Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - Page 540

Quote:

Originally Posted by sartorialnoob 

Speaking of boots, I've been looking for the Fifth Street in brown, but haven't seen any good deals like others have posted of other styles. Are these just rarely marked down? Where would be the best place to watch for sales?

I've never seen them marked down, though I've been tempted by a couple of pairs of seconds that have popped up.

For all of you first time AE buyers freaking out about your new purchases:

1. Unless your shoe purchase was only to display them in glass case in your home, stop worrying about creases and minor scuffs and dings.  Shoes are meant to be worn and will accumulate all of these with time.  And you can cover most of this minor damage with polish. 

2.  Shoes crease in different ways for different people based on the foot, fit, shoe design, etc. 

3.  If your Strands are too tan or too red, you can adjust this with the polish you use.  If I preferred the tan color my Strands arrived in, I would use cognac polish.  If I preferred the more reddish tint that is frequently seen in pictures, I would use the walnut polish.  You can also alternate to create your own mix. 

4.  For those of you buying brown shoes.  If you want them lightened a bit, use AE's saddle brown polish.  If you like them darker, use the dark brown polish.

5.  Use AE's conditioner cleaner or Saphir Renovateur before wearing your shoes to help minimize the creasing.  Thereafter use these products regularly.  For some shoes, I do not use anything but Renovateur.

6.  My AE's seem to typically take 8-10 wears before breaking in.  Your mileage may vary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfortheweak 


I was at the one on Newbury and got denied. I guess I'll call today and ask about it. Maybe the Sunday staff didn't know they could price match.

If they won't price match, return them and buy at Nordstrom.  The fact they do not want to lose this sale is the reason they always price match. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootSpell 

 

Looking very nice. Are you pretty happy with them? Is it just the picture or are your Daltons really that light in color?  They almost look like a whiskey in that picture.  Here is a picture of some walnut calf Daltons that I had but had to return.  You can see that they look quite a bit darker.

 

There's quite a bit of natural light on them in my photo.  They were the same color as other AE walnut shoes out of the box.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cold Iron 

Yeah it is my primary target gun a Joel Etchen custom combo. Silver Pigeon II frame with Gold E barrels and EELL wood. I use it for all shotgun venues and in January and February put the top single on it for the Mn. Vs. Wi. trap shoots. Also have a couple of B. Rizzini target guns. Starting next week I will switch to my field guns to get ready for bird season which is only 2 months away. Nothing wrong with a BT-100 for singles in trap. My primary shooting partner last name is Browning and part of “that” Browning family. He gives me grief about my spaghetti guns all the time but I shoot them better than a Browning. Even though I have a couple of them in the safe too.

 

I picked up mine in January for $225 directly from AE from what I recall. So eventually they might go on sale again. I watch this thread for sales, it is the single best place I have found yet to find out about them.

Thanks. I'm glad to see that price point. I'm watching a pair on ebay that are going over $190 lightly used which is more than I've seen some shell wingtips go for.

As for the guns, you are right. It's all about fit. I don't shoot clays like I did before I had shoulder surgery, but the dog and I still go out for pheasant and quail. I have more expensive guns but my old beat up Remington points very well for me. I have a feeling it will be slim pickings this fall, though, with the drought around us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr4884 

 

I gotta say, i'm really feeling the walnut with these shoes...

Agreed... but I already have a pair of walnut strands. Not sure if I really need 2 pairs of walnut shoes. But then again, I have a few pairs of dark brown already also

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Shoes1 

For all of you first time AE buyers freaking out about your new purchases:

 

1. Unless your shoe purchase was only to display them in glass case in your home, stop worrying about creases and minor scuffs and dings.  Shoes are meant to be worn and will accumulate all of these with time.  And you can cover most of this minor damage with polish. 

 

2.  Shoes crease in different ways for different people based on the foot, fit, shoe design, etc. 

 

3.  If your Strands are too tan or too red, you can adjust this with the polish you use.  If I preferred the tan color my Strands arrived in, I would use cognac polish.  If I preferred the more reddish tint that is frequently seen in pictures, I would use the walnut polish.  You can also alternate to create your own mix. 

 

4.  For those of you buying brown shoes.  If you want them lightened a bit, use AE's saddle brown polish.  If you like them darker, use the dark brown polish.

 

5.  Use AE's conditioner cleaner or Saphir Renovateur before wearing your shoes to help minimize the creasing.  Thereafter use these products regularly.  For some shoes, I do not use anything but Renovateur.

 

6.  My AE's seem to typically take 8-10 wears before breaking in.  Your mileage may vary.

well said

Quote:

Originally Posted by spitshine123 

Agreed... but I already have a pair of walnut strands. Not sure if I really need 2 pairs of walnut shoes. But then again, I have a few pairs of dark brown already also

I just think every shoe has its best color, so I typically go with that.  However the McAllisters look insane in walnut but I have them in Merlot lol....

ON A SIDE NOTE

The email suggestion to AE pretty much did nothing.  Here is their response after I suggested a "strand-like" bal boot, and after I asked them about the Fall lineup.

Thank you for your email.  We haven’t gotten information on the fall line at this time.  We apologize for any inconvenience.  I think that we will be getting information on the next few months.  If you have any further questions please call toll free 800.235.2348 and speak with one of our representatives.

Sincerely,

Tina Lemanski

Motherf*cker... she completely disregarded my shoe suggestion.  I'm not giving up yet!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy 


+1
Good advice.
I would note the following, not in disagreement with the Gent above, but just based on my experience:
- my Walnut Strands, and my other walnut calf AEs, have not darkened in any noticeable way (and I typically use AE's walnut polish)
- my breaking in period is usually 4-6

I think the coloration of AE's walnut calfskin depends on how old it is.  Both my Strands and my AE walnut belt were drop-shipped from AE and arrived very light in color.  Light enough that my initial reaction was WTF?  I have never polished my walnut belt, but it definitely darkened a little bit with time. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhiPsi32 

If you're serious about this, you should follow up with a phone call.

I'm not sure what I would say, though......

Maybe I'll follow up in a few weeks and reiterate what I stated in the email. 

Just say that you want to follow up on the email and that you want to personally express your opinion. I don't think they get as many phone calls like that as they do emails.

Rambling thoughts on my experience with shoes over the last three years. About that time, for some unknown reason, I became a shoe freak. In the following years I went through Alden, C+J, Cheaney, 1000 Mile Boots, Paul Smith, etc... Alden, C&J and Cheaney just killed my feet - not sure why. I came to really dislike the CXL leather of the 1000 mile series, and I had lost my love for Shell. Now three days ago I purchased the tan Mctavish and have worn them every day. First, there was almost no break in time, second they don't kill my feet - very comfortable - third I have had more compliments on these shoes than all the rest put together. Also one of my personal tests for a shoe (I hope this does not sound silly) is how they make me fell when I look down at them - the Mctavish get a A+ on that count. I have already ordered the Katmai for the woods and am looking at the Fifth Street Boot - as my dress boot. I think I will end up being a life long A&E fan!  

I'm considering going to the closest AE store to me this weekend, which unfortunately is nearly 3 hours away. Would be a fun trip plus it would be nice to get my feet measured properly. I'm convinced that the several pairs I have right now aren't right. I think I need to go longer/narrower. My shoes fit okay, but I really think they could all be better. There may be some strands, mcallisters, neumoks, and mctavishes in 10d for sale in the near future if I'm correct :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Shoes1 

For all of you first time AE buyers freaking out about your new purchases:

 

1. Unless your shoe purchase was only to display them in glass case in your home, stop worrying about creases and minor scuffs and dings.  Shoes are meant to be worn and will accumulate all of these with time.  And you can cover most of this minor damage with polish. 

 

2.  Shoes crease in different ways for different people based on the foot, fit, shoe design, etc. 

 

3.  If your Strands are too tan or too red, you can adjust this with the polish you use.  If I preferred the tan color my Strands arrived in, I would use cognac polish.  If I preferred the more reddish tint that is frequently seen in pictures, I would use the walnut polish.  You can also alternate to create your own mix. 

 

4.  For those of you buying brown shoes.  If you want them lightened a bit, use AE's saddle brown polish.  If you like them darker, use the dark brown polish.

 

5.  Use AE's conditioner cleaner or Saphir Renovateur before wearing your shoes to help minimize the creasing.  Thereafter use these products regularly.  For some shoes, I do not use anything but Renovateur.

 

6.  My AE's seem to typically take 8-10 wears before breaking in.  Your mileage may vary.

Thank you very much for these tips!! I'm a first time AE buyer and purchased 4 pairs last week (Black Park Avenue, Brown Fifth Avenue, Walnut Strand, Merlot Mcallister).

If you don't mind, I want to ask you and others on this thread the following:

1. Do you ever use shoe cream? And if so, when do you use it?

2. For polish, is it better to purchase AE Premium Polish or Carnauba Wax Polish?

3. What are your regular steps to cleaning a pair of AE. From what I have gathered on other threads: (Clean with conditioner, Use shoe cream, Buff off, Clean with conditioner, Use polish, buff off, Clean with conditioner) although this sounds like it could be too exhaustive.

4. In regards to your tip #5, are you suggesting we use the conditioner/cleaner before EVERY wear or just the first wear?

5. What other products do I need other than the following in order to care for my shoes:

• AE Premium Polish for each respective shoe color (Black, Dark Brown, Cognac, Merlot)
• Horsehair Brushes
• Cotton Rags
• AE Cleaner/Conditioner
• Shoe Trees and Shoe Horn
• Heel and Sole Edge Dressing

Thanks in advance!