Introducing D.C. Lewis Footwear - Affiliate Thread - Page 7

I'm thinking of getting new dress shoes for work/formal wear How do these compare to Crockett & Jones , Alden, Allen Edmonds ?

Will not say I will buy, but will say that I would be very interested in shell dress boots (e.g. balmorals) depending on pricing.

IMO, quality and design wise they are light years beyond AE, a step above Alden stylistically, and comparable to C&J, somewhere between bench and handgrades.

Instead of paying attention to ridiculous superficial things like shoeboxes and sole polishing(!), here is a laundry list of iGent/DFWII questions that no one seems to be asking: - gemmed or not? - full leather sockliner? - leather tanning - chromium or vegetable? - upper leather source? - only full grain leather? - bark tanned soles? - synthetic or leather toe puff? - any fibreboard or reconstituted leather product in the shoe? - heels are 100% leather with the rubber insert? - lasted trees? - sizing comparison to 'established' so-called SF-approved lasts? e.g. JL 7000/8000, EG 82/202, Vass U/F/P2, C&J 337/348, Church 173, etc (next isn't really quite an iGent question) - finally, if this is a factory-made shoe in a 3rd world country (with 3rd world wages), what features actually recommend it over the smorgasbord of midrange factory-made UK shoes where I know people are paid a living wage? A fiddleback sole and nice sole treatment does not a 'top tier' shoe make. Things like handwelting, top notch materials, and care in make do.

Taiwan is 3rd world country?

Just received my pair of DC Lewis Claytons and wore them for about an hour today (the weather started to look ominous here in NYC so I took them off before heading to work). I am very impressed with the shoe and really like it, especially having lusted after the JL Vale for so long. I am excited to see how it breaks in, but it appears to be a better quality shoe than my Crockett and Jones Maleverns and is certainly more comfortable on my foot. My only complaint/suggestion is that I would really like lasted shoe tress. Please make this happen guys! Also, count me as someone who loves the fact DC Lewis started with unique models like a monkstrap. I can justify spending $1000+ on a captoe because I will wear it so often but its harder for me to do that on a more quirky shoe. $450 is a good price point for them.

really? it's the exact opposite for me! funny how our brains work.

My thinking is distinctive shoe (colour, style etc) -----> High quality budget breaker.
Plain shoe (black cap toe) ---------> standard models (C&J bench, A&S etc).

Sorry, was under the impression these were made in Laos. Must have misread.

That's funny. I also sort of worry I may change my mind about a flashy antiqued brown chisel toe double monk or something but will always be happy I bought the best black cap toe every time I put it on in 10 years. Like paying $2,000 for a charcoal work horse suit vs. a one button peak lapel light gray one. I doubt I would ever regret buying this though (unless I jammed it under a revolving door or something):

Fantastic stuff. Anyone have pics of the Porter in action?

Actually it said both, so non offended... I would guess reality is more like Taiwanese manufacture with factory in Laos or you can have some part done in Laos, some part done in Taiwan.

Curious as well, that would be the real work horse, monk is just not that versatile, at least to me anyway...

Sorry guys, the last week has been very busy for us. I'll have some answers to these questions shortly. Thanks for your patience.

Bump for an awesome venture!

Can't complain about the styles.