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

[JermynStreet]

In 2012 they recrafted a pair of mine that had a W. However, they called me before commencing work on the shoes to tell me they cannot guarantee their work. They wanted to make sure I still wanted to do it. I said yes. They did a wonderful job. Indeed, nothing could be detected as a defect - either before or after the recraft.

Thanks for the info. cosmicmes, can you speak more about your experience with shoes having a W and AE not recrafting them? What does the W stand for? I have seconds as well as eBay purchases, and none of my seconds have the W on them. Do you know what it means?

 

[New Shoes1]

For what it's worth, I had no heel slipping at all in either of my shell patriots. I found the soles to be nice and pliable right out of the box. I'd consider returning and getting a smaller size.

This.

I did order a 9.5D alongside the 9.5E. The 9.5D is way too tight

So tight they are uncomfortable or a little on the tight side? If it's the latter, that's what many go for in a loafer to avoid heel slip issues. Remember, they will stretch a little.

 

[Subutai]



the combination tap sole is great because once the rubber wears out it is back to the original sole.

+1 for the combination sole. I've got them on the Franciscans. I haven't had them long enough for a long term comparison but they do seem to increase longevity a bit. Also, there are always people hosing down sidewalks in NYC and having the rubber makes me a little less paranoid.

 

[msulinski]



the combination tap sole is great because once the rubber wears out it is back to the original sole.

Is it? I thought the rubber part was inset into the leather sole on these? So you would be left with a leather sole cut out to hold the rubber portion.

Any decent cobbler should be able to put a sole guard on for you for about $30, so I wouldn't worry too much about buying the combination sole directly from the factory.

 

[GOP Shoe Guy]

When you order mto do they usually bill your cc then or when they send the order?

I was told my card would not be billed for my MTO until they were completed and ready to ship. So far that is correct, as I have not been billed yet for my Walnut Shell Macneils MTOs.

 

[itsmejson]



This.


So tight they are uncomfortable or a little on the tight side?  If it's the latter, that's what many go for in a loafer to avoid heel slip issues.  Remember, they will stretch a little.

Tight uncomfortable and that was with thin socks. I'm going to try a 9E and see if that works better

 

[bespoken pa]

Thanks GOP Monday morning those cappuccino Daltons shall be mine, until then jazzfest should help pass the time.

 

[Cold Iron]

Thanks very much, Cold Iron! Was lucky enough to get them with the AAFES special order program and the generous AE military discount. Love your walnut shell Daltons; should have picked those up along with the Strands!

Thank you! Yeah I picked up the Daltons at the beginning of the webgem offering in December and the Strands on the last day of the offering. Would have been very hard for me to do so without the AAFES special order program. But even with it I ended up moonlighting for a few hours a week starting a few years ago to help pay for my shoes and boots. And it is time well spent.

Thanks again for the idea Cold Iron. I dropped by my clinic after work, where my Podiatrist happens to work on Fridays. Someone had just canceled their appointment and I was seen right away. She immediately knew what I was talking about and told me she would call my insurance and arrange for them to be made right away. She said they would work just as well as my current orthotics for supporting my foot but wouldn't give me the same level of stability for my ankle since it would be a much smaller form factor orthotic. However, she would look in to options for adding special support pins that wouldn't cause the heel to be too large and could still be worn with dress shoes. I'm very glad you suggested that and that I was able to get it all accomplished this afternoon with no extra effort.

Now I just have to convince my wife that we have extra cash for me to buy another pair of AE shoes. As soon as there is a sale that is... if I can wait that long.

Good luck and hope they work out for you. Just take your time with each shoe and boot to make sure they fit you well. About that ankle support, that is one reason I really like boots so much they add extra support. If your like me once you get used to wearing well made and supportive AE shoes it will be hard for you to wear anything else. Oh and they look good too ;-)

 

[Pastor]



Well done Pastor. If you don't mind me asking do you have a shoe in mind for black to complete the rainbow?

I think if I ever get a Black Shell shoe it will either be the Leeds or the Park Avenue.

 

[TheKongoEmpire]

Can I have the name of these beauties?

 

[BackInTheJox]

Can I have the name of these beauties?

To Boot New York's "Caine":

http://www.toboot.com/shoes/Caine

You can actually get them on Amazon for a fraction of the original price:

http://www.amazon.com/To-Boot-New-Y...679322&sr=8-1&keywords=to+boot+new+york+caine

They come in both calfskin leather (as mine are above) or patent leather. The "Vernice" option is patent leather, the "Parma" option is what I have, regular calfskin.

 

[frogwash]

On the last sale, I ordered some Neumoras in 12E, they're beautiful shoes, but I'm having fitment problems. The width on the fore part is just right, if not a hair snug, the problem is rear of the shoe. I can fit my ring finger behind my heel and also the heel is too wide as there is some play laterally. 12E fits fits close to perfect in the 5, 4 and 8 lasts. I also have a pair of 5th streets in 11 1/2 EEE and they fit ok. Since the heel is so loose on the Neumoras, even side to side, I'm afraid if I try them in 11 1/2 EEE, I'll be ok with the length, but I'll still have too much room in the heels. 11 1/2E will definitely squish my toes. Does anyone have any suggestions or is the 2-last just not an option for me? Thanks

 

[MacktasticGDogg]

It's semi-OT for this thread, but I just made a crude watch strap out of the walnut shell cordovan samples I got from the Paul Grangaard MTO offer (I ended up ordering a pair of walnut shell Kenilworths). Those sample swatches are much larger than I thought they would be, and just long enough for watch straps:

AE shell cordovan watch strap

 

[BackInTheJox]



It's semi-OT for this thread, but I just made a crude watch strap out of the walnut shell cordovan samples I got from the Paul Grangaard MTO offer (I ended up ordering a pair of walnut shell Kenilworths). Those sample swatches are much larger than I thought they would be, and just long enough for watch straps:

AE shell cordovan watch strap

Wow, very impressive. Mind sharing how you went about making that?

 

[PhiPsi32]

I foresee a run on cordovan sample swatches . . .