Notched Heel on shoes-mean anything?

Wvillager · Aug 2, 2007

This will make some people on here gasp, convulse, etc. but in a pinch I bought a pair of black Moreschi's full price at the madison ave store a few weeks ago. I just noticed the inside corner of the heels are cut/notched out. Does this mean something, like the shoe was returned previously?

(The concern about being a return comes from the state of the leather being rather creased for only ten wearings and two polishings).

chorse123 · Aug 2, 2007

I believe this is done to prevent the wearer from damaging the leather if one heel clips the other shoe.

shoefan · Aug 2, 2007

Others say it's to help prevent your heel from getting caught on and tearing the cuffs of your trousers.

In any event, it is not because the shoes are returns or seconds.

bengal-stripe · Aug 2, 2007

"Gentleman's corner" is an Americanism to prevent the heel getting caught un the turn-up (cuff) of the trousers.

Cuffed trousers are popular in the States, less so in Europe. Hence you'll find it only shoes made for the American market.

wpdoyle · Aug 2, 2007

Originally Posted by Wvillager

This will make some people on here gasp, convulse, etc. but in a pinch I bought a pair of black Moreschi's full price at the madison ave store a few weeks ago. I just noticed the inside corner of the heels are cut/notched out. Does this mean something, like the shoe was returned previously?

FWIW, my AE Leeds have heels like that, as well.

Also, which model of the Moreschis did you get? I recently bought the Cordenos and love them.

Tarmac · Aug 2, 2007

It's a feature not a bug

As far as it being american, I'm pretty sure JL Paris has the notch as well?

Wvillager · Aug 2, 2007

Originally Posted by wpdoyle

FWIW, my AE Leeds have heels like that, as well.

Also, which model of the Moreschis did you get? I recently bought the Cordenos and love them.

The Nelso's http://www.moreschishoes.com/product...&pfid=MSC00244 they are very comfortable, look great, and in NY the rubber sole is key. But unfortunately like I said they are getting beat up a bit quickly; I might stop in the store and ask the guys if I bought them too large.

I'll go on to trivialize my knowledge of shoes by admitting the "pinch" was being fed up wearing ugly KC shoes.

bengal-stripe · Aug 2, 2007

Originally Posted by Tarmac

As far as it being american, I'm pretty sure JL Paris has the notch as well?
JL (Paris) does not do a "Gentleman's corner" on the stuff they sell in England. Maybe the NY store or other retailers in the US request it.

EG doesn't do it either, although they did it on their range for Paul Stuart; almost certainly at the store's request. Alden doesn't, but Allen-Edmonds does; but if you as the retailer insist, I suppose Alden can supply with and A-E can without the notched corner.

When requested, all manufacturers can supply heels with or without the cut-away corner. I don't think anyone feels particular strong about that corner, one way or the other.

j · Aug 2, 2007

I don't know if it's really about the pants legs, but I can imagine it helping to keep the edge from catching on a stair tread and ripping off or damaging the heel.

I also did a similar thing on my left Frye boot heel to make it a little more comfortable while sitting on a motorcycle footpeg and shifting.

Tarmac · Aug 2, 2007

I was at Wilkes Bashford and the sales lady (shoe buyer for entire store) referred to it as the "Gentleman's Notch" and said it was to keep from catching on the pants. Prior to that I thought it was just to keep from making marks on the other shoe.

Then again I have one pair of shoes without the notch, and the inner heel point where the notch would be has peeled away, presumably from hitting something while walking. I feel like that wouldn't have happened if the notch were there to begin with.

stickonatree · Aug 2, 2007

i had a thread about this same topic a while back...and i concluded that it was for purposes of not ripping your pants/scratching your opposite foot's shoe.

sho'nuff · Aug 2, 2007

it is for the purpose of alleviating that corner from getting caught on anything, as noted above, and damaging itself or the thing it catches,

but , for me , it is a little detail that you can generally gauge the level of quality and attention a brand would put into its shoes.

not really an absolute gauge of its presence meaning top notch shoes, but the lack of it, certainly would gauge it being a lower notch shoe.

some makes, like bruno magli, advertises it like it is some accomplishment, "notched heel corner so you won't catch your pants when crossing your legs" or something like that.
that is usually tacky for me. it just means they dont got alot of other trumps in their manufacture of shoes , like some resumes with persons emphasizing some aspect that should be expected out of all of us who work in a workplace.

James Ferguson · Mar 11, 2018

I had a brother in law who worked for a very well known upscale shoe manufacturer, he told me it was a way to mark a factory defect and these shoes were the ones that were sent to the “discount” stores.

James Ferguson · Mar 11, 2018

shoefan said:
Others say it's to help prevent your heel from getting caught on and tearing the cuffs of your trousers.

In any event, it is not because the shoes are returns or seconds.

If this is true, why don’t they notch both shoes??????

bengal-stripe · Mar 11, 2018

James Ferguson said:
If this is true, why don’t they notch both shoes??????

But they do!

Both shoes will have the cut-off corner, but only on the inside, not on the outside. After all, it's only on the inside that you might come into calamities with your other foot.

There is a traditional way American manufacturers used to mark their seconds (maybe it's still used by some firms): a two-pronged marking in the waist of the shoe.

Notched Heel on shoes-mean anything?

Well-Known Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Member

Distinguished Member

Well-Known Member

Distinguished Member

(stands for Jerk)

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

grrrrrrrr!!

New Member

New Member

Distinguished Member

Classic Menswear Featured products

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: