Help Needed - First pair of real shoes for new job - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstunbound 

 

No I've got those covered, thankfully, but I buy them in 3-packs so they probably aren't up to your standards.

Thank you to those that actually wrote thought out non-snarky responses. I did search the forum, and I did not find answers applicable to MY situation, which is why I started the thread. 

 

My thought was to add a brown shoe to supplement my black J&M. I know they aren't up to the standards of many posters on SF, but they suffice for now. Ideally, I would also like to wear these new shoes with khackis or nice jeans occasionally, but they will be primarily for the office. I wear I don't have the budget to spend on $300 shoes, but based on various posts around these parts, seconds at A&E seem like a great deal, especially with their sale going on this weekend. 

 

Snedly - I'll be in Greenwich

 

 

J&M still makes excellent  shoes in their Custom Select range which you'll have to  wait 6 weeks for delivery;and also in their Italian range. They  added some cheaper range shoes to the collection a few years ago but I guess they need to pay the bills too to stay in business.

btw, most posters don't have any standards here. You have a lot of kids and poor poseurs on here who don't like it when an expensive brand also carries a cheaper line because they can't impress their little friends with this expensive brand name. You see, in their class there are actually people who are so gauche that they will comment on your shoes and even (believe it or not) ask what make they are. They are really label whores who want to pretend they're not. Oh noo, I'd never wear a shirt with a logo on it (even if that crocodile logo is classic and has been around since before their granddaddy was born). The truth of the matter is that they can't afford these products and want people to believe that their logoless Target shirt is really a Smedley

Thank you LeJourve. Your post providing a synopsis of the different brands by entry level [price point] was extremely insightful. I also appreciate that you replied to my PM, to answer a few more questions. Most kind of you.

I'm not keen on the styles for the brands that you recommended for Level I. That said, I've come to realise that one's criteria should be (in order): fit, colour and style (price notwithstanding). Normally I reverse that order and wonder why I either have blisters and am hobbling (not an attractive sight) or said shoes fall apart after 6 months.

I have yet to actually try any of the brands, but am in the market for non-work shoes. I tend to wear dress type shoes casually i.e. outside of the office, so I prefer a more formal, structured style. I was thinking of Oliver Sweeney but at that price point I could buy a more recognised Level 2 brand such as C&J [Arden]. Note: If I were to go with the C&J Arden (£275 from Afinepairofshoes) I would obviously pop into a retail branch that has the Arden's in stock to see how they fit - then order online.

Ultimately, I aspire to either Carmina [Cordovan Brogue Captoe Oxford] and Carmina [Wholecut - Inca last] to grace my feet. Perfect 2nd date shoes (especially for Oriental women). Unfortunately, whilst looking on XE.com for the exchange rates, I noticed - to my horror - that the sterling is trading below 1:120  against the Yen! I have a 2 week trip to Japan booked for Autumn, and what was going to be an expensive holiday is now looking more and more expensive as sterling plunges. So the Carmina shoes will have to be a Christmas present to myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Putonghua73 

Thank you LeJourve. Your post providing a synopsis of the different brands by entry level [price point] was extremely insightful. I also appreciate that you replied to my PM, to answer a few more questions. Most kind of you.

 

I'm not keen on the styles for the brands that you recommended for Level I. That said, I've come to realise that one's criteria should be (in order): fit, colour and style (price notwithstanding). Normally I reverse that order and wonder why I either have blisters and am hobbling (not an attractive sight) or said shoes fall apart after 6 months.

 

I have yet to actually try any of the brands, but am in the market for non-work shoes. I tend to wear dress type shoes casually i.e. outside of the office, so I prefer a more formal, structured style. I was thinking of Oliver Sweeney but at that price point I could buy a more recognised Level 2 brand such as C&J [Arden]. Note: If I were to go with the C&J Arden (£275 from Afinepairofshoes) I would obviously pop into a retail branch that has the Arden's in stock to see how they fit - then order online.

 

Ultimately, I aspire to either Carmina [Cordovan Brogue Captoe Oxford] and Carmina [Wholecut - Inca last] to grace my feet. Perfect 2nd date shoes (especially for Oriental women). Unfortunately, whilst looking on XE.com for the exchange rates, I noticed - to my horror - that the sterling is trading below 1:120  against the Yen! I have a 2 week trip to Japan booked for Autumn, and what was going to be an expensive holiday is now looking more and more expensive as sterling plunges. So the Carmina shoes will have to be a Christmas present to myself.

Pleasure, looking forward to the pics!!

Don't make the mistake of thinking you are going to get bargain by waiting to arrive in Japan either, shoes are decidedly more expensive in Japan.

I've had a change of heart after reading this thread. Previously, I dismissed Loakes because I judged them by their cheapest range (non-UK sourced) - admittedly, better than comparable ones from the High Street (like another pair of shoes I was going to buy for work from a shop beginning with 'A' and ending in 'O' - this time in black).

I quite like the Loake Aldwych which has a price point of £195 for Goodyear welted leather sole, full leather and UK sourced.. Given that I could buy another pair of work shoes from a shop beginning with 'A' and ending in 'O' and a pair of C&J Ardens for a total cost of c£375, or buy x2 pairs of Loake Aldwych's (black and tan) for a total cost £390, I believe it is better to go with the latter option for overall better quality. The C&J Ardens will be of a higher quality than the Loake 1880s but the pair of shoes from 'that' shop will be much poorer.

Black shoes for work and tan shoes for play.

Over time, I can add to my work shoe collection with C&Js. In terms of casual i.e. non-work, my heart is still fluttering over those Carminas.

You're correct about bargins vis-a-vis Japan. First time I visited was back in 2007 when the pound:yen was 1:200. I since visited a further 3 times, and the last time (Christmas 2009) the pound:yen was 1:140. That hurt. My 5th time is looking around the 1:120 level :( Serious pain. The bright side will be back in a country with the World's most beautiful women (IMO) in Kyoto.

Once again, thank you (as well as the other posters) to allow newbies like me to make better informed decisions.

Cheers!