Allen Edmonds shoe question

[suginami]

I just purchased a shoe called Powell from Allen Edmonds.

I was looking for a black lace-up, versatile business casual / dress shoe, one that I could wear with jeans or chino pants with a blazer while traveling on an airplane on business, and then be able to wear with slacks and a blazer, or even a business suit for business meetings.

The Powell is in their Executive Collection.

I am curious if you think these shoes will work for what I plan on wearing with them: from Jeans / chino pants to slacks with a blazer or a suit.

Here is a picture.

 

[GBear]

Not of a fan of those with jeans. Brown, perhaps.

I don't really like the style either.

 

[runner-guy]

Originally Posted by suginami

I just purchased a shoe called Powell from Allen Edmonds. I was looking for a black lace-up, versatile business casual / dress shoe, one that I could wear with jeans or chino pants with a blazer while traveling on an airplane on business, and then be able to wear with slacks and a blazer, or even a business suit for business meetings. The Powell is in their Executive Collection. I am curious if you think these shoes will work for what I plan on wearing with them: from Jeans / chino pants to slacks with a blazer or a suit. Here is a picture.
I'm not crazy about the toe design on those, but if you like them go for it. With a suit I think they look less formal than a balmoral, but they will probably still be nicer than what 95% of other men wear with their suits.

 

[acridsheep]

Despite years of trying, I've never been able to pull off any kind of black shoe with either denim or chinos.

I've given up.

 

[reidrothchild]

If you're looking for versatile, black is not the way to go. Dark brown or, preferrably, burgundy can be dressed up and looks better than black dressed down. The Powell is a fairly casual looking shoe though. Heck, plenty of people wear black loafers, which seems like a contradiction to me, so I guess if you're accustomed to wearing black shoes casually, these will be fine.

 

[TheWGP]

Looking at those just makes me think about the Leisure Handsewn... a lot. Did I mention, a lot?

That's a penny loafer.

Seriously, listen to the advice of essentially everyone: get brown or burgundy if you want casual versatile. That said, nobody is going to give you any flack, at least in the real world, about shoe color, or even style, unless you wear clown shoes or something like that. Do what you want but it all depends on what you're trying to go for.

 

[reidrothchild]

Originally Posted by TheWGP

Looking at those just makes me think about the Leisure Handsewn... a lot. Did I mention, a lot?

That's a penny loafer.

Seriously, listen to the advice of essentially everyone: get brown or burgundy if you want casual versatile. That said, nobody is going to give you any flack, at least in the real world, about shoe color, or even style, unless you wear clown shoes or something like that. Do what you want but it all depends on what you're trying to go for.

+1. There should be a disclaimer with every piece of advice given on SF to the effect that the effort and money expended on better shoes or clothes is for your sole benefit; outside the confines of SF alternate reality, people won't notice any difference between Bostonians and AEs, black or brown. They just see guys in suits and ties.

 

[suginami]

I appreciate everyone's input, and I understand how everyone prefers brown or burgundy shoes with jeans or chino's. Every pair of shoes I own are either brown or burgundy, which is why I was looking for black. The shoes I wear most frequently are: -Allen Edmonds Sanford in burgundy (cap toe blucher with medalion), similar to Parliament -Allen Edmonds Wilburt in brown (wear with jeans or chinos only) -Allen Edmonds Perry - cap toe blucher, dress / casual. The Perry are the shoes that have the perfect style for me. I wear them frequently with jeans and a blazer on an airplane, and can wear them with a suit or dress slacks and a dress shirt. My problem is that my wife is always telling me that the brown doesn't match with gray slacks (light gray or charcoal bray) or navy slacks. ...which is why I was looking for a black lace-up dress casual to wear with grays / charcoals, black houndstooth, and navy slacks. Unfortunately, Allen Edmonds discontinued the Perry shoes several years ago. Does anybody here wear brown oxfords with grays / navy slacks? which style Allend Edmonds black lace up shoe do you all recommend for dress casual? The pictures left to right are: Wilbert, Perry, Sanford.

 

[GBear]

Originally Posted by reidrothchild

+1. There should be a disclaimer with every piece of advice given on SF to the effect that the effort and money expended on better shoes or clothes is for your sole benefit; outside the confines of SF alternate reality, people won't notice any difference between Bostonians and AEs, black or brown. They just see guys in suits and ties.
That's a knee slapper. I don't see why brown doesn't match gray or navy slacks...don't they match best with grey or navy slacks? Women only know men's style and fashion to a certain extent.

 

[reidrothchild]

Do not listen to your wife. The Perry and Sanford in brown and burgundy would both look good with navy or gray slacks. In fact, they both look a little dressier to me than the Powells you posted.

 

[suginami]

Originally Posted by GBear

That's a knee slapper.

Yeah, I caught the "sole benefit" double entendre.

What do you guys think of the Van Ness compared to the Powell?

 

[GBear]

Amazing looking shoe. I have a pair of Clifton and love them. You will not be disappointed with those. I would go for a leather bottomed shoe though.

 

[RangerP]

Originally Posted by suginami

The Perry are the shoes that have the perfect style for me. I wear them frequently with jeans and a blazer on an airplane, and can wear them with a suit or dress slacks and a dress shirt.

Keep doing this. The Perry in the picture definitely matches navy and any type of grey trousers.

Originally Posted by suginami

My problem is that my wife is always telling me that the brown doesn't match with gray slacks (light gray or charcoal bray) or navy slacks

Eliminate her!

On a more serious note, she is definitely wrong. Don't listen to women for fashion advice.

Originally Posted by suginami

...which is why I was looking for a black lace-up dress casual to wear with grays / charcoals, black houndstooth, and navy slacks.

A black shoe is more formal in my opinion so I don't ever wear them with business casual. I'm not saying it can't be done but I just prefer not to.

I wouldn't wear the brown shoes you mention with black trousers. I probably wouldn't wear black trousers for business casual though(I don't own a pair).

The Sanford you posted looks burgundy...so wear those with your black trousers. You can also wear those with your navy and grey trousers.

Good luck!

 

[reidrothchild]

I like the Van Ness better than the Powell. Cliftons are awesome too. They were on sale super cheap recently in walnut, but I've already got two pairs of walnut shoes.

 

[suginami]

Originally Posted by GBear

Amazing looking shoe. I have a pair of Clifton and love them. You will not be disappointed with those. I would go for a leather bottomed shoe though.

I've noticed that Allen Edmonds doesn't sell the Clifton on their website. I saw them at Nordstrom's today. They must be a Nordstrom exclusive shoe. In fact, the Clifton is similar to my Sanford's, but without the medallion on the cap toe. The Clifton looks like the Van Ness, but it is a blucher, whereas the Van Ness is a balmoral, which makes the Van Ness a little dressier....