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

[PhiPsi32]

Saphir Renomat is their product that strips off old polish and residue. You can build up the leather again with Renovateur and polish.

 

[masernaut]

I guess I'll need both products to accomplish rejuvenating the uppers?

 

[cbtaylor]

Red Neumok today

 

[jns425]

Is there a general concensus on the Vernons? They appear to be pretty minimialistic and sleek. Thinking of grabbing a pair alongside some Nuemoras.

I really like the Vernons. The brown ones look real nice.

 

[jns425]

I know this question has been asked a million times (and pretty recently as well), but I need a wedding/tux shoe...

My fiance wants me to buy something new for the wedding...

I was originally going to go with the Kenilworth, but I think they are potentially too casual. My next instinct would the Park Ave but I already have the 5th Ave in black (wish I wouldve bought the 5th Ave in a different color, as that would have solved the problem, but I didnt think it through I guess)

Does AE have any other options for a tux (besides the patent leather mayfair? Is vernon in black too much?

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I know this question has been asked a million times (and pretty recently as well), but I need a wedding/tux shoe...

My fiance wants me to buy something new for the wedding...

I was originally going to go with the Kenilworth, but I think they are potentially too casual. My next instinct would the Park Ave but I already have the 5th Ave in black (wish I wouldve bought the 5th Ave in a different color, as that would have solved the problem, but I didnt think it through I guess)

Does AE have any other options for a tux (besides the patent leather mayfair? Is vernon in black too much?

I think this really comes down to how big of a rule follower you want to be. Consider first that 98% of men out there are going to go rent a tux and shoes for their weddings. Tuxedo rental places usually use plastic blobby bluchers as their standard offering (so they are already breaking the rules). You may find some guys wearing a black plastic balmoral (which are less common) from a tuxedo rental shop. If you have the Kenilworth in black (also a blucher), and if you bull the toes into a mirror like shine, you are already doing better than the average. I assume you are planning to bull the toes into a mirror shine regardless of which shoe you get. If you want to follow the "rules" then you really should be wearing a balmoral with no broguing, which excludes both the Kenilworth and Vernon. The Park Avenue would be closest to following the rules of the shoes you are considering. If it were me, I would consider the fact that you will have these for use after your wedding and go with your favorite shoe for later use. All three of these shoes are better than anything you are going to see on guys wearing rented stuff. Unless you are planning on wearing a tux a lot, I wouldn't bother with buying a patent leather shoe. Also, are your groomsmen going to be wearing rented stuff, or just whatever they have on hand? Matching (or trumping, since you are the groom) the other guys in your wedding party is something you should give some thought to.

 

[msulinski]

I think this really comes down to how big of a rule follower you want to be. Consider first that 98% of men out there are going to go rent a tux and shoes for their weddings. Tuxedo rental places usually use plastic blobby bluchers as their standard offering (so they are already breaking the rules). You may find some guys wearing a black plastic balmoral (which are less common) from a tuxedo rental shop. If you have the Kenilworth in black (also a blucher), and if you bull the toes into a mirror like shine, you are already doing better than the average. I assume you are planning to bull the toes into a mirror shine regardless of which shoe you get. If you want to follow the "rules" then you really should be wearing a balmoral with no broguing, which excludes both the Kenilworth and Vernon. The Park Avenue would be closest to following the rules of the shoes you are considering. If it were me, I would consider the fact that you will have these for use after your wedding and go with your favorite shoe for later use. All three of these shoes are better than anything you are going to see on guys wearing rented stuff. Unless you are planning on wearing a tux a lot, I wouldn't bother with buying a patent leather shoe. Also, are your groomsmen going to be wearing rented stuff, or just whatever they have on hand? Matching (or trumping, since you are the groom) the other guys in your wedding party is something you should give some thought to.

I wore these recently with my tuxedo: http://www.kentwang.com/shoes/benchgrade-plaintoe-balmoral.html
I like them because they aren't a business shoe and aren't patent leather.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I wore these recently with my tuxedo: http://www.kentwang.com/shoes/benchgrade-plaintoe-balmoral.html
I like them because they aren't a business shoe and aren't patent leather.

Oh, there are many options out there to be sure. I was limiting my post to AE's offerings and the three shoes he has been considering. Those look great, but why wouldn't you wear them for business?

 

[kentyman]

[...] My next instinct would the Park Ave but I already have the 5th Ave in black (wish I wouldve bought the 5th Ave in a different color, as that would have solved the problem, but I didnt think it through I guess) [...]

Others might disagree, but I don't see why you wouldn't wear your black Fifth Avenues. It's basically just the Park Avenue with a little extra flair, which is fitting for the man of the day. I figure if you were fine were about to go with a blucher, the perf'ing of a quarter brogue shouldn't be too much.

Then again, I'm a guy who bought the Fifth over the Park because the latter was just a little too plain for me. I'd be curious what others think.

 

[msulinski]

Oh, there are many options out there to be sure. I was limiting my post to AE's offerings and the three shoes he has been considering. Those look great, but why wouldn't you wear them for business?

You probably could wear them for business (in all but the most conservative fields), but they are not a "business" shoe first and foremost, which is how I view the Park Avenue. Since the general idea of formal and evening wear is that you are doing something involving entertainment and not work, I find the distinction important.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Others might disagree, but I don't see why you wouldn't wear your black Fifth Avenues. It's basically just the Park Avenue with a little extra flair, which is fitting for the man of the day. I figure if you were fine were about to go with a blucher, the perf'ing of a quarter brogue shouldn't be too much.

Then again, I'm a guy who bought the Fifth over the Park because the latter was just a little too plain for me. I'd be curious what others think.

I think the Fifth Avenue is close enough to be included in the bunch. You are correct that it certainly isn't less formal than a blucher.

 

[jns425]

It seems to me that everyone has a different opinion...if the bluchers are informal, why is it that AE only has one patent leather shoe and is a blucher? To play devil's advocate in terms of "traditional rules" - wouldnt a patent leather shoe be the "real choice"? But it seems like these days everyone is shying away from that option and opting for something like the Park Aves.

Assuming the blucher is the most casual of the shoes that I mentioned...you guys seem to think if I were planning to wear the blucher then the 5th aves would be also acceptable, could I also then choose to wear the Vernons?

My main issue is - eventhough I really like the Park Ave and 5th Ave, I'd ideally not want to own 2 of almost the exact same shoe (however if it came to that point I would definitely get use out of both)

 

[TheSizzle]

It seems to me that everyone has a different opinion...if the bluchers are informal, why is it that AE only has one patent leather shoe and is a blucher? To play devil's advocate in terms of "traditional rules" - wouldnt a patent leather shoe be the "real choice"? But it seems like these days everyone is shying away from that option and opting for something like the Park Aves.

Assuming the blucher is the most casual of the shoes that I mentioned...you guys seem to think if I were planning to wear the blucher then the 5th aves would be also acceptable, could I also then choose to wear the Vernons?

My main issue is - eventhough I really like the Park Ave and 5th Ave, I'd ideally not want to own 2 of almost the exact same shoe (however if it came to that point I would definitely get use out of both)

Currently, it seems they only have one patent leather shoe, but I wouldn't have used that one criteria (material) to make the call as to formality either.

They previously offered the Copley, which was a six-eyelet balmoral, and it was even available through Jos A. Bank. That would have been the suitable choice (no pun intended) for the gentleman who originated this line of questions (searching for tuxedo shoes).

However, they also offered the Times Square (McAllister) and Ridgeway in patent leather with colored stitching, and those definitely wouldn't be formal.

Like others have said, I think going with either the Park Avenue or Fifth Avenue would be absolutely fine. Most people won't dress that nicely, and you'd be doing far better than men who rent their shoes with their tuxedos.

 

[jns425]

However, they also offered the Times Square (McAllister) and Ridgeway in patent leather with colored stitching, and those definitely wouldn't be formal.

Why offer a "non formal" patent leather shoe? Isnt that an oxymoron? Whats the point of a patent leather shoe if not to be as formal as possible...

 

[TheSizzle]

Why offer a "non formal" patent leather shoe? Isnt that an oxymoron? Whats the point of a patent leather shoe if not to be as formal as possible...

People do things...

I mean, why do people put Kobe beef on a burger? That's expensive material for an extremely casual dish.

Some customers prefer a certain style and they want to try a different, sometimes more formal, material. Maybe they want to work a material they like into a casual style they prefer. If the someone will buy it, it can be worth a shot. Sometimes, the product comes out in an interesting fashion and a new market emerges.

Yes, I appreciate what you meant. Personally, I don't see the point of having a patent leather casual shoe, but I guess some people do.