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

[schweezly]

How do people find the Lake Forest to run? For reference:

Randolph- 9.5d is snug everywhere but the instep is brutally low for me. 10d I’m swimming in

Cavanaugh - 9.5d is tight, 10d too loose

Sedona - 9.5 is a perfect fit for me. Suede helps the toe box stretch a little to accommodate toes

I think I tried a patriot in 10d that fit pretty well in the toebox/vamp, little heel slip though

 

[AEShoeMan]

HMs to close out a busy week. Have a good weekend everyone!

 

[gorebug]

what the heck is that on the right side of the bathroom counter?

The property manager has a valet in each of our office's washrooms with various toiletries for complimentary use (hairspray, gel, stain pen etc.).

 

[Rufian]

What other shoes in the AE line up have a similar soft leather and comfort as the 201 last?

I have the Hopkinson and a pair of Park Avenue I'm trying to sell, when I try both shoes one after the other, the difference is night and day, even though the Hopkinson are 11D and the Park are 11.5D. The Hopkinson is so soft and comfortable and when I put on the park, it feels much heavier and constrictive, is not just the fact that is narrower, but the materials inside and outside are just harder on the Parks.

Its a shame they don't make more models and colors in this last. They don't even have a simple medium brown option in any of the 201 last shoes. I wonder how many people wear last 65 that is not ideal for their feet and unbeknownst to them, the last 201, may be the perfect fit.

 

[M2511]

What other shoes in the AE line up have a similar soft leather and comfort as the 201 last?

I have the Hopkinson and a pair of Park Avenue I'm trying to sell, when I try both shoes one after the other, the difference is night and day, even though the Hopkinson are 11D and the Park are 11.5D. The Hopkinson is so soft and comfortable and when I put on the park, it feels much heavier and constrictive, is not just the fact that is narrower, but the materials inside and outside are just harder on the Parks.

Its a shame they don't make more models and colors in this last. They don't even have a simple medium brown option in any of the 201 last shoes. I wonder how many people wear last 65 that is not ideal for their feet and unbeknownst to them, the last 201, may be the perfect fit.

The Bartlett is available in brown and walnut and is another 201 option. Maybe it’s discontinued now idk haven’t checked in a while. Jefferson 2.0 is the same colors as the Hopkinson also 201 last. The other independence options are the Sarasota and Palm Beach. Again might be getting clearanced out I cannot remember they are comfortable but they are not on the 201.

 

[Rufian]

The Bartlett is available in brown and walnut and is another 201 option. Maybe it’s discontinued now idk haven’t checked in a while. Jefferson 2.0 is the same colors as the Hopkinson also 201 last. The other independence options are the Sarasota and Palm Beach. Again might be getting clearanced out I cannot remember they are comfortable but they are not on the 201.

Yeah I know of those shoes, that’s why asked if there is another last that comes with similar leather as the 201. If you go to explore and last 201, you’ll see all the shoes, there isn’t a brown option in any of them.

It’s mostly just black or walnut.

Barlett is basically a Hopkinson with broguing. Barlett has too much broguing for my taste lol

 

[savvysartorial]

Out and about tonight with some nice blue suede tankers

Spoiler: Grant Stone goodies

 

[M2511]

Yeah I know of those shoes, that’s why asked if there is another last that comes with similar leather as the 201. If you go to explore and last 201, you’ll see all the shoes, there isn’t a brown option in any of them.

It’s mostly just black or walnut.

Barlett is basically a Hopkinson with broguing. Barlett has too much broguing for my taste lol

Must be phased out but the Bartlett was available in brown. It’s a 201 strand. The loafers I mentioned are softer and then you can go back to the old Indy line although you’d be hard pressed to find them: Jefferson 1.0, Rutledge, Williams, Harrison, and a loafer I can’t remember right now.

 

[Shoenut]

Out for a little holiday cheer with the Rudolph.

Spoiler: Not the usual establishment

There is a story here.

 

[Rufian]

Must be phased out but the Bartlett was available in brown. It’s a 201 strand. The loafers I mentioned are softer and then you can go back to the old Indy line although you’d be hard pressed to find them: Jefferson 1.0, Rutledge, Williams, Harrison, and a loafer I can’t remember right now.

that Harrison looks very similar to Hopkinson lol

 

[tcbinnc]

What other shoes in the AE line up have a similar soft leather and comfort as the 201 last?

I have the Hopkinson and a pair of Park Avenue I'm trying to sell, when I try both shoes one after the other, the difference is night and day, even though the Hopkinson are 11D and the Park are 11.5D. The Hopkinson is so soft and comfortable and when I put on the park, it feels much heavier and constrictive, is not just the fact that is narrower, but the materials inside and outside are just harder on the Parks.
It's a shame they don't make more models and colors in this last. They don't even have a simple medium brown option in any of the 201 last shoes. I wonder how many people wear last 65 that is not ideal for their feet and unbeknownst to them, the last 201, may be the perfect fit.

Well, being a 3E with a high instep, the 201 is supposed to be a better fit. And though that may be true insofar as the additional instep volume is concerned, for me anyway there are cons to the 201 as well. One is, with all it's depth I felt like I was stepping into a hole and that my feet were more wrapped than sitting in a pair of shoes. Secondly, I felt there was less sole between me and the floor and less structural support, both the opposite of what I prefer.

When comparing the 201 to the 65 you also have to take into account there is a meaningful difference in price which I liken to the difference between a supermarket steak and the same cut that's aged 30 days. With the 65, you have to "age" it aka break it in yourself or else pay more for the benefits upfront. True, the PA may never break in enough to equal the Independence line's particular feel but not everyone wants to pay that much up front for a pair of shoes, either.

And so, some end up going to "other" makers and find shoes that are comfortable out of the box at an equal or even better price. The thing of it is, while AE's improve over time, those shoes degrade with each step. So the question becomes, in which direction does one want their shoes, and money, to go? In that regard, they are not equal.

Could, as you suggest, AE try a 201 last with more PA-like leathers and materials? That may not be a bad idea as it may bridge the gap for those who don't quite fit the 65 but want to stay at a certain price point. You could work it the other way too (65 last with higher-end soles and leathers), but I don't know, with all the experimentation I've seen AE admirably perform in just the past year I've known of them, and read about for years preceding, I doubt that they haven't already given the above scenarios some consideration.

As far as "medium brown" goes, they currently don't seem to have much if any of that available in other lasts either. Unless maybe it's shell. But if you look at some of the old AE catalogues, good ol' basic brown appeared to be a dominant color. And like you, I wouldn't mind seeing at least a bit of it come around again as in fact it is currently a "hole" in my collection. Who'd a thought. lol.

 

[tcbinnc]

Out for a little holiday cheer with the Rudolph.
View attachment 1298326

Rudolph!!

 

[jet-stream]

BG1A:

 

[audog]

BG1A:
View attachment 1298348

I have always found the FA to have just a great shape/line. Nice looking boots, good with everything from jeans to chinos.

 

[VeritasAequitas]

So I put the Randolphs back on and I’m wearing them around the living room. I’m not sure how a loafer would fit any better. It’s a little snug around the ball of my foot but about perfect when factoring in some break-in. There’s a very small amount of heel slip every other step or so. I read in a few other places that that’s normal with loafers and goes away after they’re broken in. That’s really my only fit concern at this point. What do you guys think?