Entry level dress shoes

Hi all,

I recently joined the forum after browsing for some time. I came here after wanting to update my style and appearance for a better me and move away from the hoodies and college style.

Sot far I've started out with getting custom suits and shirts due to my smaller frame and now I'm trying to find shoes to start with before moving up to Edward Green's or even G&G's. My price limit for entry level shoes is anything $500 or less.  Any recommendations on brands I should be looking at would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

-Geran B.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thanks SF (a new me) 

imo, certain C&J or Carmina are great choices, but if you can afford custom (MTM/Bespoke ?) suits/shirts, why settle for less? go for EG, JL G&G now. cry once and be done with it.

The suits and shirts are all bespoke. I don't trust MTM items due to my size.  Too much would need to be done to get it to fit me prefect. For the shoes, the reason I decided to buy $500 or less RTW shoes is because I never really had a problem fitting shoes so I figured I would start out with basics before moving up. I don't mind spending more but since I am just ending a divorce and everything I didn't want to push the limit too fast. I will look into EG, JL and G&G more as well as C&J Carmina (never heard of these before). Thanks for the advice.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by unbelragazzo 

^ This. I don't see the point of "practicing" on a $500 shoe if you know you're eventually going to be buying $1k shoes. Just do some research ahead of time and be sure you get a style that's versatile and think about it for a while to be sure your preferences aren't changing too fast.

I'm pretty sure what style(s) I like and would want eventually. I'm very old fashion and classic when is comes to clothing. For example, I like Allen Edmonds Strand and Edward Green Asquith as well as the G&G St. James shoe. Very classic and timeless IMO. Thanks for the advice and I see your point about "practicing" on lower priced shoes when in the end I will be spending more on better/nicer shoes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotoriousMarquis 


No, it's logical to start a bit lower. If someone had given me a pair of JL shoes when I first wanted them, they would have been fucked up in a minute. I think getting C&J and learning how to condition, polish, treat, deal with rain, etc, will make you a real expert once you get JLs or EGs. You can also wear C&J shoes and if you have money, and get them wet or wear them too many days in a row or let them crease, you have learned your lesson.

Never thought of it that way. I've never really cared about shoes previously but I definitely wouldn't want to make a mistake on a $1500 pair of shoes when I could have spent less and learned how to care for them and make them last for a long time. I've looked at C&J today and they have some nice styles, very traditional from what I can see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fritzl 


do you have access to certain brands in person or are you dependent on online shopping?

I have access to Allen Edmonds, Crockett & Jones, Alden, Edward Green and Loake.  These are local to me. As for John Lobb's and some others, I would have to drive to New York which is only 4hrs away from me.