$500 to spend on shoes -- brown full brogue monk?

[rdawson808]

Okay, I got a little (very little) award at work for my exceptional work, of course.

Along with some time off I got $500 before taxes. My wife said to me on our way home, "You should buy yourself a pair of shoes with that. (And put the rest in savings.)" I put the second sentence in parentheses because she sort of said it that way--a less than subtle hint to not spend all of it on shoes as we're still in the middle of home renovations and every dime helps.

I'm thinking a pair of AEs, but I'd rather not pay retail for them. While I need black shoes, I tend to wear black more in the fall and winter and prefer browns for summer. So brown (ish) it is. Or even a spectator, though that might be an extravagance.

I wear a pretty standard 9 so don't seem to find any AEs on EBay (grapevinehill, etc.) in what I'm looking for: a brown full brogue like the McLain (which even comes in a spectator). These don't seem to be on EBay except in a AAA width.

A brown full brogue monk would be even better, but AE doesn't make one (though C&J does have the Chalfont which I freaking love, but it's out of my price range).


So, the questions are:

1. Is there a brown full brogue monk in my price range?
2. Is there a good Nordstrom Rack around the DC area (not the Towson one, that place is horrible) that is more likely to have them? The options are: Potomac Mills, Dulles Town Crossing, Gaithersberg, and Towson.
3. Should I go with AS, cheaper C&J, or something like that and just order from Pediwear? My only problem with that is that I really want to try a bunch on first.
4. I see Sky Valet is having an EG trunk show--not a question, just a lament.


EDIT: I just found these Church's that look very nice but are on sale (not seconds as I originally posted). Any thoughts? I could run by the Church's store that's on my way home and see how this last fits.

thanks guys,
bob

 

[AlanC]

Personally, I find brogued monks a little too much. I would rather go with a plain toe monk, or perhaps one with a medallion.

I know, you didn't ask that question. Have fun shoe shopping, though!

 

[stilmacher]

I like the pair of Church's. Treet yourself - you've earned it!

 

[chorse123]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but what about the AE Mora? They're on sale now. I think the suede looks awesome, but it also comes in a brown.

http://www.endless.com/dp/B000H165HE...236737&sr=1-12

 

[pabloj]

I'd go for the Church's

 

[AlanC]

Originally Posted by chorse123

Not exactly what you're looking for, but what about the AE Mora? They're on sale now. I think the suede looks awesome, but it also comes in a brown.

http://www.endless.com/dp/B000H165HE...236737&sr=1-12

I think the Moras are particularly nice in suede as well.

 

[philosophe]

Originally Posted by chorse123

Not exactly what you're looking for, but what about the AE Mora? They're on sale now. I think the suede looks awesome, but it also comes in a brown.

http://www.endless.com/dp/B000H165HE...236737&sr=1-12

+1, and they'd work with the budget. Or buy two!

Like Alan, I think brogued monks are too busy.
Plain toe or medallioned for me (three pairs of Tramezzas in my closet).

 

[zjpj83]

I'd get a shell cordovan Alden

http://www.theshoemart.com/cgi-bin/c...&start=5&rpro=

 

[rdawson808]

With the exchange rate and shipping the Church's will be be 299 and some change. And they are the "custom grade" which seems a good bargain.

There seems to be much debate about whether they're better than AEs or not given the price difference. Anyone want to add to it.

bob

 

[rdawson808]

Hmm, not a fan of the double-monk I have to say.

And those Aldens are pretty, but not brown and too expensive. thanks for the suggestions though, guys.

I realize the full brogue monk is a bit busy, but these aren't for strict business/dress occassions. In particular I'm looking for something to wear with a couple of summer suits I just got. One is a faux-seersucker (don't know what else to call it) from Nautica. It's cream on light light brown--I guess it's sort of a pinstripe. The other is a prince of wales. If need be, I have a pair of plain brown cap-toes.


Philosophe, got a link to your medallioned Tramezzas?


bob

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by chorse123

Not exactly what you're looking for, but what about the AE Mora? They're on sale now. I think the suede looks awesome, but it also comes in a brown.

http://www.endless.com/dp/B000H165HE...236737&sr=1-12

Cosign. They look a lot better in person than they do in the pics.

Originally Posted by zjpj83

I'd get a shell cordovan Alden

http://www.theshoemart.com/cgi-bin/c...&start=5&rpro=

I always see Aldens that I like (the monk, the Chukka) on the net, then I go to the Alden store and I am always dissapointed. They are just to clunky, the lasts are blah and their shoes just seem to be sad. Surprisingly, I like the calfskin models a lot better than the cordovans.

 

[thinman]

Originally Posted by AlanC

Personally, I find brogued monks a little too much. I would rather go with a plain toe monk, or perhaps one with a medallion. I know, you didn't ask that question. Have fun shoe shopping, though!
+1, but I'm not the one who'll be wearing them. Here's another option, from Brooks, so probably made by AS: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...lt_color=Black Brooks also has a double monk spectator in brown and white. Enjoy!

 

[EL72]

These are the Tramezza Merald 2 monks. I'm not crazy about the captoe on a monk but it's probably better than full brogues (less is more on monks imo). If you can find them for < $300, they are great shoes.

Also, I know you didn't want black but these Tramezza Filosofo are your size (though they run narrow) and sold at a great price by a SF member.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Ferragamo-Tr...QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Jared]

Originally Posted by chorse123

Not exactly what you're looking for, but what about the AE Mora? They're on sale now. I think the suede looks awesome, but it also comes in a brown.
Aside: does anyone know if there's a particular reason they've been on sale a lot lately? Are they being discontinued? Can we expect Moras to show up on eBay with increasing regularity?

 

[Tarmac]

I don't think a full brogue monk or even half brogue monk is very useful. From what it sounds like you don't have a lot of shoes, I would just go with a lace up brogue, either derby or oxford. that opens up a lot of choices and you will probably spend less than $200. edit: oops with 1000+ posts Im guessing you do have a lot of shoes already. ignore this comment above