Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Why buy very high quality BLACK dress shoes?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Why buy very high quality BLACK dress shoes?

post #1 of 92
4/10/12 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 

I don't own any shoes better than Allen Edmonds but am thinking about moving up to Edward Green level. It seems that one advantage of shoes in this price range in the patina of the leather, but getting black shoes (although useful for me) would seem negate this advantage? Allen Edmonds already can last a long time and be resoled so what would the advantage of very high quality black shoes be - the shape of the last, knowing you have very well made shoes, or what? 

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
post #2 of 92
4/10/12 at 7:42pm
If this question is being asked, I would strongly consider taking baby steps up the ladder to Edward Green.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 92
4/10/12 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 

What baby steps would you recommend?

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 92
4/10/12 at 7:53pm
You need to read more on this forum.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 92
4/10/12 at 7:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by heidegger View Post

What baby steps would you recommend?

Crockett & Jones, Carmina, etc.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 92
4/10/12 at 8:08pm
Are you happy with your black AEs? If yes, end of discussion.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 92
4/10/12 at 8:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpooPoker View Post

Crockett & Jones, Carmina, etc.

+1.

Or save yourself the time/cost of this step and go straight to EG. You'll understand it out when you get there. Either way.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 92
4/10/12 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by heidegger View Post

I don't own any shoes better than Allen Edmonds but am thinking about moving up to Edward Green level. It seems that one advantage of shoes in this price range in the patina of the leather, but getting black shoes (although useful for me) would seem negate this advantage? Allen Edmonds already can last a long time and be resoled so what would the advantage of very high quality black shoes be - the shape of the last, knowing you have very well made shoes, or what? 

Or you could just get some brown A-Es and let an honest patina develop through use and multiple polishings.

Sator once posted an interesting comparison between a pair of A-E Park Avenues and their EG counterparts. I think most unbiased observers would have concluded there really wasn't much difference between them, certainly not enough to warrant the huge price differential.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 92
4/10/12 at 9:55pm
^This

Edward Green makes a fantastic shoe, but the differences between them and AE arent directly proportional to the price difference. I would second you taking a look at Crockett and Jones or Grenson as an intermediate step.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 92
4/11/12 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by maxnharry View Post

^This
Edward Green makes a fantastic shoe, but the differences between them and AE arent directly proportional to the price difference. I would second you taking a look at Crockett and Jones or Grenson as an intermediate step.

Why Grenson? I would personally put C&J and Trickers or Cheaney (Imperial range)
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 92
4/11/12 at 2:12am
Better shoes has better polish, thicker leather, softer wearing

You simply can't save money for this

p.s. for black dress shoes, you might work in court so that will be a necessity
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 92
4/11/12 at 6:06am

just bought a alden black calfskin balmoral captoe.  my own motives...  American made, hand crafted inhouse with certain production standards.  not to say alden are the only shoes which meet those criteria, but they are among the top of what I saw.

Reply
Reply
post #13 of 92
4/11/12 at 7:08am
I have Alden captoes that I really like, but they just don't compare style-wise with my C&Js, let alone my EGs.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 92
4/11/12 at 8:15am
I agree completely. Black shoes above a certain point (say C&J benchgrade) offer ZERO additional value to me, so I just don't buy them.

As someone mentioned, if you're happy with Allen Edmonds, why bother getting a more expensive shoe?
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 92
4/11/12 at 8:30am
I approach the issue like the tuxedo. Why buy when you can rent?

Might as well get the very best for those items that are certainly seldom used.

Therefore my first bespoke purchase was plain black captoe
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Classic Menswear

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread
Styleforum Watch Appreciation Thread: show, tell, debate.
Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Why buy very high quality BLACK dress shoes?