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

[TauKappaEpsilon]

Two new pairs (and one pair of RL loafers >_< )

Walnut strands and brown 5th aves

 

[Barroomheroes]

Nice pickup!

 

[reidrothchild]

Nice pickup, Tau. The 5th Ave in brown looks really sharp.

 

[TauKappaEpsilon]

I love the brown 5th aves... so much that... I've never worn them yet! I actually don't wear full suits often so I havent had the chance to wear these yet.

On related note, what does everyone think the appropriate time to wear the 5th aves is? When I bought them I decided I was going to store them away and only wear them when I'm wearing a full suit, but now that I think about it, I'm wondering if they are appropriate to wear with denims/chinos, a SC and a tie, or should I wear the strands for the SC and tie look?

Nice pickup, Tau. The 5th Ave in brown looks really sharp.

 

[pwhinson]

I received my first shell cordovan shoes a couple of weeks ago - the Allen Edmonds strand in Walnut shell. I have the shoe in walnut calf but the shell is an entirely different color, much darker in the case of my pair, much more uniformly brown. I had been holding onto them for a few weeks until I received some Venetian shoe cream so that I could condition them prior to wearing them. Finally received the venetian cream and you can see the results below. The Venetian cream darkened them just a tiny bit but very little really. I do have one question unrelated to the walnut Strands which may be somewhat of a newbie question - it relates to the color Allen Edmonds refers to as their dark burgundy in shell. I received more recently a pair of MacNeils in burgundy cordovan and was really a bit surprised as how relatively light in color the burgundy was - I expected almost a black/burgundy color and that was clearly not the case with the AEs. I have no personal experience with Alden but Alden's color 8 which would seem to correspondence to AE's "dark burgundy" in shell seems like a much much darker burgundy. Is this in fact the case? Any opinions? If the cordovan is going to lighten with time it would seem off the top of my head that the darker burgundy of the Aldens might be a better starting point if the goal is to get that deep burgundy cordovan color and patina. In any event, here are my Walnut shell Strands fresh after a thin application of Venetian cream and a nice buffing. The photos make the shoes (at least on my monitor) seem just a bit darker and a tiny bit redder than they actually are (the color is more of a milk chocolate color). They already have some nice character showing up in them. I have to say that there was a bit of a stitching/cutting flaw on the side of the one of the heels of one shoe - the stitching strayed a bit too far away from the pinked/cut leather; I was disappointed that in a first quality shoe you would have a flaw like this but I think overall the shoes are just so magnificent I've decided I'll live with it. The third photo shoes the flaw (the shoe on top has the stitching flaw). Note also that photo three below was taken before the application of the venetian cream.

 

[bucksfan]

The 5th ave would be a suit and sport coat shoe for me.

 

[ryewo[i dmfsOZI490w]

I wear my brown 5th Avenues with various shades of grey pants to my business casual workplace.

Don't for get to use shoe trees when you're not wearing them, and don't wear them consecutive days.

 

[csc67]

Since I know many of you AE fans own both the Park Avenue and Strand, can you please tell me if the fit between the Park Avenue and the Strand are the same (I know they are both on the same last, but I recently purchased a pair of Park Avenues and they were much tighter than my Strands)

 

[TauKappaEpsilon]

Since I know many of you AE fans own both the Park Avenue and Strand, can you please tell me if the fit between the Park Avenue and the Strand are the same (I know they are both on the same last, but I recently purchased a pair of Park Avenues and they were much tighter than my Strands)

I have the fifth aves and the stands so I can't tell you from experience, however, what colors are your shoes? If, for example, the strands are walnut and the park aves are black/brown the leather on the park aves will feel tighter/stiffer. Apparently, the darker the color you get, the stiffer the shoe is. This could be why they feel more snug.

I dont know if there is any difference between the park ave and fifth ave (besides the broguing on the cap toe of the fifth ave, so assuming there isn't, my fifth aves actually feel slightly bigger then my strands in the same size.

 

[reidrothchild]



I love the brown 5th aves... so much that... I've never worn them yet!  I actually don't wear full suits often so I havent had the chance to wear these yet.

 
On related note, what does everyone think the appropriate time to wear the 5th aves is?  When I bought them I decided I was going to store them away and only wear them when I'm wearing a full suit, but now that I think about it, I'm wondering if they are appropriate to wear with denims/chinos, a SC and a tie, or should I wear the strands for the SC and tie look?

I have the 5th Ave in black and only wear with suits, but my buddy has them in brown, and he wears them khakis, odd jackets, etc. Looks fine. I don't think you need to confine them to suits only.

 

[mediahound]



I have no personal experience with Alden but Alden's color 8 which would seem to correspondence to AE's "dark burgundy" in shell seems like a much much darker burgundy. Is this in fact the case?

It's the same shell cordovan but Alden applies a dark purple dye/treatment over theirs to give it their signature "Color 8", whereas AE does not. Hence the color difference.

 

[csc67]

Strands in dark brown and PA in black - PA's much tighter than Strands

 

[REguy]

Anyone have pics of the brown distressed MacNeil in action?

 

[ryewo[i dmfsOZI490w]



I have the fifth aves and the stands so I can't tell you from experience, however, what colors are your shoes?  If, for example, the strands are walnut and the park aves are black/brown the leather on the park aves will feel tighter/stiffer.  Apparently, the darker the color you get, the stiffer the shoe is.  This could be why they feel more snug.

I dont know if there is any difference between the park ave and fifth ave (besides the broguing on the cap toe of the fifth ave, so assuming there isn't, my fifth aves actually feel slightly bigger then my strands in the same size.

I noticed this exact thing! I have walnut McAllisters in 8, and they are a very comfortable fit. The Fifth Avenues in dark brown and size 8 and VERY VERY tight, and size 8.5 would have probably been better, I dunno. I'm really hoping that they stretch out a bit.

 

[rostov]

or you could try buying AE in your size

I haven't been buying AE in my size because the ones marked for my size are too big. AEs are not, in my experience, TTS. My anger at the Sandlot misfitting at "the wrong size" is a reflection of my expectations from owning 4 pairs of shoes from AE which did fit at ~10eee. I know that each last will fit differently, but the Sandlot has a drastically different fit. Ironically, that may be because it is closer to TTS. For a manufacturer whose closest store is 100 miles from my residence, it is important to me that I can place an order with some expectation of fit, based on either measurements or past experiences. I'm sure I'd be somewhat more pleased with my experience were I local to a retail outlet, as first of all, I could have tried on the shoes prior to purchase.


However, I'm much more upset about the fact that the only AEs I've bought at nearly full price (Strands) have been defective, and replaced with defectives.