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

[MoneyWellSpent]

For what it's worth, I think a casually colored short-wing balmoral like the McAllister would look every bit as good with jeans as the Delray. In fact, I think it would look better. I find the whole 'no closed lacing with casual wear' to be quite limiting and too strict for my taste. I wear my walnut Strands with jeans all the time and think they look great.

I generally lean in this direction as well. I think that the closed lacing alone can't be the main driving force in the decision. I look at formality as a spectrum, not as black and white. There are many casual balmorals on the market (many nice ones by AE) that are obviously intended for jeans/chinos. I tend to approach the concept more from a scoring system perspective, sort of like a "pro/con" list if you will. Call formal a "pro" and casual a "con" just to use arbitrary terminology. In other words, know the "rules" for each component of the shoe and whether it is considered a formal or a casual component to see if your overall score ends up in the formal or casual side of the spectrum. Some will fall in the middle, making them versatile for being dressed up or down.

I know many here disagree and feel that balmorals are strictly formal, and that the casual balmorals are simply enigmas that have no place. That's totally fine. Personally, I like the way a shoe that is made of casual leathers can be dressed up with traditionally formal shoe construction to make it appropriate for business casual environments. I think that is one of the main purposes of AE's Rough Collection. I don't think their sole intention with the Rough Collection was for weekends with jeans. I'm not as fond of some of the newer Rough offerings, but the members of the original collection (McTavish, Elgin, Finch, Stewart) all fit this bill very well and look fantastic on a casual friday with chinos and a button up or everyday if that is your style and work environment. The traditional dress shoes with heavy broguing in casual colors can fit into the same niche. Another thing is that people almost always ask if the shoes go with a particular pair of pants rather than the entire ensemble. It is much more helpful to consider the entire ensemble. Walnut McAllisters with jeans and a polo? No thanks. Walnut McAllisters with Jeans and a nice button up, casual tie and sport coat? Sure!

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Gentlemen, in your opinion, does a heavily pinked/brogued balmoral still have more formality on account of its tight lacing when compared to a less heavily decorated blucher? The reason I ask is because I currently have black kenilworths, and at first glance, they would seem more formal to me than the dark brown BB strands I plan on acquiring. I was planning on wearing the BB strands out with dark denim, and seemed to be a good idea in my head. Everyone here seems to be recommending bluchers over balmorals every time, however.

Using the same logic I just mentioned above, I would consider the black Kenilworth to be more formal than brown Strands.

 

[Papa Doble]



For what it's worth, I think a casually colored short-wing balmoral like the McAllister would look every bit as good with jeans as the Delray. In fact, I think it would look better. I find the whole 'no closed lacing with casual wear' to be quite limiting and too strict for my taste. I wear my walnut Strands with jeans all the time and think they look great.

I don't have a strict no-casual-bals rule (see this post from yesterday), but since Jeffreyleigh said he currently has one pair of black dress shoes, and will wear his second pair mainly with jeans, I don't think a light brown wingtip balmoral is the best choice. New Shoes1's post below sounds reasonable to me.

Don't get caught up in trying to establish a hierarchy of formality.  Dark brown Strands are alright with jeans, as are black Kenilworths.  Would a long wing blucher be better with jeans?  Probably, but it does not change the fact that you are building your collection and Strands will be just fine for now.  For what it's worth, I do not wear my Strands with jeans anymore because I now have better choices (chukkha boot, shell loafer or shell long wing blucher).

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Don't get caught up in trying to establish a hierarchy of formality. Dark brown Strands are alright with jeans, as are black Kenilworths. Would a long wing blucher be better with jeans? Probably, but it does not change the fact that you are building your collection and Strands will be just fine for now. For what it's worth, I do not wear my Strands with jeans anymore because I now have better choices (chukkha boot, shell loafer or shell long wing blucher).

Now this is definitely true. As your shoe collection grows larger, the decisions become easier because you should be able to accumulate enough shoes to take care of all scenarios. My comment above is working under the assumption that a smaller collection is present, and therefore, some shoes need to be able to pull double duty.

 

[OptoDoc]

As usual, MWS, you have posted my thoughts in a much more eloquent and informative fashion than I could myself.

 

[David Copeland]

As usual, MWS, you have posted my thoughts in a much more eloquent and informative fashion than I could myself.

+1

 

[msulinski]

Now this is definitely true. As your shoe collection grows larger, the decisions become easier because you should be able to accumulate enough shoes to take care of all scenarios. My comment above is working under the assumption that a smaller collection is present, and therefore, some shoes need to be able to pull double duty.

My advice for not getting the the McAllister is based on the fact that the poster said it would be worn almost exclusively with jeans. Its not that I don't think the McAllister can look good with jeans, and might even be a good choice if someone needs a shoe for suits, sportcoats and jeans. However, there are better choices for a shoe that will be strictly worn in a casual way.

 

[bellyhungry]

I think a pair of shoes with a heftier (read double) sole would look better with jeans than those without. Therefore, my recommendation is Mctavish in brown/cognac or MacNeil (though I am not a fan of the current color of black or walnut grain but I think you can get MacNeil in dark brown from Lands End.)

 

[reidrothchild]



How do you like them?
I think they are a unique and intriguing model.
That medallion is really original.
I have emailed AE to see if they could do a special MTO in cordovan, but I might have to use the CEO special offer.
I don't even know if it's still valid!
I will keep the SFs posted.

Love 'em. These might be my favorite pair of shoes. I wish AE still made more shoes on this last. It has a nice chiseled look, without being quite as severe as the 3 last, IMO. I'd be interested to see how the Bel-Air turned out in a cordovan makeup. I don't generally think of this shape as being compatible with the thickness of shell, but who knows.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Hi All
I am a first time poster. I have some money set aside to invest in a good pair of shoes and I have selected the AE Mcallister (love them). I have a good pair of black shoes for wearing with a charcoal suit, and want the new ones to be able to:

a) be worn with nice dark jeans and a cotton navy blazer or sportcoat when going out with friends, for dinner, etc. and,

b) go with my navy wool blazer and a nice pair of dress pants.

I will likely wear them more with jeans (and maybe chinos) than I will with dress pants. My dilemma is that I love both the walnut and the bourbon colors. When I try one on I think it is my favourite, until I try the other and then think IT is my favourite. Unfortunately getting both is not in the cards right now, so I was hoping to get some insight from other SF members who have either been through the same decision, or have an opinion on one color vs the other (these are the only 2 colors I am considering).

Thanks for any advice or insight you can offer.

Jeff

My advice for not getting the the McAllister is based on the fact that the poster said it would be worn almost exclusively with jeans. Its not that I don't think the McAllister can look good with jeans, and might even be a good choice if someone needs a shoe for suits, sportcoats and jeans. However, there are better choices for a shoe that will be strictly worn in a casual way.

I think we agree on the ability of the shoe to go with his described clothing as well as the fact that there may be a better purpose built shoe if he is strictly wearing them with jeans. I interepreted his original post to say that he needs something that may be worn more often with jeans than with dress pants (but even with jeans they will be paired with a blazer to be worn out in the evenings), but he still wants to be able to dress them up to go with dress pants. If he really wants walnut or bourbon, he is pretty limited in AE's offerings for what will be a good double duty shoe. The walnut grain MacNeil was recommended, and may perhaps be a better choice for his desired result, but I think it's a close call myself.

 

[maxmaxmaxmax]



This is a somewhat unique request, but has anyone in Canada purchased a belt to match their merlot shoes? I was hoping to find something cheaper than the AE belts, but can only find black/brown belts in the stores so far. 

I've found it impossible to find merlot/burgundy belts in Toronto. I ordered the Manistee belt along with my merlot McAllisters during the recent sale.

J

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Hi All
I am a first time poster. I have some money set aside to invest in a good pair of shoes and I have selected the AE Mcallister (love them). I have a good pair of black shoes for wearing with a charcoal suit, and want the new ones to be able to:

a) be worn with nice dark jeans and a cotton navy blazer or sportcoat when going out with friends, for dinner, etc. and,

b) go with my navy wool blazer and a nice pair of dress pants.

I will likely wear them more with jeans (and maybe chinos) than I will with dress pants. My dilemma is that I love both the walnut and the bourbon colors. When I try one on I think it is my favourite, until I try the other and then think IT is my favourite. Unfortunately getting both is not in the cards right now, so I was hoping to get some insight from other SF members who have either been through the same decision, or have an opinion on one color vs the other (these are the only 2 colors I am considering).

Thanks for any advice or insight you can offer.

Jeff

The Leeds in Burgundy shell or Brown shell would solve all your problems.

If the inquiry is limited to colors only - walnut or bourbon - go bourbon. More versatile IMO.

 

[Papa Doble]



My advice for not getting the the McAllister is based on the fact that the poster said it would be worn almost exclusively with jeans. Its not that I don't think the McAllister can look good with jeans, and might even be a good choice if someone needs a shoe for suits, sportcoats and jeans. However, there are better choices for a shoe that will be strictly worn in a casual way.

+1

 

[DerangedGoose]

I try to look at it from an overall aesthetic. The tight lacing of the balmoral lends itself to a sleeker look, and the strand is on one of the sleeker AE lasts. With fitted jeans, it would be a coherent aesthetic. With looser pants, a more filled out shoe would be called for, like the aforementioned bluchers.

What AE shoe(s) do you guys see as compatible with fully casual dress? Lets say fitted dark denim, and some sort of untucked shirt up top (button, polo, or even a fitted T shirt). Assuming all pieces are of good quality and proper fit, what are AE shoes that I can rock without resorting to penny loafers or boat shoes?

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I try to look at it from an overall aesthetic. The tight lacing of the balmoral lends itself to a sleeker look, and the strand is on one of the sleeker AE lasts. With fitted jeans, it would be a coherent aesthetic. With looser pants, a more filled out shoe would be called for, like the aforementioned bluchers.

What AE shoe(s) do you guys see as compatible with fully casual dress? Lets say fitted dark denim, and some sort of untucked shirt up top (button, polo, or even a fitted T shirt). Assuming all pieces are of good quality and proper fit, what are AE shoes that I can rock without resorting to penny loafers or boat shoes?

If you are not considering penny loafers or boat shoes, then I'd limit it to something from the Rough Collection for what you are describing.