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

[cc808314]

MacNeils today in #8 shell cordovan. Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[JLC2]

I know all about pinky knuckle pain. Broadly as well as specific to the 5 last. IMO, if you're a 9.5D on a Brannock, here's what you should have done: Bought the shoe in 9.5E, since the 5 last runs a little narrow. Then purchased one of these:


The black plastic pieces come in different sizes/shapes and go into the holes in the wooden body of the stretcher. Find one about the size and shape of your pinky toe and put it into the hole nearest where your pinky toe would make contact with the shoe, then insert the stretcher into the shoe and crank the ever living **** out of it. Let it sit overnight. Then enjoy your shoes.

The reality is if you have a hammer toe or something else that causes your pinky toe to jut out, then going up a width or two or three is just going to leave you with a shoe that is loose everywhere except where you need it to be. Spot stretching solves this problem.

I actually have one of those stretchers, but have never had success with it. The 9.5E and D both had significant heel slippage and the 9E had the ball of my foot back a bit from the widest part of the shoe. Oddly, I think 8.5 is correct. It's most likely my feet aren't perfectly suited for the 5 last - but all the best styles are on that last!

 

[cc808314]



Super casual Friday with Kirks and light denim. For those keeping score at home, these (and their sister Maritime) are the same size as my 5-last - though I have at least one pair where I dropped down from D to B, in attempt to control volume. Both the Kirks and Maris are slightly longer and wider than the DR-made Sea Islands (I would have had to size up); still waiting on the, hopefully US-made, pair coming from Nordy's.

Spoiler: My daily @dapkicks pic:

The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.

 

[JLC2]

Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting.

The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe.

I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot?

 

[cc808314]



Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting. The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe. I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot? [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR] [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR] [COLOR=A74345] [/COLOR]

Have you played with different widths in 8?

 

[M2511]

Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting.

The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe.

I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot?

If they feel good then they are right for you. You could try 8EEE but based on where your toe sits I think it may be too small. You could try 2E if they are feeling loose otherwise you are good to go.

 

[namgungh]

Here's a couple of pictures of how the Strands in 8.5EEE are fitting.

The left feels pretty good, I'm a little concerned that the right lacing is fully closed right out of the box. The pencil shows where my toe and ball are sitting in the shoe.

I really want to make these work! I tried a PA in 8.5E and my 3 smallest toes touched the edge of the toe box, maybe 8.5EE would be the sweet spot?

My feet is very similar to urs,

- I tried PA 8D and I thought my pinky toes on right foot were getting killed.
- I got PA 8E, which was still uncomfortable but after a long period of wear, the pair is fine but still soars those pinky & side of foot if worn for one whole day,
- I tried PA 8.5D, the heel slips a bit due to longer length but width/pinky toes were comfortable right away, I need to lace the shoe like your picture to avoid slipperage (i.e. no gap)


My thought was to try 8EE or 8EEE, but my concern is that 8E already has some bowing effect which will just get worse.

At the end, I kept my 8E for in-office only, and decided 5 last isn't perfect shoe for my feet.

Let me know how it goes for you!

 

[JLC2]

They're giving me some grief over trying to return the defective McAllisters. They want me to pay shipping both ways.....which completely removes anything I saved in the sale. Which is exactly why I asked them to look them over before shipping them out. That eyelet gouge is pretty obvious!

 

[aero25]



Super casual Friday with Kirks and light denim. For those keeping score at home, these (and their sister Maritime) are the same size as my 5-last - though I have at least one pair where I dropped down from D to B, in attempt to control volume. Both the Kirks and Maris are slightly longer and wider than the DR-made Sea Islands (I would have had to size up); still waiting on the, hopefully US-made, pair coming from Nordy's.

Spoiler: My daily @dapkicks pic:

I like these more every time I see them!

 

[aero25]



The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.

Post pics of the olive, please. I'd love to see them. I was so on the fence with those.

 

[M2511]

They're giving me some grief over trying to return the defective McAllisters. They want me to pay shipping both ways.....which completely removes anything I saved in the sale. Which is exactly why I asked them to look them over before shipping them out. That eyelet gouge is pretty obvious!

You need to call someone else or deal with a different rep because that is absurd. I would seriously consider walking away from them returned for $0 charged. Did you get them from the May sale? I can't remember if you said that or not but if you did ask them to honor the current Merlot sale for another $50 credit, they did for me. I'm still waiting for an undamaged pair though....

 

[middlepP]

The Kirks are looking great. They definately run longer than the Sea Island. By the way, I received the olive Sea Island from NR and the color looks great. They look to be firsts (I couldn't find anything) and come with the shoe bags. Unfortunately, I didn't look where they were made.

Thanks! I really love the look of the Kirks. Have them in brown, navy and red. Though, the leather overlay has pulled completely off in my navy pair (already sent two pairs back for this, one was like that before I even tried them on) and the right sole on the red pair has seemed to "bottom out" after about a month of using them as my house shoes. Oh well. At this point, I will self-remedy with gorilla glue and a thin insole or sock insert.

My SIs should be waiting for me when I get home. I'll be checking their origination as soon as they are unboxed. Fingers crossed for 1) decent fit and then 2) USA!

 

[RTD1]

They're giving me some grief over trying to return the defective McAllisters. They want me to pay shipping both ways.....which completely removes anything I saved in the sale. Which is exactly why I asked them to look them over before shipping them out. That eyelet gouge is pretty obvious!

You don't need to talk to anyone before returning AE shoes, nor do you pay for shipping. In the receipt they emailed you there should be a link for returns. Click it. It will take you to a website where you print out a prepaid UPS return shipping label and a form that asks you why you're returning them (wrong size, defect, etc,) and whether you want a refund or exchange. Stick the form inside the box, slap the label on the box, and either drop it off at UPS or have UPS pick it up. Easy peasy.

 

[JLC2]

Have you played with different widths in 8?

I tried a PA in 8EEE and my smallest 3 toes were touching the edge of the toebox, I think that would be a problem over time.

Quote:

I did get them for the May sale, and they honored the additional 50 off, which was great. Although it's a great price, it was the price for firsts and these would definitely qualify as seconds.

You don't need to talk to anyone before returning AE shoes, nor do you pay for shipping. In the receipt they emailed you there should be a link for returns. Click it. It will take you to a website where you print out a prepaid UPS return shipping label and a form that asks you why you're returning them (wrong size, defect, etc,) and whether you want a refund or exchange. Stick the form inside the box, slap the label on the box, and either drop it off at UPS or have UPS pick it up. Easy peasy.

The problem is that I'm in Canada. I don't understand why companies will ship both way anywhere in the US for free, but charge high rates to closer locations in Canada. Since there is no tax or duty on these, it shouldn't be that complicated - especially since they are preferred shipper with both UPS and FedEx. They get WAY better shipping rates than I can get as independent person.

 

[SLCRich]



"Dem ain't shell... but its off the hook."

On a serious note, I was set on burnished brown, but these have me considering black calf

Haha. Glad someone got that reference. The black has grown on me with this chukka for sure. I haven't seen it in person, but I think the brown grain would look awesome too