Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - Page 810

Any pics? Is it the same material as the red bags?

 

Thanks . . . I had actually planned on using that promo code plus the already-existing 20% discount, bringing them down to $214.  I may still jump on them for $268.

 

Actually, I had been thinking about getting them in both the brown and the black (I loved the 8 last and returned my walnut Strands recently, so I need another nice shoe in the brown family and the Vernons would fill that gap nicely . . . and I'm looking for a nice black formal-type shoe that I could even use with a tux).  It would've been $428 total for the two pairs with the discounts, and I have a $100 amazon gift card.

 

That means I could've gotten two brand new pairs of Vernons for $328, less than the retail of one pair.

these look too narrow for you. if i remember correctly, some japanese magazine mentioned about 1 cm of spacing between the quarters at the throat as being the balmoral ideal. it's just an opinion, but i think that's about right. these for certain don't come in wide widths?

I heard they were going to a natural color over the burgundy. I think it has something to do with not using artificial dye, environmental, etc.

Chris

Unfortunately BB does not have these in width other than D. These are definitely too narrow because the eyelets should not be this far apart for an oxford and I get significant pressure on the top of my feet. I plan to try the 10.5D tomorrow, to see how much the half size larger can widen the shoes by.

material felt the same. quick pic of Tan and Brown Cronmok(the brown one had its color darkened by a coat of renovateur) with the white and red bag under them.

 

No, this is very unusual.  I am aware of all kinds of idiosyncracies the posters on this thread have regarding their brand new AE's, but I have never heard of giving your shoes a tongue bath as a preferred shoe care method.  And, in light of the fact that the eyelets are rubbing your tongue raw, you may want to consider using a damp cloth instead. 

So I've somehow wound up in possession of brown Neumoks and brown and tan McTavishs and sadly need to make a choice to keep only one of these 3 pairs of shoes. I plan to wear them with casual attire (jeans, chinos, etc.) up to and including business casual attire. Any help as to the most appropriate and versatile would be appreciated. Thank you.

Was notified last night that my brown Cordovan Patriots shipped so I should get them tomorrow. Will post pics and thoughts on fit shortly thereafter. Incidentally, ordered these during their October sale (I think on 10/2) so they have been a bit backed up. Getting some brown Delrays and a pair of El Pasos as well.

Is there any info out there regarding a Black Friday sale?

Thanks for sharing. I wish all of their shoes shipped with the same bags as the Independence Collection.

A couple pages back I mentioned my walnut strands with some to curling issues. I'm 90% sure i'm going to return them (they are previously owned), but before I lose out on $20 in shipping costs (to me and then shipping back), i'll post some photos of what i'm talking about. Maybe I'm just not used to strands. Maybe they're like this.

So the first photo is them with shoe trees in them. The actually look pretty nice. This is similar to the pictures I saw when I bought them. The shoe trees hide the curl and most of the creases:


Nice right? Here's a side shot with them and how the sole looks from the side:


Well here they are (still with shoe trees in) next to my Park Avenues. Granted, my Park Avenues are an 11.5C and the Strands are a 12B (both fit me nicely), but should there be this much difference in how much gap there is between the toe and the floor?


And here they are toe to toe with the park aves. Notice how much higher the toe is on the strands:


And then here they are, toe to toe again, after walking in them for a minute - no shoe trees:


Just got crazy! Here they are from the top with the creases:


The don't look so bad with the creases in the photo above, but when you get farther away they start to kinda look like cowboy boots. like this:



So that's the story. I'm sure i'm over stressing. Maybe I should return them and stop fussing. I'm just really bummed that they aren't working out as i'd hoped and that i'm going to lose out on $20 shipping. There's also this issue on the inside of the right shoe - seems like perhaps someone stretched them a bit? The general stiffness of them seems MUCH softer than my park avenues of cliftons. They both have creasing, but they are so much harder to flex.


Thoughts? Comments? Wisecracks? Keep or send back? I'm not opposed to recrafting in the FUTURE, but as of right now that would make them cost almost as much as just buying seconds.

-J

Mingus - you bought used shoes that have serious wear on them.  If you are striving for perfection, you're never going to find it buying used shoes at a discount.  Either accept the sole or buy a new pair.

Thanks New Shoes1,

Not striving for perfection - actually was relieved to find them used and creased. Not just because I'm trying to save money, but because I wouldn't be afraid to wear them with jeans or places they might get scuffed. I think there are limits, though, and if the sole isn't close to what it's supposed to be, I think that's my limit. My Cliftons and Park Avenues were both used and they were in far better shape.

-J

 

 

I think you are justified in returning them.  Obviously you are ok with an "imperfect" shoe since you bought a pair that is used.  There is a difference in purchasing a product that has been well cared for vs. an abused product.  This goes for any used product: houses...cars...you name it.  You want to know that the product you are buying has been reasonably taken care of by the previous owner.  Keeping shoe trees in a pair of investment quality shoes like these Strands is "Shoe Care 101."  They haven't recieved the most easy to keep up with basic care that anyone at any skill level can do.  It's like buying a used car that hasn't had it's oil changed regularly.  If the previous owner didn't keep trees in them, who knows what else the shoes have been subjected to.  I buy new or factory seconds myself, but if your finances need to buy used then buy a product that has been loved by it's previous owner and wear them with pride.