$350, allen edmonds or kent wang shoes?

unfortunately I live in Houston and there are not many choices for fashion here. I need a shoe tomorrow for an event.
I don't want to buy something $100-200 from nordstrom rack or off fifth and not like it that much, it will feel like a waste, I'd much rather pay $300-400 and get something I really want to wear. I like English chisel toe styles like G&G, vass, and C&J, and I would buy those except I have no way to try them on.
Allen Edmonds doesn't offer many chiseled toe shoes, maybe the larchmont and the rutledge. but the rutledge is almost $475 and I saw G&G in NYC for $500 on sale. I just cant justify spending $500 on AE shoes.
Larchmont is at $345 which is ok. Kent wang has shoes for $350 and $450. But not sure if I can go try those on.
any ideas would be appreciated

If you need them tomorrow, not sure how you're going to get a pair from Kent Wang in time...

his store is based out of league city just outside of houston, i figure he has stock there and it's a 30 min drive

eddiecibrian said:

unfortunately I live in Houston and there are not many choices for fashion here. I need a shoe tomorrow for an event.
I don't want to buy something $100-200 from nordstrom rack or off fifth and not like it that much, it will feel like a waste, I'd much rather pay $300-400 and get something I really want to wear. I like English chisel toe styles like G&G, vass, and C&J, and I would buy those except I have no way to try them on.
Allen Edmonds doesn't offer many chiseled toe shoes, maybe the larchmont and the rutledge. but the rutledge is almost $475 and I saw G&G in NYC for $500 on sale. I just cant justify spending $500 on AE shoes.
Larchmont is at $345 which is ok. Kent wang has shoes for $350 and $450. But not sure if I can go try those on.
any ideas would be appreciated

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The Larchmont is a casual longwing. How can you have an event that requires an immediate purchase of a casual shoe? Especially one that is frequently on sale for $225 or so? Do you not have another casual shoe you can wear?

I could understand if you needed a pair of captoes for an event where you are going to wear a suit, but this makes no sense.

The KW lasts are more elegant than the AE ones, IMO.

One other difference is that KW is made in Asia while AE is made in USA.

Note that the KW ship point in League City is not a retail store.

However, if you email KW, perhaps you can still pick up something there directly.

KW. much more elegant looking. I have a few pair of AE and every time i wear them i feel like a congressman. for the money, id go for KW. If you had more time, you could look at Meermin or DC Lewis as well.

eddiecibrian said:

his store is based out of league city just outside of houston, i figure he has stock there and it's a 30 min drive

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I believe I read in the affiliate thread somewhere that this isn't possible.

One other consideration to make is width: if you have a wide foot, you'll need to size up in KW (at least I did). I own both AE and KW, and I agree with most people here that the KW is a much nicer looking shoe in comparable models. But my AEs generallly fit better because I can get them in the correct width. Which is not to say I have regrets about the KWs - they fit fine and are by far my favorite pair of dress shoes. My cobbler also gave the KWs his seal of approval, for what it's worth (but he said he'd prefer me to buy Aldens and to a lesser extent AE because they're made in the USA, so if that matters to you . . .).

I'm a big AE fan, but if you like a "chisel toe" style AE is probably not for you. The Rutledge and Harrison are about the only 2 shoes AE makes that could be charitably described as having a chiseled toe and would be appropriate for a formal situation. As you mentioned they both retail at $475. Go with Kent Wang if you can get one by tomorrow.

Kent has said you cannot visit the league city place, but maybe there are exceptions. I'm almost positive you could find something you like at Brooks Bros or Norton Ditto in a pinch if you can't get the KW.

The reason to go with AE over Kent Wang is if you require non-standard widths. If you don't, I would recommend the Kent Wangs. Aside from styling, they are a step up in quality as well.

Don't think I really need a suit and captoe's, the event promoter wrote the dress code as "NBA ALL STAR CHIC, button down shirts, slacks"
I don't have any other shoe except for a suede chukka and some really crappy fake looking cordovan oxfords.
I'm a fan of the meermin/dc lewis styling, just no way of trying it on here..i guess ill visit brooks, that peal brand is supposedly c & j

eddiecibrian said:

Don't think I really need a suit and captoe's, the event promoter wrote the dress code as "NBA ALL STAR CHIC, button down shirts, slacks"

Click to expand...

That is the greatest dress code in history.

S

eddiecibrian said:

Don't think I really need a suit and captoe's, the event promoter wrote the dress code as "NBA ALL STAR CHIC, button down shirts, slacks"
I don't have any other shoe except for a suede chukka and some really crappy fake looking cordovan oxfords.
I'm a fan of the meermin/dc lewis styling, just no way of trying it on here..i guess ill visit brooks, that peal brand is supposedly c & j

Click to expand...

Some Peal is C&J some is not. You can tell by the nail pattern in the heel. Either way, Peal shoes are all made in England and should be comparable to each other, assuming the prices are the same.

eddiecibrian, how did your search end?

I went to allen edmonds and tried on a bunch of shoes...only liked the 475$ ones but at that price id rather buy something else.
im looking at meermin, c&j, gazianos and vass and will prolly try on a buy a few pairs when i go to nyc in april. This forum has
Made me incapable of purchasing ordinary shoes