Charles Tyrwhitt shoes quality - worth $125-$135

[mikeynyc]

I stopped by the 7th Ave store the other day and saw that they had some of the shoes on sale that people were snatching up from the website.

My question is, are they worth buying at this price? Meaning without the $100 discount that everyone was using, or should I hold off?

 

[grimslade]

I suspect you'd be hard-pressed to find better shoes, or even shoes as good, in that price range.

 

[lawyerdad]

One nice thing is that you can try them on and get the fit right. Given the rather idiosyncratic sizing of the CT's, many folks (including me) have had difficulty figuring out what size to e-buy. Also, you can inspect them -- I get the impression that many of the shoes we scooped up during the recent sale were, if not actually seconds, at least the "least perfect" of the initial stock (thus, many comments about uneven coloring, flaws in the sole edging, etc.)
Given that, I'd certainly agree with grimslade. If you find a style you like, you'll be getting very good quality/$.

 

[MilanoStyle]

CT calf skin shoes = Loake 1881 lines are pretty good for the value IMO.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by MilanoStyle

CT calf skin shoes = Loake 1881 lines are pretty good for the value IMO.

+1

 

[coachvu]

I'll have to disagree. I ordered a pair of their suede boots. Granted, they did not fit me, but I was very unimpressed with their quality. A few days later, I scored a pair of Polo suede chukkas (made by C&J) for less then $80 from GVH. I know that GVH may not carry a particular shoe you want or that same shoe in your size. Still, I personally would rather wait and spend more money on a better pair of shoes then settle for one that just happens to be on sale.

 

[Sartorially Challenged]

I was disappointed by CT/Loake shoes. The workmanship is not good on the two pairs I ordered and received. Some of the stitching started to come off right away, and the coloring is, indeed, not even.

At $85 a pair, though, I won't complain too loudly. Perhaps if one could hand-pick them at the store, get a good fit and buy at some discount, they could be a good deal, I suppose.

 

[odoreater]

Also, it depends where you are in your shoe collection. If you need a pair of shoes right away (of the type that CT is selling) and don't have a lot of money to spend, then you can do a lot worse than a pair of CT Loakes at that price. However, if you have enough shoes in your rotation that you can wait around for great deals to come, then you might want to pass and wait for something better to come along on ebay, the outlets, or the late summer sale.

I have 3 pairs of CT Loakes (the half brouges in brown and black and the Chelsea boots in brown) and I don't regret getting any of them (at half price). However, lately I've seen a lot of better shoes that I probably would buy instead of the CTs (meaning, those shoes are the same exact style as the CT shoes I bought, so if I bought them now I would be doubling up); however, these shoes are much more expensive. I guess what I'm saying is that if all you are willing to spend on a pair of shoes is $135, then you can do a lot worse and maybe a little better (if you happen to find your size on GVH, for example, which is impossible for me because I wear a wide).

 

[gdl203]

Add my name in the "Extremely-disappointed-with-CT-shoes-even-for-the-price-would-rather-save-and-buy-some-decent-shoes" column

 

[odoreater]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Add my name in the "Extremely-disappointed-with-CT-shoes-even-for-the-price-would-rather-save-and-buy-some-decent-shoes" column

Just curious, what are you comparing CTs at $135 to? I know you have a lot of really nice shoes, and it's not really fair to compare CTs to those shoes. On the other hand, it's completely fair to compare them to, say, C&Js or Moreschis from ebay, which can be had at a similar price.

 

[mikeynyc]

Originally Posted by odoreater

Also, it depends where you are in your shoe collection. If you need a pair of shoes right away (of the type that CT is selling) and don't have a lot of money to spend, then you can do a lot worse than a pair of CT Loakes at that price.
I guess what I'm saying is that if all you are willing to spend on a pair of shoes is $135, then you can do a lot worse and maybe a little better

I liked a few of the pairs there but I'm content waiting for a true value. In anyones opinion, what makers should I be looking for in that range?

 

[odoreater]

Originally Posted by mikeynyc

I liked a few of the pairs there but I'm content waiting for a true value. In anyones opinion, what makers should I be looking for in that range?

In the $135 range?

I think you can get Polo C&Js and Moreschis from GVH for that price, also you may be able to find some Allen Edmonds at places like Nordstrom Rack or online at Sierra Trading Post (with one of the 20% off coupons that's always floating around) near that price range. Other than that, there's not much in that price range that's not truly crappy. If you go up to, say, the $300 range then your options increase tremendously (C&J from Plal/Pediwear, Tramezzas on ebay, AE and Alden at retail prices, Santoni on discount at Nordstrom rack, the list goes on).

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by mikeynyc

I liked a few of the pairs there but I'm content waiting for a true value. In anyones opinion, what makers should I be looking for in that range?

That's the trouble. In that range, there's not a lot to choose from. You could try to hunt some bargains on eBay, but there aren't many bricks and mortar stores that will have nicer shoes for $135. Your best bet would probably be Allen-Edmonds at Nordstrom Rack and the like. But the styling isn't really the same. Depends on what you're after.

After hearing the horror stories here, I was very nervous about my CT order. But I was lucky, I guess, in that my shoes showed none of the defects others have mentioned. (Mine are the calf, not the corrected leather, so I can't speak to those.) I don't know how the CTs will hold up in the long run, but for now I'm happy.

 

[DocHolliday]

Curses, Odor beat me to it. But I'd add that I've had little luck finding GVH C&Js in my size (9.5) for $135. The suede ones go for less, in general, but even those have ended up in the $200 range.

 

[maxnharry]

I just picked up a pair of the calf loafers for $135 and am very happy with what I got. They're not EG or Lobb, but I think a good value on sale. I also have a pair of suede lace ups and brown captoes and am happy with them for the price.