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

[New Shoes1]

+1 same here. Just showing up in something that's shined, and not a square-toe, bicycle toe loafer with a rubber sole will put you in the top 10% here. I actually had a business partner (who does the majority of interviewing of new candidates for our firm) comment one time that one of the candidates came in Allen Edmonds, so he must be a "hitter." I smiled.

We on this forum are in the (very) small minority.

And, don't forget, as long as you wear Allen Edmonds shoes to an interview, it is permissible to lean back in your chair, put your hands behind your head and kick those AE's up onto the interviewer's desk, so he/she can admire your good taste in shoes. This frequently goes hand in hand with addressing the interviewer by his/her first name and asking about a signing bonus.

You cannot do this with a square bicycle toe loafer, however, and must go through the interview process like the rest of the drones.

 

[fiestaplatypus]



2. The shoes that have the gaping issue suffer from some type of structural/manufacturing flaw that has yet to be pinpointed/fixed by Allen Edmonds, yet such shoes still pass quality control and are sold as firsts.

I guess the solution here, if I really want to get a pair of black Park Avenues that don't gape, is to wait until I can get to an AE retail store in a few weeks and try on every single pair in my size until I find a good pair. Hopefully the sales rep would have some patience. I'd still be disappointed though that I had to pass on the great price of $215 on seconds currently being offered by the Jville store.

Judging by your posts so far, I would reccomend staying away from any and all seconds.

That said, yes, AE does have a problem with gaping and on more than just the PA. I've seen it on a few pairs of seconds in my possession (Elgin, Cambridge) (albeit to more minor extremes), but I don't mind it all that much. Keep in mind that AE has a very large inventory of shoes and it's possible that they are still winding through pairs from a while back. Yeah, they could probably beef up the QA department to enable them to do a 100% inspection of outgoing orders, but this would be very costly since you would have to physically measure the opening of each pair (an eye test wont be able to capture the problem like many other flaws). The way I see it, you have two options if you want a pair of PA's:

1) Go to an AE retail store and find a pair that works

2) Wait a while for the problem to be corrected and then place your order

 

[tampatravel]

This comment is spot on. I often interview co-op candidates from leading business master program in country. And I rarely see one in appropriate interview shoes, most of them wear square toe black loafer type of shoes. We don't screen candidates by their taste in footwear but nice dress shoes definitely make good impression.

It's an epidemic in my office too. They can't help it. The dude at Banana Republic or Steve Madden is eager to sell them some corrected grain shoes and they're eager to look like everyone else. It's safe and they're not that expensive....but in actuality they are expensive because they're "disposable" shoes.

 

[JermynStreet]

Shell Patriots today.

 

[Al in Philly]

Gentlemen,

I have a situation. I want to pick up these babies on the bay. They are my size and they are a good price. HOWEVER, they are not the standard McAllisters. 6215 is the model number for the black polished cobbler version, meaning they are calf leather with a laquer on top to give them a high shine.

Should I stay away, or should I go for them? Can the laquer be stripped off with Renomat? Do any of you have experience with polished cobler shoes from AE?

Thanks.

 

[tampatravel]

Shell Patriots today.

Those are very handsome shells!

 

[spitshine123]

Gentlemen,

I have a situation. I want to pick up these babies on the bay. They are my size and they are a good price. HOWEVER, they are not the standard McAllisters. 6215 is the model number for the black polished cobbler version, meaning they are calf leather with a laquer on top to give them a high shine.

Should I stay away, or should I go for them? Can the laquer be stripped off with Renomat? Do any of you have experience with polished cobler shoes from AE?

Thanks.

I remember some on this thread suggesting that Polished Cobbler being corrected grain leather.

Does anyone know if the upcoming sale will include belts? I would love to find some belts to match my Brown, Bourbon and Burgundy AEs

 

[Al in Philly]

I remember some on this thread suggesting that Polished Cobbler being corrected grain leather.

I asked the AE live chat people and they said it's just calf leather with a laquer on top to give a high shine.

Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JermynStreet]



I asked the AE live chat people and they said it's just calf leather with a laquer on top to give a high shine.

Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

It is corrected grain. If you can't see the pores, it's not full grain. I asked them one time an they told me it was corrected grain.

 

[New Shoes1]

My understanding is corrected grain as well. I'd stay away.

 

[New Shoes1]

For any 8.5's out there: $375 for a pair of new in the box burgundy shell Kenilworths that are the new AE burgundy shell color. Very nice and makes me wonder if we are going to see a shell Kenilworth soon. As a non-fan of the Leeds, this piques my curiosity. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Allen-E...7350827?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item3f2406952b

 

[Al in Philly]

It is corrected grain. If you can't see the pores, it's not full grain. I asked them one time an they told me it was corrected grain.

My understanding is corrected grain as well. I'd stay away.

Arrgh!! I'm mad that they are CG, but I'm glad you guys are in my life to give me guidance...

Did I just take it too far?

 

[cbtaylor]

For any 8.5's out there: $375 for a pair of new in the box burgundy shell Kenilworths that are the new AE burgundy shell color. Very nice and makes me wonder if we are going to see a shell Kenilworth soon. As a non-fan of the Leeds, this piques my curiosity. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Allen-E...7350827?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item3f2406952b

These look nice, I want a plain toe shell, I may prefer these over Leeds as well

 

[New Shoes1]

Arrgh!! I'm mad that they are CG, but I'm glad you guys are in my life to give me guidance...

Did I just take it too far?

No, not too far, but you have inspired OptoDoc to buy a plane ticket to Philly so he can show up on your doorstep to give you a hug and say, "I know exactly how you feel, Al. Exactly how you feel."

 

[kmdsimpson]



For any 8.5's out there:  $375 for a pair of new in the box burgundy shell Kenilworths that are the new AE burgundy shell color.  Very nice and makes me wonder if we are going to see a shell Kenilworth soon.  As a non-fan of the Leeds, this piques my curiosity.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Allen-E...7350827?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item3f2406952b

Someone better jump on these! I see Cold Iron or Buckeye or someone else berating us all if these are around for too long!

BTW, the seller is an SF member.