Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread 2019 - News, Pictures, Clothing, Accessories, etc.

[Shoenut]

Potentially Stupid Question Alert: I can't use the same brush for dusting as well as polishing?

I like to keep my dust brush as free of polish as possible. No matter what the dust brush will pick up wax.

 

[EZB]

All of this talk of Eagle Counties inspired me to wear mine today with my khaki stretch jeans. I was not aware of the advances in jean technology, I stopped following jeans in the late 1980's, just after stonewashing was introduced LOL. I've WORN jeans ever since, but whenever I needed a new pair, I'd just grab some Levis or Carhartts, whatever was cheaper. Never really gave jeans much thought, so long as they were blue-ish and made of denim, that was all I needed to know.

But my kids have been wearing jeans a lot lately now that they are in high school, at a school which does not require kids to wear uniforms. I do most of our laundry and noticed that all all of their jeans felt weird. Stretchy. So when I needed some new jeans, I decided to give the stretchy kind a try. Honestly - they are fantastic. They fit well enough (these aren't super tight skinny jeans, just stretchy) and they're super comfortable. Probably not super durable, but more than adequate for city wear. Also, I've never had jeans in khaki before, I've seen people wearing them but never owned any myself. Again, they are fantastic. I can wear all of my casual AE's with them. Looking forward to more stretchy jeans.

View attachment 1278897

Did they wear uniforms before?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Did they wear uniforms before?

Yes, Catholic school K-8, then Episcopal / mostly nonsectarian high school.

 

[EZB]

Yes, Catholic school K-8, then Episcopal / mostly nonsectarian high school.

That would make it easy to choose clothes for the day. My son would never stand for it. He doesn't like wearing matching socks.

 

[tcbinnc]

Upon my arrival home tonight, just as Fedex had texted, I was greeted by a package by the door. Great! My new Viccel socks arrived, I thought. But why the large box for just one pair? Looks like a shoe box, too, in fact. I didn't order any shoes, did I? Nooo. Oh wait, this must be my AE MacNeils back from re-craft, with nary a mention by AE they had even been received, much less worked upon. Oh, so what, just a formality anyway, all that texting and emailing on the interwebs business.

So here they are below, in "before" and "after" poses of course. But I will first start off with my personal assessment, by saying, a. the turnaround time was very quick, like about two weeks. b. your mileage may vary, but any re-crafting "fears" I've read being expressed here recently did not materialize in the form of my own result or experience. No tighter fit. No swiss cheesed leather (though pre-owned, this was a first re-craft for this pair, I'm pretty sure). No mis-matched heels. No damage. At all. In fact, the (only) two areas of damage I expected to remain, have all but disappeared. One, a shallow .25" strafe on the left shoe's eyelet keeper is now about gone. I had to look very closely to find it again. And the other, a .50" hole in the lining where a seam (not unusually) gave way and separated, is now nicely pulled back together. Not restitched but back firmly in place, glued most likely and still more than I expected. Thank you to my SA for asking them to take a look at that.

Beyond that, with no other pre-existing maladies to survey, the good stuff about a full re-craft was on full display. JR soles? Check ✔. Leather/rubber heel combo? (and attached with nicely recessed cobbler's nails). Check. ✔ A nice neat , clean and uniform stitching job all the way 'round both shoes? Check. Check. ✔ ✔ Even nice new laces? Check. ✔ How 'bout the cordovan shell leather? (it had looked pretty tired, dull and even scaly in spots- not damaged but just worn out before its time). Looking much better now, thank you, more alive and with a deeper patina - plus much more respondent to a brushing (sans wax or polish) - that is turning now to a Glow! Oh, annnnd Check. ✔

So am I satisfied? You betcha'. A little elated even, and proud (especially of AE) as this was my first and somewhat hand-wringing foray into the world of purchasing used shoes online, much less then sending them in for a re-craft. And I might add, with a little supervisory encouragement by @smfdoc, too. Thanks again, doc.
"Yeah fine, but what about total cost?", you may ask. Initially $110 plus about $135 for the re-craft which included shipping both ways and with said re-craft completed in a matter of about two weeks. Sorry (not sorry) if it held up anyone's TS'19 2.0 order(s), btw. ? Which I doubt that it did. Why?
After all, mine traveled in/out through an old rusty mail slot in a chipped green door by the dumpster around back of PW HQ, while all Yours, oh yours, traveled on a spiraling cloud of pixie dust through a golden anti-gravity frictionless chute (lined in kudu) whereupon each pair landed on purple velvet pillows perched atop the heads of dancing leprechauns (both male and female as AE is eoe compliant) and spirited to your door by a team of flying unicorns wearing mauve tuxedos and merlot Strands. And all the while you thought it was FedEx. Ha!
One more bourbon, please.

Here they are "before", a little dull and lifeless but by no means dead (and the brushing I tried did little to help)....

And now "after", looking far more lively, and attractive (imho)..

Ohhh, Sole-O-Miiiooo..

and one more shot, this time after a good five minute dry brushing to only the shoe on your right. Just imagine another ten!..

If anyone wants questions answered or pics of more specific areas, just let me know.

 

[tcbinnc]

Sorry, double post.

 

[vdubiv]

Well yeah sure, except for the assertion they have nothing to do with each other. I know special makeups etc..etc... I understand the two purchases are two different things. Sure, they are separate things, but it’s all AE; and as I have seen from some of the screen shots posted. They are collecting crazy amounts of data about me, and what I’ve purchased from them. it would seem they are very likely tracking it. I was simply saying that it’s interesting to me, they’ve got all this data. But no way to channel that data back to me in a meaningful way that integrates me in that buying process at the one point I am able to interact with AE. I’m not saying the glorious AE is bad or anything. I’m sure there are many reasons why that info isn’t available to me the consumer. I just found it interesting is all.

What I find interesting is this, I read on here that you guys get magazines from AE, and they come with coupon codes for money off purchases. I'm not saying I'm some super collector like most people on here, and I can't justify paying for shell at the moment, when I can pay for an entire vacation here in Europe for the same amount as a pair of shoes/boots. However, I have purchased 6 pairs of shoes, 6 shoe trees, 1 belt, brushes, and creams, all since around Fathers Day this year, and I've yet to receive a magazine or get a coupon code e-mailed to me or anything.

 

[vdubiv]

Upon my arrival home tonight, just as Fedex had texted, I was greeted by a package by the door. Great! My new Viccel socks arrived, I thought. But why the large box for just one pair? Looks like a shoe box, too, in fact. I didn't order any shoes, did I? Nooo. Oh wait, this must be my AE MacNeils back from re-craft, with nary a mention by AE they had even been received, much less worked upon. Oh, so what, just a formality anyway, all that texting and emailing on the interwebs business.

So here they are below, in "before" and "after" poses of course. But I will first start off with my personal assessment, by saying, a. the turnaround time was very quick, like about two weeks. b. your mileage may vary, but any re-crafting "fears" I've read being expressed here recently did not materialize in the form of my own result or experience. No tighter fit. No swiss cheesed leather (though pre-owned, this was a first re-craft for this pair, I'm pretty sure). No mis-matched heels. No damage. At all. In fact, the (only) two areas of damage I expected to remain, have all but disappeared. One, a shallow .25" strafe on the left shoe's eyelet keeper is now about gone. I had to look very closely to find it again. And the other, a .50" hole in the lining where a seam (not unusually) gave way and separated, is now nicely pulled back together. Not restitched but back firmly in place, glued most likely and still more than I expected. Thank you to my SA for asking them to take a look at that.

Beyond that, with no other pre-existing maladies to survey, the good stuff about a full re-craft was on full display. JR soles? Check ✔. Leather/rubber heel combo? (and attached with nicely recessed cobbler's nails). Check. ✔ A nice neat , clean and uniform stitching job all the way 'round both shoes? Check. Check. ✔ ✔ Even nice new laces? Check. ✔ How 'bout the cordovan shell leather? (it had looked pretty tired, dull and even scaly in spots- not damaged but just worn out before its time). Looking much better now, thank you, more alive and with a deeper patina - plus much more respondent to a brushing (sans wax or polish) - that is turning now to a Glow! Oh, annnnd Check. ✔

So am I satisfied? You betcha'. A little elated even, and proud (especially of AE) as this was my first and somewhat hand-wringing foray into the world of purchasing used shoes online, much less then sending them in for a re-craft. And I might add, with a little supervisory encouragement by @smfdoc, too. Thanks again, doc.
"Yeah fine, but what about total cost?", you may ask. Initially $110 plus about $135 for the re-craft which included shipping both ways and with said re-craft completed in a matter of about two weeks. Sorry (not sorry) if it held up anyone's TS'19 2.0 order(s), btw. ? Which I doubt that it did. Why?
After all, mine traveled in/out through an old rusty mail slot in a chipped green door by the dumpster around back of PW HQ, while all Yours, oh yours, traveled on a spiraling cloud of pixie dust through a golden anti-gravity frictionless chute (lined in kudu) whereupon each pair landed on purple velvet pillows perched atop the heads of dancing leprechauns (both male and female as AE is eoe compliant) and spirited to your door by a team of flying unicorns wearing mauve tuxedos and merlot Strands. And all the while you thought it was FedEx. Ha!
One more bourbon, please.

Here they are "before", a little dull and lifeless but by no means dead (and the brushing I tried did little to help).... View attachment 1278947

And now "after", looking far more lively, and attractive (imho)..
View attachment 1278967
Ohhh, Sole-O-Miiiooo.. View attachment 1278968
View attachment 1278969
and one more shot, this time after a good five minute dry brushing to only the shoe on your right. Just imagine another ten!.. View attachment 1278972

If anyone wants questions answered or pics of more specific areas, just let me know.

Man these look good congratulations! I have a question for you, because I feel weird about buying used shoes.

How are the foot beds before and after? Are the worn into the shape of the previous owners feet? Did the recraft affect this at all?

I just wonder this because worn out shoes, or one's that do not fit right can cause all sorts of knee, back, leg pain ect.

End of the day those are amazing shell shoes for a fraction of the price!!!

 

[ProfilaBinding]

Well, there are a few times of the year when shell (seconds) can be bought for under $300 or slightly over. It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen. Shell is a lot of fun to wear, but I overall find calf more comfortable.

 

[vdubiv]

Well, there are a few times of the year when shell (seconds) can be bought for under $300 or slightly over. It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen. Shell is a lot of fun to wear, but I overall find calf more comfortable.

I would like to purchase at lease one pair of shell, just to be in the club. They appear to be stiff to me looking at pictures. I have seen some decent prices in the few months I've been following AE, when sales pop up, though the best deals are to be had on shoes, and I think I'd rather have a pair of shell boots.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

I would like to purchase at lease one pair of shell, just to be in the club. They appear to be stiff to me looking at pictures. I have seen some decent prices in the few months I've been following AE, when sales pop up, though the best deals are to be had on shoes, and I think I'd rather have a pair of shell boots.

It does feel stiff at first, but it will gradually soften and molds really well. It also has a thicker, sturdier feel as you might expect, kind of like cxl. I find shell a little uncomfortable for the first 2 or 3 wears, and then it fits great after that. Shell is also warmer, so it's less ideal in the summer.

 

[vdubiv]

It does feel stiff at first, but it will gradually soften and molds really well. It also has a thicker, sturdier feel as you might expect, kind of like cxl. I find shell a little uncomfortable for the first 2 or 3 wears, and then it fits great after that. Shell is also warmer, so it's less ideal in the summer.

These are all reason I believe shell is a perfect candidate for boots.

On a side note AE has an Extra 20% off on select items.

 

[audog]

What I find interesting is this, I read on here that you guys get magazines from AE, and they come with coupon codes for money off purchases. I'm not saying I'm some super collector like most people on here, and I can't justify paying for shell at the moment, when I can pay for an entire vacation here in Europe for the same amount as a pair of shoes/boots. However, I have purchased 6 pairs of shoes, 6 shoe trees, 1 belt, brushes, and creams, all since around Fathers Day this year, and I've yet to receive a magazine or get a coupon code e-mailed to me or anything.

FWIW, my catalogs never seem to come from the "mother ship" but from a retail store I have purchased from in the past, and not the main store in Milwaukee, but a smaller store in Indianapolis.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

What I find interesting is this, I read on here that you guys get magazines from AE, and they come with coupon codes for money off purchases. I'm not saying I'm some super collector like most people on here, and I can't justify paying for shell at the moment, when I can pay for an entire vacation here in Europe for the same amount as a pair of shoes/boots. However, I have purchased 6 pairs of shoes, 6 shoe trees, 1 belt, brushes, and creams, all since around Fathers Day this year, and I've yet to receive a magazine or get a coupon code e-mailed to me or anything.

You're not alone. I am a pretty typical SF member, in that, I've got @35 pairs of AE's, but I generally don't get the catalogs, either. There's probably some sort of holiday catalog out right now, but I never got it. I don't know how AE decides to send them out but I always seem to get overlooked, too.

 

[Shoenut]

Going with Tupelo today. This shoe should not fit in this size but it does. Big believer in if the shoe fits....