and I think self-conscious, about her advice. So, they paid for shipping and got them back to looking like they should. After that, I went back to using just leather lotion on those.

I can tell you this: I will not be putting saddle soap anywhere near those uppers again, and I would advise others with cognac McTavish to avoid it as well.

Glad they worked with you. Did the neatsfoot oil that you used on them affect their ability to get them totally back to normal? Post some pictures if you have time!

 

[hohneokc]



I can't decide between the Natural Tan McTavishes or the Dark Brown cognac. This is likely to be a workhorse shoe for me, primarily worn with jeans and khakis. Dark brown seems to contrast better with the Khakis so I'm leaning towards them at the moment, but unfortunately it would be quite a drive for me to see either color in person as my local Nordstrom only stocks the black ones. Can anyone offer any insight?

I would think about what time of year you will be wearing them most. I have both the natural and the cognac McTavish and for me, the natural McTavish more of a summer shade for me and the cognac is more fall/winter.

Chris

 

[Archimon]

I would think about what time of year you will be wearing them most. I have both the natural and the cognac McTavish and for me, the natural McTavish more of a summer shade for me and the cognac is more fall/winter.

Chris

Hmm. Interesting point. Maybe I should get one of each then, in the immediate sense I suppose tan would make more sense as I really plan to wear them year round. I may invest in a second pair in the future though. My goal was to get a shoe that I could wear daily or almost daily through college, so winter is really when school is in session, but as I said these are my first pair so perhaps I should get the ones I can wear more immediately.

 

[MacktasticGDogg]



They might have changed their advice, but before they managed to do that, I'd been advised by the sales rep at a local AE store and their online customer support to use saddle soap specifically on the cognac colored ones. I thought it was odd advice, which is why I asked a few times, but they kept insisting. So, I sent them pictures. They apologized and said that was bad advice for the cognac variety. Actually, the rep in the store was shocked, and I think self-conscious, about her advice. So, they paid for shipping and got them back to looking like they should. After that, I went back to using just leather lotion on those.

I can tell you this: I will not be putting saddle soap anywhere near those uppers again, and I would advise others with cognac McTavish to avoid it as well.

I used saddle soap on my Elgins back when I bought it and it took out the toe burnishing. At the time the AE website had just added saddle soap and it said it should be used on the Rough Collection, so I tried it. I guess that was a mistake. Fortunately the shoe looked fine to me without the toe burnishing, so it didn't bother me. But it sounds like I should just toss that can of saddle soap.

 

[TheSizzle]

I used saddle soap on my Elgins back when I bought it and it took out the toe burnishing. At the time the AE website had just added saddle soap and it said it should be used on the Rough Collection, so I tried it. I guess that was a mistake. Fortunately the shoe looked fine to me without the toe burnishing, so it didn't bother me. But it sounds like I should just toss that can of saddle soap.

I think they might still have saddle soap listed on their website under the McTavish description, but I'm not going there.

The finish seems different (wax infusion and such) on different colors of the McTavish, which might explain why it didn't harm my tan ones, but you should have seen the amount of color that was coming off the shoes and onto the cloth (when the cloth became brown, I could only assume it was from the shoes since I wasn't adding any color).

I'd recommend avoiding it on the cognac variety for sure.

Saddle soap is rough stuff, but it has some uses. I don't know if I'd disregard it all-together, but, like I said, I'd keep it away from cognac McTavish uppers.

 

[N8ter]

Bump:

I have a question as to the typical length of break-in time for an AE calf shoe and how much I can expect the shoe to loosen up in the toe box? I picked up a pair of the BB Strands in Walnut during the $130 and have worn them about 5 times now. The latest time was this morning to church and the right shoe is juuust tight enough to keep me from being entirely comfortable when wearing them. It feels like it is just squeezing everything from the ball of my foot forward and my foot feels better when I get them off, even after the 2.5 hours I wore them this morning. On the first wear I got a sore pinky toe and haven't had that happen since then, but I also haven't walked nearly as much in them since that first wear. My left shoe is just fine - what I would consider a good dress shoe fit. Everything snug, but nothing squeezing or tight. I do think my right foot is slightly larger than my left as it isn't uncommon for shoes on my right foot to feel tighter than my left.

So I am wondering what my best option is?

1) Continue wearing, hope it loosens enough to become comfortable. I am willing to live through the break-in period if it would ever get to that point, but I am not sure how long it would take if it would.
2) Have them stretched and see if that would help. A bit worried the stretching solution would discolor the leather (walnut).
3) Call AE and see what they can do for me. I am not sure if fit issues is something they would work with a customer on. I did try the shoes on prior to purchasing and I mentioned the tight fit on the right shoe to the sales rep and he assured me the leather would loosen up. Would rather not go this route for a few reasons, but if there isn't a way to get them comfortable through another method I would probably just stop wearing them eventually which would be a shame.

Thanks in advance for the help.