dress shoes for first job

[intfxdx]

I will start to work in a bank in two weeks and look for my first dress shoes. I can't decide which style to go. Until now i was mostly wearing chinos so my pov is biased for rounded last shoes as for sportswear they are better than non rounded or elongated lasts.
I wanted to have your advices, which brand and which model ? I just looked at CJ Westfield model, they seem nice but i am not sure if they will be good with suits. some nice shots from here

http://ethandesu.blogspot.com/2010/0...westfield.html

If i buy a CJ, i will buy on pediwear. and costs 300 GBP. On the other hand i just looked at the JM Weston shop here in Geneva and shoes are priced from 450 GBP and goes on, also noticed that there is J Lobb store in Geneva (somewhat surprised) and EG shoes are almost $ 1300.. (take into account that i can buy 5 EG shoes with my first wage

) do you think that the price and styles for a JM Weston is good to go ? or CJ will be better.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I would say in quality they are both on par. The Handgrade C&J's are nice. EG Chelseas even better.

 

[Quadcammer]

two things.

1. Don't buy C&J for your first pair of dress shoes.

2. You've been here long enough to know that this topic is covered probably 3 to 4 times a week and the answer is always the same.

AE Park Aves or 5th aves in black

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

^+1 unless you are set on them.

 

[intfxdx]

will look to AEs... i didn't read these kind of topics, while i don't have much idea , i was thinking that CJ's are better than AEs...

 

[patrickBOOTH]

This thread is quickly turning into the blind leading the blind. Don't buy AE's.

 

[Quadcammer]

Originally Posted by intfxdx

will look to AEs... i didn't read these kind of topics, while i don't have much idea , i was thinking that CJ's are better than AEs...

they are, but it takes a while to truly figure out what you like, and the AEs are plain, tough, easy to resole, and classy.

That said, since you are apparently earning $156k as your starting salary

, go for the EGs.

 

[Klobber]

E's are fine - their primary advantage over many other labels is price. Style wise and quality wise they wont be anywhere near the most spiffing dress shoes you will ever own. However same is true with Alden, Ferragamo, Bruno Magli etc ... all brands that get some love around here. I like AE, an unfussy hard wearing shoe that works well as a day in day out workhorse.

 

[Blackhood]

What ever you do, get two pairs. One pair worn 5 days a week will be dead within 12 months.

 

[impolyt_one]

The guy says he can buy 5 pairs of EG's with his first paycheck; let him have a week's worth of C+J's, don't tell him to buy a single pair of AE's. It doesn't sound like he is working at a shoe store.

 

[AlexE]

Firstly, make sure you can try the shoes in a store before ordering anything online!

Secondly, it seems that you are living in Geneva. In this case take the AE advice with a grain of salt: Most proponents of AE Park Avenues as entry level business shoe are living in the US where AE PAs are $325 at full retail. I recently saw a pair of AE PAs in a shoe store in Cologne where they were priced at 385EUR. If they are as expensive in Switzerland (which I expect) you can get C&J benchgrade shoes for the same money.

Of course, if you can afford the Rolls-Royce (i.e. EG) easily, then why don't you go for it

 

[intfxdx]

Originally Posted by AlexE

Firstly, make sure you can try the shoes in a store before ordering anything online!

Secondly, it seems that you are living in Geneva. In this case take the AE advice with a grain of salt: Most proponents of AE Park Avenues as entry level business shoe are living in the US where AE PAs are $325 at full retail. I recently saw a pair of AE PAs in a shoe store in Cologne where they were priced at 385EUR. If they are as expensive in Switzerland (which I expect) you can get C&J benchgrade shoes for the same money.

Of course, if you can afford the Rolls-Royce (i.e. EG) easily, then why don't you go for it

yes it's the same history here. I think for this first shoes i will order a CJ (westfield probably) on pediwear but as you said i will go to a store and try a CJ again before order. i tried a while ago. I am US10, EU43, for most people it's 9.5 UK but for CJ 9 was just fine.
i will look for a EG in a couple of months, it may be too shiny to begin.

 

[VelvetGreen]

Fucksake, lads.

My friend. Buy a pair of Church's black brogues on a nice last. They outclass everything else effortlessly.

/thread.

 

[Thanks SF (a new me)]

OP, here's my 0.02...
.....forum members will always have multitude of opinion and suggestion on which brand to buy. Why? Because they/we have different levels of style and experience. I think EG, C&J, JL, (and even AE) are great choices, but it all depends on your personal choice and style that you are trying to achieve.

Just because certain brands/style look great on other people, it doesn't mean that it will have a similar effect on you.

So it seems like that budget is a non issue...why don't you spend a little more time understanding, learning and figuring out your own style, or why certain shoemaker/brands are well-loved in SF? Patience, Explore, try different last/fitting.

IMHO, why don't you get a pair each from EG and C&J and see for yourself why all the SF loved. And for whatever reason you decided that these makers/style are not your cup of tea, there is always the B&S and I'm sure our members will be more than happy to assist you recoup some of your hard earned dollars.

...Good Luck

 

[rioni]

+1 for no AE's