Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread 2016 - News, Pictures, Sizing, Accessories, Clothing, etc

[NorseHorse]



I have the opposite experience with SAs, they recommend a 12D but I'll go with an 11.5E or 11E for snugness.

I prefer a looser shoe in general but there's a big difference between looser casual shoes and dress shoes. The 10D in the 65 fits me perfectly. I just need to be OK with a small V gap. The OCD in me wants that completely closed.

 

[NorseHorse]



I have the opposite experience with SAs, they recommend a 12D but I'll go with an 11.5E or 11E for snugness.

Nice shoes/color scheme btw

 

[Middlife]

Can anyone help me out with figuring out the translating sizes from the 5 last (PA) to the 1 last (Dalton)? I've only tried 9.5D and 10D while wearing thin dress socks due to limited stock in my area.


9.5D feels quite snug, but since I only tried it in the store for 5-10 min, I don't know what they feel like after wearing them for a full day. I just assumed that's how dress shoes are supposed to feel like. My gut says they're too small in length and width.

10D feels like it has a bit of heel slip, at least for dress shoes. However, for boots, I think they could be fine. The width still feels a bit snug though.

Given that, I think I could go for 9.5E or 10E for the Dalton while wearing medium thickness socks. 9.5E might feel a bit snug for boots, but 10E might be too loose given the more generous fitting of the 1 last. What seems to be the right option?

Have you measured yourself on a Brannock device? Properly?? You state the 9.5D feels snug, in what way? How is the instep?? All that aside, the 511 should feel wider in the forefoot area, and I don't experience instep issues with open laced boots like I do with Balmorals on the 65 last, but you may be different. My best guess is go with 9.5D in the Dalton, as going from thin dress to medium should not make that much difference that the 511 can't accommodate. Also, you could wear dress socks with the Dalton.

For reference I wear 8E in the 65 (Strand, McTavish), 8D in the 511 (Dalton, Dundee 2.0). I can squeeze into 7.5E in the unlined Nuemok with OK V-Gap, but length is far less of an issue for me than width.

I find the Dalton to be much less roomy in comparison to the Dundee. For me I wear 8.5EE in the 65 (Strand, Park Ave) and 8.5E for the Dundee. I ordered a Dalton in 8.5E and the length is great but unfortunately it is much tighter width wise on my feet. It doesn't look like the Dalton comes in 8.5EE so I think my only options are to try 9E or 8.5EEE.

Everyone's feet are different but based on my experience, I would think that you should keep the width and length the same from the Park Ave to the Dalton. If I were you I'd probably try 9.5E for both pairs and see how they feel. You could be right in moving up to a 10 if 9.5 felt too short for your toes but the heal slip may say otherwise.

 

[BackInTheJox]

It's almost a little sad seeing all the marketing AE is suddenly doing for "you can, like, totally wear some of our shoes with no socks. NO SOCKS. SOCKLESS!"

It's as if one of their style consultants came to work one day, was like "hey, people have been doing this sockless thing for a few years, it's high time we jumped on it as if it was something new", and they've just run with it.

 

[peppercorn78]

Haha, yeah. They're always a little behind the style trends. I see their products as more "Midwestern" and less "fashionable"

 

[BackInTheJox]



Haha, yeah. They're always a little behind the style trends. I see their products as more "Midwestern" and less "fashionable"

I suppose I can't fault them for trying to branch out a bit, it just comes off as a bit silly.

 

[SLCRich]

Perfect timing for @BackInTheJox comment. I hope this doesn't get me shunned. Two justifications. It's going to be 70 degrees today which is the equivalent of 120 when you've seen 40 the last month. 2) testing out some no show socks. Also, once I can golf again, the cankles will be a bit more tan...(McGregors in oxblood)

 

[Kahuna75]

Quote:

Have those exact Shakers with the Harris Tweed herringbone which I sport with THIS sport coat...a crazy, vintage early forties Harris Tweed that matches it perfectly—LOVE 'EM!

I need some tweed clothing - that is awesome..

 

[peppercorn78]

Perfect timing for @BackInTheJox comment. I hope this doesn't get me shunned. Two justifications. It's going to be 70 degrees today which is the equivalent of 120 when you've seen 40 the last month. 2) testing out some no show socks. Also, once I can golf again, the cankles will be a bit more tan...(McGregors in oxblood)

Sorry, I'm unable to focus on the shoes due to the blinding contrast!

 

[peppercorn78]

Have those exact Shakers with the Harris Tweed herringbone which I sport with THIS sport coat...a crazy, vintage early forties Harris Tweed that matches it perfectly—LOVE 'EM!

I dig that SC and you know I love the boots, but it may be a leeeetle too much herringbone for my eyes. Are the trews textured as well?

 

[Kahuna75]

Quote: I think I have 3 or 4pairs of casual's on Red Dainite so yes it would look good however I am ok on that front. In terms of the Crepe..I can only speak to the darker one that Alden uses and I have worn that pair probably 20 to 30 times and I am a heavy heel striker and it will wear quicker...though honestly I have some Catspaw heels and a Viberg Corded sole heel that are wearing at the same pace.

Mine being dark already I do not notice anything color wise being a problem. They are easy to maintain...every so often I pick off a little rubber ball but that is about it. I have had an aversion to lighter colored soles in the past...I am trying to get over that and recently got a bone colored sole on a Viberg. One thing with Crepe is the comfort..I can see slapping these on for one of those days where I am out and about all day and not stuck behind the desk. One thing that concerns me is the leather toe tap - Aldens is a disaster...so I would be curious to see if AE has improved up on this.

 

[Kahuna75]

@Kahuna75 , after a long break-in of a stubborn footbed hump, my Shakers are pretty comfy. I actually went in to my local store yesterday and tried on the Normandy (and the Cornwallis). The pair I tried on had hardly any of the sanding. I as very impressed with the leather. The SM told me they may come out with non-D width starting in the fall. If I were to buy it now, I'd go with my "current" 5-last size. But I'd be very interested in trying some non-D widths.

Interesting, and possibly alarming, tidbit from my visit. The SM said I was basically a 9.25 'D and a half' (which I've known) - but that my ball to foot was more like a 10-10.25. Eeeeeeek! He thought 9.5C or even 10B might be worth trying. Kind of ironic because I visited the store when it first opened. Had the new SA measure me (I thought 9D, SA thought 8.5 or 9E), tried on a few new styles and ordered in a few sizes they didn't have stocked. When I tried on the new sizes, I just couldn't find one that fit well - and kept mentioning it felt like there was a hump under the ball of my foot (said that about MANY I've tried on). The SM came over to assist, and judging by the fit of the various sizes, said 9D was probably best, though they would have too much volume. He didn't say anything about why they didn't feel good under the ball. I'm wondering now if it's because I need something longer? **And for the record, this is different than the random lumpy footbed issue I've had with my Shakers and other AEs.

I have been fitted by 2 others at different AE store and also worked with Earl at Leeds to narrow in my size on a handful of different models. All came to the conclusion that I am a 9D in most lasts and that due to my foot shape volume will be an issue in many shoes. In effort to control volume I've dropped down in some (Gobi 8.5D, Rogue 8.5E, Kirkwood/Maritime 9B) - but never gone up and narrower. Funny, I mentioned the Shakers - one of only 3 I have in 9.5 and they are one of the best fits now that they broke in completely.

Unfortunately, the store didn't have any non-D sizes for me to try on. The 9D Normandy had too much volume, but the leather was soooooooo soft it didn't pinch and looked like it would crease nicely. The 9.5D felt way too wide. FWIW, the Cornwallis fit best in 9.5D (again, no non-D widths in my sizes). Since I wasn't super interested in the Cornwallis (reserved for a 2nds sale/closeout pickup) and the Normandy doesn't some in non-D widths we didn't pursue other models/fits.

Again, eeeeeeeeek! Has me wondering how many of my close to 30 AEs could fit a lot better in a slightly different size?

I went through something similar when I was about 25 pairs to 30 pairs in(mostly AE)...At that point I had started to expand into other makers and decided that boots were more my thing. What I did was log the exact fit of the last and shoe's in a spreadsheet for reference on size fitting. For shoes I LOVED but hardly wore they stayed...for shoes I wore a lot, I bought replacements in the correct size and sold the originals. For shoes that I liked but rarely wore I tried to find what I enjoyed about them...color, style, sole, versatility etc...then I tried to take three aspects from three different shoes and combine them into one new purchase and sell the other three. For example I had a #8 Shell shortwing bal, a burgundy longwing and a #8 shell shortwing blutcher...none fit perfect and I hardly ever wore the two shortwings( I am a gunboat guy) so I ordered a #8 Shell longwing in the proper size and sold the other three

 

[will82]

 

[will82]

 

[harlequin782]



I think I have 3 or 4pairs of casual's on Red Dainite so yes it would look good however I am ok on that front. In terms of the Crepe..I can only speak to the darker one that Alden uses and I have worn that pair probably 20 to 30 times and I am a heavy heel striker and it will wear quicker...though honestly I have some Catspaw heels and a Viberg Corded sole heel that are wearing at the same pace.

Mine being dark already I do not notice anything color wise being a problem. They are easy to maintain...every so often I pick off a little rubber ball but that is about it. I have had an aversion to lighter colored soles in the past...I am trying to get over that and recently got a bone colored sole on a Viberg. One thing with Crepe is the comfort..I can see slapping these on for one of those days where I am out and about all day and not stuck behind the desk. One thing that concerns me is the leather toe tap - Aldens is a disaster...so I would be curious to see if AE has improved up on this.

Ok then Kahuna...based on your experience with crepe, I'm going to go ahead and pull the trigger on these, thanks for the perspective...plus I notice the crepe part of the sole is pretty thin, so maybe the debris on it wont be quite as visible as it would be on a thicker crepe...my only dilemma now is whether to get them now, or wait to see if they go on sale in the spring sometime...decisions, decisons