Why buy very high quality BLACK dress shoes?

heidegger · Apr 10, 2012

I don't own any shoes better than Allen Edmonds but am thinking about moving up to Edward Green level. It seems that one advantage of shoes in this price range in the patina of the leather, but getting black shoes (although useful for me) would seem negate this advantage? Allen Edmonds already can last a long time and be resoled so what would the advantage of very high quality black shoes be - the shape of the last, knowing you have very well made shoes, or what?

SpooPoker · Apr 10, 2012

If this question is being asked, I would strongly consider taking baby steps up the ladder to Edward Green.

heidegger · Apr 10, 2012

What baby steps would you recommend?

Liquidus · Apr 10, 2012

You need to read more on this forum.

SpooPoker · Apr 10, 2012

heidegger said:
What baby steps would you recommend?

Crockett & Jones, Carmina, etc.

454Casull · Apr 10, 2012

Are you happy with your black AEs? If yes, end of discussion.

cbbuff · Apr 10, 2012

SpooPoker said:
Crockett & Jones, Carmina, etc.

+1.

Or save yourself the time/cost of this step and go straight to EG. You'll understand it out when you get there. Either way.

JLibourel · Apr 10, 2012

heidegger said:
I don't own any shoes better than Allen Edmonds but am thinking about moving up to Edward Green level. It seems that one advantage of shoes in this price range in the patina of the leather, but getting black shoes (although useful for me) would seem negate this advantage? Allen Edmonds already can last a long time and be resoled so what would the advantage of very high quality black shoes be - the shape of the last, knowing you have very well made shoes, or what?

Or you could just get some brown A-Es and let an honest patina develop through use and multiple polishings.

Sator once posted an interesting comparison between a pair of A-E Park Avenues and their EG counterparts. I think most unbiased observers would have concluded there really wasn't much difference between them, certainly not enough to warrant the huge price differential.

maxnharry · Apr 10, 2012

^This

Edward Green makes a fantastic shoe, but the differences between them and AE arent directly proportional to the price difference. I would second you taking a look at Crockett and Jones or Grenson as an intermediate step.

asturiano · Apr 11, 2012

maxnharry said:
^This
Edward Green makes a fantastic shoe, but the differences between them and AE arent directly proportional to the price difference. I would second you taking a look at Crockett and Jones or Grenson as an intermediate step.

Why Grenson? I would personally put C&J and Trickers or Cheaney (Imperial range)

add911_11 · Apr 11, 2012

Better shoes has better polish, thicker leather, softer wearing

You simply can't save money for this

p.s. for black dress shoes, you might work in court so that will be a necessity

bauerbach · Apr 11, 2012

just bought a alden black calfskin balmoral captoe. my own motives... American made, hand crafted inhouse with certain production standards. not to say alden are the only shoes which meet those criteria, but they are among the top of what I saw.

cbbuff · Apr 11, 2012

I have Alden captoes that I really like, but they just don't compare style-wise with my C&Js, let alone my EGs.

Quadcammer · Apr 11, 2012

I agree completely. Black shoes above a certain point (say C&J benchgrade) offer ZERO additional value to me, so I just don't buy them.

As someone mentioned, if you're happy with Allen Edmonds, why bother getting a more expensive shoe?

lee_44106 · Apr 11, 2012

I approach the issue like the tuxedo. Why buy when you can rent?

Might as well get the very best for those items that are certainly seldom used.

Therefore my first bespoke purchase was plain black captoe

Why buy very high quality BLACK dress shoes?

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