Best oxfords under or around $100

[xkhol]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I tried searching and couldn't find anything. I just got a job and now need some black oxfords, but can't really afford anything significantly over $100 yet. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[1up2down]

Bostonian - Great shoe for $115.00

In my opinion it's a $200.00 shoe..

 

[Bird's One View]

If I seriously needed new shoes at $100 a pair I'd get Bates uniform shoes.

 

[Geoff Gander]

Originally Posted by 1up2down

Bostonian - Great shoe for $115.00 In my opinion it's a $200.00 shoe..
Yikes...corrected grain leather...glued on rubber sole...I know budgets can be tight, but in my honest opinion (having worn Bostonian, Florsheim, and other brands) you're wasting your money. Those shoes will fall apart after about a year of regular wear. Even Loake's L1 line, which is corrected grain but properly leather-soled, would be a better buy for you. You can get a pair online for just under 80 GBP: http://www.pediwear.co.uk/loake/products/1973.php I bought a pair of these when I was still learning the ropes here, and they are basically beaters now. But they have been going strong for almost 5 years of regular wear - no resoling, just the occasional polishing. I wouldn't buy them now, but if you're tight, you could do a hell of a lot worse. Contact Allen Edmonds' Shoe Bank, and you could get yourself a pair of calf leather dress shoes (seconds or discontinued lines) for anywhere from $80-$170. Much, much better product, and you'll enjoy wearing them. Or ask around and you will be surprised at the deals here.

 

[upnorth]

Look for Allen Edmonds thirds.

 

[ESPNHD]

Cole Haan shoes are pretty weak in general, but sometimes they go on sale for like $120. You really should get an extra $50 together and spend a little more, $100 is bottom barrel.

 

[Felix Krull]

Originally Posted by Geoff Gander

Yikes...corrected grain leather...glued on rubber sole...I know budgets can be tight, but in my honest opinion (having worn Bostonian, Florsheim, and other brands) you're wasting your money. Those shoes will fall apart after about a year of regular wear.

Even Loake's L1 line, which is corrected grain but properly leather-soled, would be a better buy for you. You can get a pair online for just under 80 GBP:

http://www.pediwear.co.uk/loake/products/1973.php

I bought a pair of these when I was still learning the ropes here, and they are basically beaters now. But they have been going strong for almost 5 years of regular wear - no resoling, just the occasional polishing. I wouldn't buy them now, but if you're tight, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Contact Allen Edmonds' Shoe Bank, and you could get yourself a pair of calf leather dress shoes (seconds or discontinued lines) for anywhere from $80-$170. Much, much better product, and you'll enjoy wearing them.

Or ask around and you will be surprised at the deals here.

I have to concur with Geoff here, if you really shop around looking for a shrewd deal you can pick up a pair of Allen Edmonds in the price range you're looking for. Or, if you can't come across a deal then do like people used to do long, long ago and save up your money until you have the cash to buy what you want.

Look at buying a pair of shoes as an investment. The return that you get will be value for your money. A pair of AEs will last much longer than a typical pair of cheap $100 shoes. My father always taught me, there are two things you don't skimp on: your bed and your shoes, because you spend almost your entire life in one or the other.

 

[pebblegrain]

dress shoes at sears for $40.

yes they are CG and glued, but so are the $100 recommendations here.

 

[Mudhiker]

My father has a pair of Rockport oxfords that he has been wearing to church every Sunday for at least 5 years. They seem to be holding up okay, though of course wearing the same shoe every day will destroy them because of foot perspiration.

Clarks has a few styles that might be appropriate. The couple pairs I've gone through lately have held up pretty well, though they are not nearly as well constructed as the old Made in England Clarks were. The thing I like about Clarks (found on sale for $50-80) is that for my feet they are super comfortable. (They are basically sneakers that look like dress/casual shoes.)

Even cheap shoes will benefit from a set of cedar shoe trees and a regular cleaning/conditioning/polishing regime. I know that $20 for trees + $15 for wax, conditioner and brushes adds toward your $100, but it will make those shoes last longer and maximize your value.

Pay attention to fit and comfort. Better a "cheap" shoe that fits than a better name on deep discount that doesn't fit but you bought because of the reputation and price.

 

[Troilus]

If you're comfortable with the Buying & Selling forum, you can grab something great there. Refurbished Allen Edmonds are constantly on sale there for under $100.

My under $100 shoe used to be Johnston & Murphy. I still use them for poor weather days.

 

[Newlaw]

You can get decent Florsheim's for $100. Here is a nice looking cap-toe for $82. Calfskin upper and leather sole. http://www.florsheim.com/shop/style/18358.html

For a little more, you can get Florsheims with a goodyear welt and calfskin. These should hold up pretty well.

http://www.6pm.com/product/109018/color/981 ($157)

http://www.workinggear.com/gc/catalo...ITrakid=119184 ($126)

 

[GBer]

Originally Posted by Geoff Gander

Yikes...corrected grain leather...glued on rubber sole...I know budgets can be tight, but in my honest opinion (having worn Bostonian, Florsheim, and other brands) you're wasting your money. Those shoes will fall apart after about a year of regular wear.

Even Loake's L1 line, which is corrected grain but properly leather-soled, would be a better buy for you. You can get a pair online for just under 80 GBP:

http://www.pediwear.co.uk/loake/products/1973.php

I bought a pair of these when I was still learning the ropes here, and they are basically beaters now. But they have been going strong for almost 5 years of regular wear - no resoling, just the occasional polishing. I wouldn't buy them now, but if you're tight, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Contact Allen Edmonds' Shoe Bank, and you could get yourself a pair of calf leather dress shoes (seconds or discontinued lines) for anywhere from $80-$170. Much, much better product, and you'll enjoy wearing them.

Or ask around and you will be surprised at the deals here.

+1 the cheaper glued shoes really do fall apart quickly with regular wear. His recommendation for AE is good. Would also recommend you add more shoes to your "rotation" in the future so they don't all wear out so quickly.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

Originally Posted by Troilus

If you're comfortable with the Buying & Selling forum, you can grab something great there. Refurbished Allen Edmonds are constantly on sale there for under $100.

My under $100 shoe used to be Johnston & Murphy. I still use them for poor weather days.

+1 on Johnston and Murphy. Quality aside, they are the best looking shoe in that range. I was browsing through the new GQ and they had a picture of about 10 different cap toes together. J&M didn't look out of place at all.

 

[Reevolving]

+2 on J&M. Go look on Ebay. If you're ok with something that's been worn a few times, then you can get more than 1 pair for some variety. (eg: wingtip) Look here: http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?US%2520S...526%2520Murphy There's absolutely no reason for a young kid with no money to spend more than $100 on shoes, esp. if you go overstock/lightly used. Particularly in plain black. A $100 pair looks no different than a $500 pair. Focus on your career, and not on pretending you're wealthy. There are many "broke gentlemen" on SF. Don't be one of them.

 

[1up2down]

Originally Posted by Geoff Gander

Yikes...corrected grain leather...glued on rubber sole...I know budgets can be tight, but in my honest opinion (having worn Bostonian, Florsheim, and other brands) you're wasting your money. Those shoes will fall apart after about a year of regular wear.

Even Loake's L1 line, which is corrected grain but properly leather-soled, would be a better buy for you. You can get a pair online for just under 80 GBP:

http://www.pediwear.co.uk/loake/products/1973.php

I bought a pair of these when I was still learning the ropes here, and they are basically beaters now. But they have been going strong for almost 5 years of regular wear - no resoling, just the occasional polishing. I wouldn't buy them now, but if you're tight, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

Contact Allen Edmonds' Shoe Bank, and you could get yourself a pair of calf leather dress shoes (seconds or discontinued lines) for anywhere from $80-$170. Much, much better product, and you'll enjoy wearing them.

Or ask around and you will be surprised at the deals here.

Oops.. Agreed. I posted the wrong pair. There is a pair of Bostonians that do have leather soles. A better she than this model...

I usually only spend a couple hundred on shoes, not "hundreds".. But a while back I needed a quick pair of shoes and bought a pair of Bostonians at Macy's and at the very moment they are being resoled for the second time! The uppers are still in excellent shape. I take care of them and they are great shoe for the money...


However, I must say I like these Pediwear shoes..!