Suggestions for Shoes around $200

post #31 of 61

1/12/12 at 4:09pm

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RingTail

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanks SF (a new me)

OP, do you need wifey's approval for every clothing item that you buy/wear? brown shoes looks great with gray pants...and btw, those holes are called brogueing...

No not every item :) But i like keeping it consideration.

Any thoughts on the Delray?

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post #32 of 61

1/12/12 at 4:12pm

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RingTail

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanks SF (a new me)

OP, do you need wifey's approval for every clothing item that you buy/wear? brown shoes looks great with gray pants...and btw, those holes are called brogueing...

Not every item :) but do like keeping it in consideration.

Any thoughts on the Delray?

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post #33 of 61

1/12/12 at 6:57pm

lostron

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As mentioned many times above, AE PAs and 5As. In brown.

listen to this gentleman, he is spot on

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post #34 of 61

1/13/12 at 6:55am

cioni2k

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So I take back any potentially positive thing I said about Bexley. I ordered the Lugano Double Monks on sale in my size UK7.5/US8.5. Sale went through. The next day I get an email from Bexley stating that the order has been cancelled. On my first order, they need me to use the Bank Transfer option, and my credit card (Mastercard!) would not be eligible to pay for the purchase. So I go back on the website to re-order and my size is sold out. Through repeated back-forth email, Bexley was very short and not willing to help whatsoever! They basically said sorry. They are gone. We cant do anything to make you happy. (Even though I went on the site early, got my order in and confirmed!) You would think they would at least hold my pair until payment was figured out.

Never ordering from Bexley again! Terrible service.

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post #35 of 61

1/13/12 at 7:23am

New Shoes1

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RingTail

Thanks for all the ideas! Considering that my work place is pretty casual, I just happen to want to dress a little more formally with slacks and shirts and sometimes a tweed or navy SC. Others even wear black trainers with their slacks and shirts or khaki's polos and bowling shoes!

So instead of the much recommended Park Avenues which I find very traditional (haven't worn a suit in 2 years), what do you think of the Delray in black, also wifey isn't too approving of brown shoes with gray pants.

I also really like the McAllister in Walnut Calf, but wifey dosen't like all those holes in it so I'm thinking of getting the Randolph which I also like.

They both list for $325, I'm assuming I can find them on sale closer to $200 .

allenedmonds_shoes_delray_black_m.jpg 20k .jpg file

allenedmonds_shoes_randolph_brown-chili_m.jpg 22k .jpg file

Would a rubber sole shoes be more appropriate for snow and slushy weather? If so, any suggestions for a good third pair?

I would not buy the 5th Avenue or Park Avenue to wear with slacks or chino's. They're too formal and look like grandfather shoes when worn with something more casual than a suit. I have Park Avenues and won't wear them with anything but a suit. I have the Delrays in brown and love them. I wear them all the time with wool gabardines and my navy suit. Very versatile shoe.

Regarding walnut Strands, my wife hated them shen she first saw them. Expecting this, I intentionally wore them for a day or two before showing her, so there was no going back. Six months later, after she got use to the light color and brogueing, she recently commented, "You know, that shoe does look really nice with those gray slacks." If you like the Strands, I say go for it. They've become my most versatile and favorite pair of shoes that I wear with taupe pants, gray pants, tan gabardines and jeans.

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post #36 of 61

1/13/12 at 11:42am

CousinDonuts

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What about the Cole Haan route?

http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=396245&productGroup=396246

http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=528744&productGroup=528743

http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=528790&productGroup=528792 (kidding)

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post #37 of 61

1/13/12 at 12:01pm

JubeiSpiegel

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Give AE a try, a lot of options for $200 or less, especially if you are willing to get seconds from their outlet. As an example, I'm picking up some suede chukkas for $130 when their outlet sale hits at the end of this month.

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post #38 of 61

1/13/12 at 8:57pm

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RingTail

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So I stopped by Nordstrom to check all the shoes out, AE Strands certainly looked great, but I found them to be quite uncomfortable. The sales guy then directed me towards the Santoni's and I really liked this one called orrin and it was on sale for $266 from a walloping $535 and I picked it up. It seemed to have a lot of the aspects of a shoes suggested here, classic laced oxford cap toe but looking quite modern.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/santoni-orrin-cap-toe-oxford/3270522

Wifey liked them too, I'm going to try and have these work with gray pants too and put getting black ones on a hold for now. Thanks to everyone for having me discover the beauty of brown!

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post #39 of 61

1/14/12 at 12:56am

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I would not hesitate to get seconds.

If you were iffy on the Park Aves and/or Fifth Aves (I will say again, they are very fantastic, timeless and versatile - truly shoes that will serve you well for as long as you keep them maintained), the Ithaca at that price would be better than any Cole Haan, Aldo, Kenneth Cole etc etc...

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post #40 of 61

1/14/12 at 8:03am

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RingTail

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I would certainly be willing to give the AE a shot for $100 when buying the seconds, but it seems living in DC the closest outlet is in NY.

The santoni I picked up does seem to be a more modernized version of the park avenue. I'll check DSW to see if they have any sales too.

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post #41 of 61

1/14/12 at 8:32am

JubeiSpiegel

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RingTail

I would certainly be willing to give the AE a shot for $100 when buying the seconds, but it seems living in DC the closest outlet is in NY.
The santoni I picked up does seem to be a more modernized version of the park avenue. I'll check DSW to see if they have any sales too.

A solution might be to try out the shoes at an AE boutique store, once you have sizing right order them by phone from AE outlet.

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post #42 of 61

1/14/12 at 9:03am

cioni2k

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RingTail

I would certainly be willing to give the AE a shot for $100 when buying the seconds, but it seems living in DC the closest outlet is in NY.
The santoni I picked up does seem to be a more modernized version of the park avenue. I'll check DSW to see if they have any sales too.

I'm not sure about a more "modern" version than the Park Ave's, I think a better description is a more "Italian" version. (Slim silhouette and blake welt). They seem nice enough if you can get past the stitching on the captoe. That's a deal breaker for me, but if it doesn't bother you then they look nice. Can't go wrong with Santoni!! Nice job

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post #43 of 61

1/14/12 at 10:57am