• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

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

Status
Not open for further replies.

TheSizzle

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
647
Reaction score
149
@Veridis

As far as the slight imperfection of your shoe...

Personally, I don't think anyone would ever notice, and slight imperfections do occur with handmade shoes. As far as the color, polish or edge treatment will mask it, but that will do nothing about the shape. Still, I don't think anyone would ever notice that little miscut.

If they are not to your satisfaction, you always have the option of contacting AE or revisiting the store to find a flawless pair.

By the way, the walnut Strand is a beautiful first pair to grab. Well played, sir.
 
Last edited:

Olifter

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
203
Reaction score
15

Any ideas on this? Thinking I may bring them by the AE store in NYC tomorrow, but would like to hear if anyone has any experience with an issue like this. Not only does the leather seem dry, but it also seems darker than the cap and front of the shoe. Thanks for input!


None. It's hard to tell how bad it is from the picture. They will exchange them for you.
 

Redbluegreen

Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2012
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Hello guys, I am wondering if you can give me some advice on my first 2 pair of AE shoes. I am strongly thinking of getting in on the buy 2 pair of seconds deal. I just can't decide which 2 to get. Pretty much everything is available in my size.

I have a black pair of plain captoe blucher shoes (Bostonian I think) that were cheap. Probably around $60 or $80. I am thinking that they will do for interview shoes in a couple years when I graduate. In the field I'm going in to, I doubt the people will know the difference between balmorals and derbies, and I don't really want or need to spend $200 on shoes just for interviews and funerals.

I am really pretty set on the strand in bourbon. I like the color, and I think it'll be a little more versatile than in walnut. (Opinions please).

The second shoe is what I really can't decide on. I was thinking about the Park Ave in Merlot. Like I said, I really don't need a black interview shoe since I have the Bostonians. How versatile is Merlot? Should I get the black since the Bostonians are derbies? I can't decide if my second pair should be walnut, merlot, or black. I'm not even sure if it should be the Park Ave. Do I need a plain captoe balmoral? I won't have a job where I'll be wearing these, so it'll be for fancy occasions only.

Any opinions are appreciated!
 

Veridis

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
51
Reaction score
4
Sorry about the weird formatting, no idea what happened! Here it is again.

Let me start off by saying that the service at AE's Madison avenue branch in new york is excellent and I am very pleased with the store experience.

I was wearing contact lens when I was buying these walnut strands, so I did not notice these small little details.

It's the most expensive shoe I've bought in my life, so I'm a little paranoid. Paid full retail for these, 335 + taxes.

Here are the photos:

Inner side of right shoe. Seems like it was not cut properly. (brown part, not the black part.)




Roughness on the outside of the left sole. I have no issue with this if the color can be filled in with polishing.




What do you guys think?
 

jns425

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
95
Reaction score
0
I wore my Fifth Avenues for the first time yesterday. Literally walked from my house to my car and then from my car like 200 feet to a restaurant. When I took them off the back of the leather sole was split like 1/8 of an inch straight up the back. There was also a small flap of leather which fell off. My fiance said "I have shoes from payless which wouldnt do that after one wear."

Taking them back today...so annoyed.
 

kmdsimpson

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
2,402
Reaction score
90

The Vernon would be nice, but all those perfs really push it away from the unadorned black tie ideal. I would avoid the Kenilworth for the same reason I haven't bought their current Mayfair patent offering or worn my black cordovan Leeds: bluchers are casual and eveningwear is not.
I'm in a tuxedo at least monthly; for lack of the Ritz or Copley or any of the classic black tie shoes that Allen Edmonds used to produce, I've defaulted to bulled-toe black Park Avenues as my workhorse black tie shoe.
If my feet weren't AA width I'd buy a pair of these immediately, along with some black silk laces to spiff them up.


Adam, that's a great suggestion for a formal shoe.

I wonder if there's some reason AE can't make a wholecut version of the Fifth Avenue. Maybe they don't have the quality control to be able to work with a piece of leather like that. But I agree - they are missing out by only having a formal blucher - which some people would say is an oxymoron.

BTW, how are your custom boots working out?
 
Last edited:

Papa Doble

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
78

I agree with MWS about keeping the trees in to prevent any bowing.  One other thought, though, is to go ahead and break the shoes in before your wedding.  The last thing you want on your wedding day is to have the shoes rub part of your foot raw or give you a blister early in the day when you are going to be on your feet and in those shoes all day and night.  Plus, if you are going to go for a mirror shine on the toe, you'll want to get the creases set before attempting.


I would take this advice.
 

fiestaplatypus

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
319
Reaction score
70
Thanks for the advice everyone.

On a side note, I'm not usually a fan of buying used shoes, but I had been desperately looking for one of the truffle/cappuccino models, since I missed out on the initial offering. These beauties popped up on ebay in my size and I just couldn't turn them down.

700
 

SuitedDx

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
5,188
Reaction score
1,117

Adam, that's a great suggestion for a formal shoe. I wonder if there's some reason AE can't make a wholecut version of the Fifth Avenue. Maybe they don't have the quality control to be able to work with a piece of leather like that. But I agree - they are missing out by only having a formal blucher - which some people would say is an oxymoron.
The AE Westgate was nice
700
Unless the event/crowd expects pumps, I typically wear the following for (not so uber) formal purposes: My hi-shine cap toe:
7643448140_375c6c39ef_n.jpg
wholecut:
700
 

PerCC

Active Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
43
Reaction score
16
Just received my Brown Kenilworths and Walnut McAllisters. The McAllisters fit great, they will see some heavy use at my internship. The Kenilworths unfortunately had a very poor fit, so I will be exchanging them for either Park or Fifth Aves in brown. Then in a few weeks I'll be getting a black oxford to add to the collection - I think a three pair rotation of walnut, brown, and black will serve me well.

I've been dealing with Stewart and Jay at the Charleston outlet, and they've been great. I recommend giving them a call whenever you're in the market for seconds.

Quick picture of my McAllisters:

400
 

TheSizzle

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
647
Reaction score
149
Though they aren't as clean as those C&J, I feel I can usually get away with these Hastings at reasonably formal engagements. They've seen better days, but eight or nine years in a college-aged wardrobe will put a hurt on some shoes.

I apologize that the picture is dark, of dark shoes, on a dark background.


 
Last edited:

TheSizzle

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
647
Reaction score
149
Today, I'm rocking my dark tan McTavish.

Before anyone mentions it, yes, I did cut my right toe on an edge of metal in a movie theater over the holidays.


 

Shiny

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
955
Reaction score
633
Anxiously awaiting delivery of some AE Cliftons today. Apparently, fedex delivers on a saturday! May post some unboxing pix later. :slayer:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 36.2%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 59 38.8%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 11.2%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 26 17.1%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 26 17.1%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,158
Messages
10,578,879
Members
223,881
Latest member
Abhidshek yadav
Top