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

[NWTeal]

Not sure if you guys have seen this already, but this was a cool Reddit post from a guy who built his own pair (with photos!).

http://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/1h92s2/i_made_a_pair_of_shoes_warning_big_album/

 

[OptoDoc]

I talked with online chat about which size to get. We couldn't decide between 4 different size/width combinations. He urged me to order all 4 and return the other 3. I questioned if that was most efficient for them and he said "We want you to have the right fit." I'll be getting back to you on which one actually was right for me. I suspect it won't be TTS as yours were, according to the reviews.

kentyman, I relent. After wearing these slippers for a week, I agree that they are just too tight across the toes, though they fit perfectly everywhere else. Unfortunately, they do not have them listed on the website anymore and a call to CS says they will probably not make them again until right before Christmas. So, I was told to wait it out to exchange them.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I'm actually very interested in this as well... Have you looked into any of those week long shoe making classes where they walk you through the process of making a shoe from the design all the way through to the final product? In researching this I've also ran into some very interesting books on shoe making.

Indeed. I've not taken one, but would love to some day. As for literature, yes it is abundant, and I read everything I can.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Care to share titles of some of these books? I'd be interested in reading up on shoemaking.

Handmade Shoes For Men by Lazlo Vass himself is a great one.

You can also go to town on Google Books: https://www.google.com/#q=Shoemaking&tbm=bks

This is just a search under "shoemaking", but you can use other terms and find varying results.

Lots of scanned books to read for free.

You would also be surprised what you can find at a good library, especially if you have a major university nearby with a healthy holding.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

^^^ Also, if reading isn't your thing, there are literally dozens of videos on YouTube and Vimeo that are an education in themselves if you watch all of them. They get understandably get redundant at times, since they are all making shoes, after all. However, different camera angles and commentaries fill in gaps to the point that you really can glean a good education on how your nice shoes are made just by watching videos. Nearly every good shoemaker has a production video as well (though sometimes you have to go directly to YouTube and search their name to find it).

These are a couple of my favorite blogs to follow too:

http://carreducker.blogspot.com/

http://shoesandcraft.com/

 

[chinngiskhaan]

Care to share titles of some of these books? I'd be interested in reading up on shoemaking.

I'll check on that for you...

 

[chinngiskhaan]

Care to share titles of some of these books? I'd be interested in reading up on shoemaking.

bespoke shoemaking: a comprehensive guide to handmade footware

I haven't read it myself but have hear that is it a very helpful book.

 

[tifosi]



bespoke shoemaking: a comprehensive guide to handmade footware

I haven't read it myself but have hear that is it a very helpful book.

Thanks a lot!

 

[bgp001]

What do you guys do when it's raining outside, other than swims? Every time I wear a pair of AE's in a drizzle, they spot unlike anything I've ever seen. Worse, I had a pair of Chili Lasalles that were ruined yesterday, rain lifted the dye right off the leather.

 

[jungleroller]

Just got my Merlot Webgem Macneils...B-E-A-U-tiful!

Another big thanks to MWS on the knowledge and information you share in here!!

 

[PlaceboFX]

What do you guys do when it's raining outside, other than swims? Every time I wear a pair of AE's in a drizzle, they spot unlike anything I've ever seen. Worse, I had a pair of Chili Lasalles that were ruined yesterday, rain lifted the dye right off the leather.

Where are you that the rain is so damaging to your shoes? If it damages your shoes, does it similarly stain/de-dye your clothes?

I've been caught in the rain a couple times, but I certainly haven't gotten any spotting or dye lifting on the uppers for my AEs. I only get concerned over leather soles in the rain, so I just wear my V-tread or other rubber-soled AEs.

Even my previous life's cheap-o dress shoes' uppers didn't get the damage you are describing. That's all with inferior quality leather, no leather conditioning, no protective layer of wax, and (for suede) no water-proofing.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

What do you guys do when it's raining outside, other than swims? Every time I wear a pair of AE's in a drizzle, they spot unlike anything I've ever seen. Worse, I had a pair of Chili Lasalles that were ruined yesterday, rain lifted the dye right off the leather.

Ruined? Surely not. It is a myth that rain will ruin your shoes simply by getting them wet. There are consequences to wearing wet shoes, such as wearing down the leather soles faster, etc. Also, salt is extremely bad for leather, so if you are walking in a snowy/slushy/salty environment, then additional protection is certainly warranted. However, simply getting your shoes rained on and walking on some wet pavement isn't going to ruin anything as long as you follow general advice of letting them dry away from heat in a well ventilated area, rotated on their sides to let the soles dry as well. Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels to absorb excess moisture if they are excessively wet. Then, put your shoe trees in to help them retain their shape while they finish drying. Then condition and polish as usual once they are thoroughly dry.

If you are having an issue with spots, you can try to even out the leather by taking a cloth, wetting it (not dripping wet, but more than just damp). I get the cloth wet, and then wring out as much water as I physically can. Then wipe down the entire shoe in a uniform way to evenly dampen the leather. That should help even them back out. Then condition and polish as usual.

It helps if you understand what spots are. They are simply areas where the texture of the leather has temporarily changed from the surrounding leather. If you take a dry kitchen sponge and lay it on your countertop, and then drip a few drops of water on it, you will see the areas that the water hits will swell up. How do you even it back out? Simply moisten the entire sponge evenly. It's the same concept with your shoes. Spots may also simply be where your polish has been affected by the water. Re-polishing will even that back out as well.

 

[chinngiskhaan]

Ruined? Surely not. It is a myth that rain will ruin your shoes simply by getting them wet. There are consequences to wearing wet shoes, such as wearing down the leather soles faster, etc. Also, salt is extremely bad for leather, so if you are walking in a snowy/slushy/salty environment, then additional protection is certainly warranted. However, simply getting your shoes rained on and walking on some wet pavement isn't going to ruin anything as long as you follow general advice of letting them dry away from heat in a well ventilated area, rotated on their sides to let the soles dry as well. Stuff them with newspaper or paper towels to absorb excess moisture if they are excessively wet. Then, put your shoe trees in to help them retain their shape while they finish drying. Then condition and polish as usual once they are thoroughly dry.

I you are having an issue with spots, you can try to even out the leather by taking a cloth, wetting it (not dripping wet, but more than just damp). I get the cloth wet, and then wring out as much water as I physically can. Then wipe down the entire shoe in a uniform way to evenly dampen the leather. That should help even them back out. Then condition and polish as usual.

It helps if you understand what spots are. They are simply areas where the texture of the leather has temporarily changed from the surrounding leather. If you take a dry kitchen sponge and lay it on your countertop, and then drip a few drops of water on it, you will see the areas that the water hits will swell up. How do you even it back out? Simply moisten the entire sponge evenly. It's the same concept with your shoes. Spots may also simply be where your polish has been affected by the water. Re-polishing will even that back out as well.

MWS... you should totally work for AE after you retire from whatever your profession is now.

 

[chinngiskhaan]

Do AE employees get an employee discount?

 

[wdahab]

My walnut McAllisters once got absolutely soaked, soaked, soaked through to the core during a sleet blizzard back during the October 2011 storm (the surprise Halloween storm). I was at a wedding, and caught unawares.

They were completely destroyed, soaked through completely.... until a day later when they'd dried and basically looked fine. Maybe a little bit darker and less even, but they were pretty well broken in by then and really just looked marvelous. I would never want to *wear* such shoes when it rains, because they offer no protection, but a properly made pair will survive rain just fine. They are still my goto business attire shoe.