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Florsheim Edgar (My Rating: 2 out of 5)
- Made in India
- Thin and stiff 'Box Calf' leather uppers
- Leather sole.
- Leather & synthetic insole
In terms of quality, they are but a shadow of the Florsheim shoes of yesteryear.
These shoes generally serve a temporary need for a man who almost never wears a suit or dresses up for anything but the occasional interview, wedding, etc. They basically appeal to someone who wants the 'cheapest option' to fulfill minimum dress requirements and is unconcerned about lesser materials or out-sourced labour. They are also an acceptable option for someone who hasn't the funds for something more substantial. Their redeeming value is that they will pass muster at almost any function that isn't exclusive. Basically, they are clean and presentable looking. They are better than Bostonian, but still remain in the lower tier of mens dress shoes, albeit not the lowest of the low.
Be prepared to have sweaty feet at the end of a day's wearing. Because of the use of synthetics for the insoles, your feet may be offered little to no breathability. Carry an extra pair of socks with you in a zip-locked sandwich bag, and use them half way into your day or event to feel refreshed.
Aside from the breathability issue, they should be comfortable enough.
Your strategy here is to a) move quickly when walking b) keep your feet under the table during an interview, and c) at social functions, don't stand near men wearing Park Avenues (or better), for if you do, you'll understand why when you see their better shoes. You may even experience a dream-like state where you are the Incredible Shrinking Man. Another strategy is to gravitate towards men wearing total crap on their feet so you look like a million dollars.
Allen Edmonds Park Avenue (My Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5)
- Made in the United States Of America
- Soft Calfskin Vegetable Tanned leather uppers
- Leather sole (no steel shank = airport friendly)
- Full leather insoles
Signifigantly more appealing visually, the Park Avenue is an instantaneously comfortable shoe that requires no 'break-in' period. They easily look more elegant (as is possible with a 360 GoodYear Welt) than the Florsheim Edgar. You will experience immediate and lasting comfort with the Park Avenue (as you would with all Allen Edmonds shoes). The all-leather insole and liners offer excellent breathability for all day or night comfort. Suitable for all semi-formal occasions, exclusive or otherwise. Your feet will enjoy comfort every minute of your outing. The Park Avenues are among the entry level options within the higher end shoe range. They will age well and stand the test of time. They are fully recraftable, which further extends their lifespan to, with care and conservative wear, even a lifetime. A shoe of this caliber is considered an investment and should be among the mainstays of every mans wardrobe. If you can at least find a pair of Factory Seconds, they will be well worth the extra money over the Florsheims.
Polishing Tip: Sparingly apply Marine Blue cream polish to the toebox only for a dynamic 'blacker-than-black' contrast effect.
In my experience, with little or no breathing, your feet will be just cold, dry, cracked and so on and so forth in the winter as they will be sweaty in the summer.
WEYCO Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEYS), designs and markets quality and innovative footwear for men, women and children under a portfolio of well-recognized brand names including; Florsheim, Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters and Umi. The company's products can be found in leading footwear, department, and specialty stores worldwide. Weyco Group also operates Florsheim concept stores in the United States and Australia, as well as in a variety of international markets.
http://www.weycogroup.com/investor.html
In 2002, the company was repurchased by members of the founding family. Thomas W. Florsheim, Jr. and John W. Florsheim of Weyco Group, based in Glendale, Wisconsin, repurchased the brand for $47 million from rival Florsheim Group, according to the Wall Street Journal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florsheim_Shoes
My understanding is some time ago a foreigin business bought hte company and brought the production over to south east asia to take advantage of cheap labor. Problem here is the end result was not quite up to standards.
For what its worth, I suffer from cracked skin on my feet and fingers in winter as well. It is attributed to dehydration. I simply don't drink enough water in winter. You may want to try applying a moisturizing lotion to your feet and hands to aid in preventing the cracks. Also, use one of those scrapers on the thickly callused skin areas whilst taking a shower. Thinner skin that is lotioned, at least in my experience, will be more flexible and be less prone to cracking than thicker skin. Hope this helps someone somewhere.
Yes, skin moisturizer will absolutely keep anybody's feet from having cracked skin in the winter. However, my feet will still be cold and uncomfortable (and occasionally or sore) from wearing shoes with synthetic (specifically, leatherette or vinyl insoles) in the winter.
Ok so they have made some quality improvements here and there however its not uniform for all the company products. I prefer dealing with companies were I buy anything they make and its great.