Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - Page 808

Quote:

Originally Posted by stafa 

How are the Cliftons? I need a black shoe that I can wear with suits and business casual. I don't know if I want to buy a black oxford like Park Ave because I feel that it's too conservative and I don't wear suits often. I want something that has a hint of sleekness.

They are essentially a blucher version of the Fifth Avenue.  If you need a pair of shoes that can pull duty with business casual trousers of various types, and still work with a suit when necessary, then they probably fit the bill. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by khe86 

Moneywellspent: your train of thought is why I went with the brown 5th avenue to get some color differentiation. I'm thinking black Mccallisters because the Mccallister in burgundy is similar to my fairfax in style and color, but Winston is right that black and brogues are a little contradictory. How would someone wear the black Mccallister? 

I can see why you are struggling with your decision if you are wanting to stick with BB's offerings because of your discount.  If the Fifth Avenues are off the list, and if you fear not liking the Park Avenues, then you are limited.  If your choices come down to either buying another color Strand or buying the McAllister, I would be tempted to go ahead with the burgundy McAllister.  It is more versatile than the black would be.  Also, even though it shares some characteristics with the Fairfax, it is still a very different shoe.  The wholecut Fairfax will look a lot sleeker next to the McAllister with it's multiple pieces of leather, lots of stitching and pinking, etc.  To the shoe enthusiast's eye they are different enough, and they will actually pick up on the differences more readily than the average joe would, but the average joe will probably not pay much attention to begin with.       

Excellent advice from everyone. I used to work in IB but really didn't get into shoes until I left IB, so I guess my need for black oxfords is pretty limited. I suppose the Mccallister in Burgundy it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bucksfan 


+ the weddings you will start getting invited to soon.

+1. When I turned 20, I had only ever been to a single funeral and no weddings in my life. By the time I hit 30 (i.e. now), I've probably been to about 3-4 funerals and at least a dozen weddings. You may not get everyday use out of a pair of plain black shoes, depending on the field you end up working in. However, if you take reasonable care of them, you'll still get years and years of use out of them. Maybe even wear them to your own wedding some day.

I was thinking that my next AE purchase may be the Fifth Avenue in some shade of brown, but the Clifton's look like they would be a great choice as well. Not quite as dressy, and a little more versatile with business casual environments (which I work in). However, I don't see them anywhere on the AE website. Are they only available through Nordstroms?

Quote:

Originally Posted by khe86 

Excellent advice from everyone. I used to work in IB but really didn't get into shoes until I left IB, so I guess my need for black oxfords is pretty limited. I suppose the Mccallister in Burgundy it is.

I have been finding myself going to the Merlot McCallister more and more over the past few months, and in the line up is a walnut strand, shell cordovan strand, a few hugo boss pairs, and a Cole Haan wingtip.

You cannot go wrong with the McCallister, especially in Merlot.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Enjoy.

As for my opinion with black shoes, get something sleek and modern-ish.  Any broguing on a black shoe (besides the 5th ave where only the cap is brogued) reminds me of a priest's shoe.  So I say hell no to the strand, mcallister, and and anything else like it in black.  The Park Ave however with the stitched cap is nice, but for the looks, I would highly recomment going with Magnanni Federico.  A very sharp looking black balmoral.  Formal, a little edgy, looks 10x better on.  $200 for rubber sole, $300 for leather sole, $209 at your local Nordstroms Rack for the leather sole.  There were a handful I found last week but none in my size.

You wouldn't be interested in a pair of Truffle shell corodovan McAllisters, right?  10.5E... I have a FS up, brand new.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr4884 

You cannot go wrong with the McCallister, especially in Merlot.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Enjoy.

I really liked all of the advice given above. In particular, the BB offerings are tough for you because:

1. You already have a pair of Strands.
2. You don't like the non-Strand cap toes.
3. Black McAllister, while probably beautiful, is a bit of an enigma.
4. Merlot McAllister is tough because you already own a burgundy shoe.

That said, I think if you want to stick with BB, I would go with the Merlot McAllister because it differs enough from your other shoe. However, you could probably better fill a gap in your collection by recouping your money and spending it later on something you find yourself really loving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarksdb 

While this is sound advice and I agree with all your points even if you wear a black balmoral casually (with odd trousers and shirt) no one besides the SF type of crowd will notice. In fact you will look better than 99% of the population. Anyone agree with me on this?

I'm sure if he rocked AE black balmorals with jeans and a button up, he'd get nothing but compliments. I think we just happen to like the more "fun" colors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentyman 

 

I'm sure if he rocked AE black balmorals with jeans and a button up, he'd get nothing but compliments. I think we just happen to like the more "fun" colors.

While I have nothing against black bals with jeans, i would never buy them from AE simply because most of their black bals (except for the Park Ave maybe) look 10x better in another color.  The McAllister, Strand, and 5th all look insanely better in Walnut than black, not to mention the brown and merlot still look better on that shoe than the black does.

here is a bal (stated above, Magnanni Federico) that probably looks better in black than it would in any other color, however i think black is the only color available.  They were smart about it haha.

http://www.magnanni.com/images/thumbs/0000471_1650_1.jpg

I would highly consider the Rutledge in black, however once again... that shoe was made for the burnished walnut that it comes in...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy 


You are the first person I have seen make a statement that includes the 2 last and "best fitting" in the same sentence.
I wear a 9.5D in the 2, but I find said last just plain odd.

I was surprised myself considering how much grief the 2 last has given forum members. However, the 2 last is said to be similar to the 8 and the 8 fits me like a glove.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BackInTheJox 

Dammit, yesterday a bunch of AE models were on sale for ~$260 on Amazon, including the Vernon (which I am in the market to buy) and the Strand and many others.  I guess it was only a one day sale, because when I logged in this evening after work to purchase a pair of saddle brown Vernons and a pair of black Vernons, they had gone back up to full price.

What a shame, I'm looking to buy black Vernons as well.