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

[Wallcloud]



I wish I could, but I don't like to steal from myself by photographing my outfits. Each one lives its own life.

Like the abodiginals....respect

 

[Al in Philly]

Gentlemen,

Are these shells worth my time to restore? They only need a resoling. I can make them sparkle with a little elbow grease... and Renomat of course!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261192014732?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

They are my size, and tough to ignore that price point...

 

[tampatravel]



You may have a reputation on this forum, but I'm going to have to respectfully disagree.

What he posted was a very cleanly executed and classic chukka in a great shade of shell cordovan. The stitching is visible, and intentionally so. It's part of the style that carries across many reputable brands of chukkas (Alden and the like). The AE version shown is well formed, off an appropriately curved last. It's a comfortable boot and creates a great blend of aesthetically pleasing, but durable materials.

Now, what you posted is something truly different. While it may not be a women's boot, it has far less masculine shape and is not a perfect substitute for a chukka buyer who has classic American tastes. Yes, they placed the stitching more discretely, and AE is able to do that, but AE's resistance is intentional. Moreover, regardless of price, the boot you posted looks cheap. While both styles are far from unique, the one you posted seems to placed fashion over style and does it poorly.

Before you call me uninformed, I am a fan of well-executed jodhpurs. I just don't think you chose a good representation thereof, and I don't believe they fill the same role as these chukka.

Basically, a chunkier chukka works well in a classic American sense, while the boot you posted works better with an Italian aesthetic. Each is valid, but each is distinct.

This is why I love this forum. We can agree to disagree in a honorable fashion. The Shell Chukkas are something to covet. The black boots are awesome looking too...they just look more "Dieter from Sprockets" than "Nolan from Tampa". That being said they are beautiful, but there's nothing in my closet that would go with the lack boots.

 

[mexicutioner]



I think they'd look better if they were more sleek and had some more differentiating details. The leather looks kind of blah too. Like, it reminds me of an old, fusty library. I'd definitely go for something black and with more sheen. Also thinner souls would be great. Have you seen the stuff Ferragamo has been doing?

Here's an example:

See how they hide the stitching better? It just looks more high quality that way.

let me guess. if someone posted a picture of a pickup truck, you'd politely interject, noting that said pickup truck would be more to your liking if it had lower profile wheels, a backseat, and if it was a sports car instead of a truck.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Gentlemen,

Are these shells worth my time to restore? They only need a resoling. I can make them sparkle with a little elbow grease... and Renomat of course!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261192014732?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

They are my size, and tough to ignore that price point...

The uppers could probably be restored to a good looking shoe, as we have all seen miracles performed with shell. The only thing that would make me scared of them is that the insole looks like it is cracking. Don't forget that the insole is the true foundation of the shoe, and once it starts to go, you are on borrowed time.

 

[Winston S.]



Gentlemen,

Are these shells worth my time to restore?  They only need a resoling.  I can make them sparkle with a little elbow grease... and Renomat of course!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261192014732?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

They are my size, and tough to ignore that price point...

Definitely a fixer upper. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for them though (inclusive of shipping).

 

[Al in Philly]

Definitely a fixer upper. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for them though (inclusive of shipping).

I was actually thinking the same price point.

 

[sazon]



First wearing of my shell Dundee today

Sweeeeeeet! Congrats and wear with pride.

 

[GOP Shoe Guy]

This is the best looking Strand shell colour I have ever seen, You're right that it doesn't look anywhere close to brown. Here's a picture of my shell dark brown Patriot and a colour #8 loafer. Your Strands might fit right in between the two.




Sorry for the flipped picture. It's coming straight off my phone.
I would still wear those Strands

I will definitely be wearing my Shell Strands. I wore them today. Love the way the feel, and look. To be honest, I was a bit discouraged by the color when I first saw them, but they have really grown on me today. I do look forward to them fading some and getting a nice patina. It will be a while, but I do love them.

 

[GOP Shoe Guy]

Gentlemen,

Are these shells worth my time to restore? They only need a resoling. I can make them sparkle with a little elbow grease... and Renomat of course!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261192014732?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

They are my size, and tough to ignore that price point...

At that price I could not pass them up if they were my size. I would try, and see what you could do with them. They do have the hammer on the sole, so they have been resoled before. It might be best to send them to AE for recrafting to see how they can bring them back. Maybe do some work on them yourself first. But I definitely think they are worth the price. If you get them and they stink, you haven't lost much...

 

[AdamAdam]

Just received my first pair of AE shoes today: walnut calf McAllisters. I won't post a bunch of pictures because you've all seen them a million times. They are "firsts" shipped right from the factory. I have a few questions that maybe you all with more experience can comment on.

1) Have a look at the distinct color variation on the left shoe. There is a noticeable line where the color is a few shades different. Can I fix that with a little polish or is that there forever? Does that make these returnable for some of you? In person it is more noticeable in my opinion than in this picture.





2) When I was measured in the store my right foot came out 8D and my left 8.5D. My left has always been a little larger. We tried the 8.5 and both agreed that it was just big and was slipping too much. He felt that 8D would be perfect and I've been reading that with this last it's normal to go down a half size (in my case 8.5 to 8). There were no 8D in the store at all to try (even in a different style with same last) so they were ordered and shipped. While I was waiting for these to arrive I popped into another AE store and tried on some other styles with the same last (Park Ave). Just for kicks I tried a 7.5D and while the right was perfect, the left was too snug for my liking but this particular clerk thought 7.5 should be my size and that the left would stretch. I'm having the opposite problem with these in 8D; the left is perfect and the right feels ever slightly too big with a tiny bit of slip. So, they always say go up to meet your larger foot. Either way, one is going to fit perfectly well and the other will have some issue. I'd rather have the right be ever so slightly large than the left be too tight. Ultimately my question is, what do others do and if I went with 7.5, should I expect the left one to stretch? I'm afraid to wear them for a few months only to learn that they are not stretching and be stuck with them.

3) I notice some gaping on both shoes near the ankle area. Is this normal? Will it get worse? It doesn't seem to effect the comfort as best I can tell from walking around the carpet in my bedroom for ten minutes.

Thanks!

I stopped by one of my local AE stores today. I'm in the Boston area so I'm lucky that I have three stores depending on where I am any given day (Downtown, Newbury St and Natick). Anyway, they offered to swap out my McAllisters but before they did I asked for another measurement and after trying on a few different things he helped me decide that I in fact needed a wider shoe. So, we went down to 7.5 but in an E. Unfortunately the McAllister in that size was out of stock so I used a PA as reference and they will ship me the new shoe. That should hopefully take care of the discoloration, sizing and gaping.

 

[rikod]

I have to admit, foo can make the most boring thread in the world (this one) interesting

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

I can't get enough of Bizarro Foo

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

...

 

[kmdsimpson]



I can't get enough of Bizarro Foo

...

JubeiSpiegel, you followed him back here?