casual brown shoe style suggestions?

hey everybody. i posted this yesterday, but it was then moved to an orphaned thread and subsequently ignored despite my best efforts. as my current pair of casual dark brown leather slip-on loafers (cheap bass shoes) are starting to wear themselves out, i'm beginning to contemplate my next pair of shoes. i'd very much like to upgrade to a higher quality pair. these would be shoes i'd be wearing 99% of the time with jeans, but would occasionally be wearing with a more business casual look (slacks, perhaps a sportcoat).

i'm hoping for your style-related suggestions. i do like simple slip-on loafers (not penny loafers or tassled loafers), i'm not the biggest fan of boots, and particularly don't like chukkas. that said, i have no doubts that if anyone can, this group of esteemed gentlemen could certainly convince me of something outside my typical line of thinking.

i think, as i've looked through a bunch of shoes (and i do mean a LOT of shoes), i'd be interested in a shoe with a similar layout to a pair of monks, except without the strap. does such a thing exist?

What's your price range? How casual? I have a pair of ralph lauren drivers that I wear casually with jeans or cotton pants. I would never wear them with wool trousers or a sport coat though. They are similar to these: http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...ductId=3958279

appreciate your reply malat!

i think my price range is fairly wide, though i think i'd want to keep it to under $300 (would go a bit higher if they were THAT good though). with regards to how casual - i think i can answer that best by comparing to the pair you posted. i would want something darker brown and slightly more formal (only slightly).

again, appreciate the help!!

It may not be up your alley, from the looks of your reply so far at least, but I'm personally a fan of well-patina'd vintage oxfords/bluchers. Obviously depends on your stomach for used shoes. Recommended brands tend to be: Allen Edmonds, Alden, Johnston and Murphy Aristocraft line, Florsheim Imperial line. EDIT: also ET Wright, Nettleton.

single/double monks

Thanks ArsenalDan for an interesting suggestion. I think oxfords would be a bit too formal, but i think i'm intrigued by bluchers. i think i'd want slip-pn bluchers without any real styling in the area the laces would be, but again, i could be convinced otherwise. has anyone seen a shoe (or shoes) that look like that?

inimitable - i suppose i could be into monks, but i tend to wear silver, and most darker brown monks have gold buckles. are there buckle-less monks, or brown monks with silver (or stainless steel, rather) buckles?

I like the AE Wilbert in brown leather. Looks great with khakis or jeans. It's casual all the way.

Crockett & Jones Monkton (single) / Lowndes (double) both have silver buckles. Both awesome shoes IMO, especially in suede.

Edit: I think...

any thoughts or opinions on these:

http://www.theshoemart.com/cole_haan..._two_gore.html

not necessarily the brand (i realize SF isn't a fan of cole haan since the nike buyout), but mostly the style. also, has anybody seen similar style with leather soles?

Originally Posted by ohdannyboy

Click to expand...

any thoughts or opinions on these:

http://www.theshoemart.com/cole_haan..._two_gore.html

not necessarily the brand (i realize SF isn't a fan of cole haan since the nike buyout), but mostly the style. also, has anybody seen similar style with leather soles?

Those look pretty ugly to me.

inimitable - appreciate the suggestion. I like the C&J monktons. they're a bit out of my pricerange, but i guess i could flex.

GBear - why do you think they're ugly? not saying you're wrong, just looking for a bit of a more detailed opinion

Originally Posted by ohdannyboy

Click to expand...

any thoughts or opinions on these:

http://www.theshoemart.com/cole_haan..._two_gore.html

not necessarily the brand (i realize SF isn't a fan of cole haan since the nike buyout), but mostly the style. also, has anybody seen similar style with leather soles?

Fugly. Not aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

You will get no love for the brutally squared off toe from 99% of people here - including me. They just plain don't look good.

Stepping up in price from Cole Hann to C&J will pay off, especially in durability. If you take care of good English shoes like C&J, they will survive a lot for quite a long time.

Originally Posted by ohdannyboy

Click to expand...

inimitable - appreciate the suggestion. I like the C&J monktons. they're a bit out of my pricerange, but i guess i could flex.


I think if you do stretch to a nicer shoe, you will never want to set eyes on a pair of Cole Haans ever again.