Ever feel regret after purchasing a pair of shoes? - Page 4

Please accept my apologies if I've caused consternation between some of the senior members of this forum.  As it turns out, NORE's logic - albeit based on some assumptions - is more or less accurate.  I appreciate other members giving me the benefit of a doubt, but I don't deserve that much credit.

Indeed, my decision to buy AE was influenced by others.  A coworker last year took me into an AE store and I recall not being too much impressed by the selection or shape (I now know this is called the last, so thank you forum) of the shoes.  I've been using CLGenie for the most part of the year to recieve notifications from eBay for good deals on any 8.5D black dress shoes, since I needed new ones.  The uppers on my J&Ms are badly damaged from salt.  I actually settled on a cheap pair of understated Aldos I got on sale to hold me over. My wife and I celebrated our one year anniversary in Chicago and that was where I spotted the Silvano Sassettis.  $180 marked down from $380 (I think I recall - had to peel off several layers of pricetag stickers to get to the original price) seemed like a bargain to me, especially since the style and color appealed to me. 

When I took these to a nearby cobbler, he suggested that these were good shoes - that Italian shoes rarely have a goodyear welt anymore.  I asked what shoes should I look for and he said AEs are good shoes.  Thus, AE became further reinforced in my mind as comfortable, dependable, well-made-for-your-money shoes that I could rely on.  It's just the styling that I am a bit disappointed in.  Now, I suppose I'm hoping that these will break in and crease nicely.  The finish on the shoe looks too new at this moment, so perhaps after a couple of layers of polish it will have a bit more character. These AEs are certainly conservative and perhaps there are appropriate times for them. Next, I think I'm going to look for some shell cordovans... probably not in AE. 

I do appreciate all of the support I received from other members who came in my defense.  I suppose some of the responses were in defense of the AE brand itself.  I want to point out that yesterday as I was walking home from work, I thought that the AEs were indeed comfortable.  The toebox is kinder on the width of my feet than the J&Ms were.  I don't feel as young and hip (or as rich) with the Sassettis on.  I bought 3 total pairs of J&Ms before these AEs.  My first pair was the most conservative, as I was fresh out of college and working in a conservative environment.  I didn't want to look like an intern with pointy or squared off Kenneth Cole Reactions (seriously!), so I sought out some shoes that the older men in my field wear.  Those shoes hurt to break in.  AEs are comfortable to begin with and I do appreciate that.  I'm not as a conservative dresser as I was, in large part due to my wife helping me dress younger (an age appropriate, forward looking early 30s man).  However, I'm not a flashy dresser, either (I work in the government/law arena, so moderate/conservative dress is my preference so as not to stand out).  Since I don't want to draw too much unnecessary attention, these conservative black AEs will be fine for most purposes.

Also, my apologies to the moderators.  I think that since I tried to attach photos of my Sassettis, that the post had to go under review since I am new.  I tried submitting 2 or 3 times until the pop up message finally lasted long enough for me to read it.

stitch:  I dig the loafers and the colors.  I'd pair those with a nice pair of jeans for a casual night out or a laid back dinner/lunch party on a summer day any time!  I'm particularly impressed when people know how to dress down, but dress classy.  I think these shoes add that type of sophistication.