First 'good' pair of shoes...

[SuitedDx]

Well, I meant the title to be ironic. Before all the bespokes, Lobb's, EG's, C&J's, etc. I was wondering what everyone thought their first 'good' pair of shoes were.

I was 20 and bought a pair of black Johnston & Murphy Melton shoes-- they lasted less than a year.

Kenneth Cole anyone?

 

[dirtyturk]

yeah i came out of the womb feet first, so got a "Lobb on" right there and then.

 

[southbound35]

Florsheim Imperial, black punch captoes, purchased in 1989. Bought them to wear to my first fraternity "formal", which, for most at my small school, meant navy blazer or tweed sportcoat and khaki chinos. I wore a thrifted navy suit.

 

[89826]

Brooks Brothers Alden shell LHS

 

[Michigan Planner]

For the last few years I've been wearing Cole Haans and swearing by them for my dress shoes. But I just recently purchased a pair of Peal & Co. Brooks Brothers perforated medallion lace-ups and a pair of Allen Edmonds Strands. I can see the difference in quality between either of them and any of the Cole Haan's I've owned.

I know the AEs don't get the love around here, but I think the style on them is quite a bit nicer looking than the BB ones.

 

[makewayhomer]

about 15 months ago, RM Williams Craftsman boots

I had previously bought some Ben Sherman shoes with I thought were stylish. I donated them all this year.

 

[in stitches]

try AE although they might be to conservative for you. ive had very good luck with ferragamo and you can find them on sale online without too much difficulty

every kenneth cole ive had (its been well over ten years) fell apart dont bother

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by dsmivtr

Well, I meant the title to be ironic. Before all the bespokes, Lobb's, EG's, C&J's, etc. I was wondering what everyone thought their first 'good' pair of shoes were.

I was 20 and bought a pair of black Johnston & Murphy Melton shoes-- they lasted less than a year.

Kenneth Cole anyone?

KC is garbage.

What is your budget?

 

[Gibonius]

I bought a pair of J&M black captoes for my wedding. They're welted, but the leather is garbage. Shopping for wedding stuff really started me towards getting an education on clothing and shoes. Soon afterwards I got a pair of Alfred Sargent (by Peal for BB) on clearance and was just amazed at the difference. It sold me on high quality shoes. I've since gotten a couple AE's, Cheaney chukkas, Church's, C&J (also by Peal for BB), and a couple benchgrade Polo branded shoes whose maker I can't track down.

I feel like the Peal route, especially on clearance, is a great way to get some incredible shoes for a good price. $195 for channeled sole C&J or Alfred Sargent? Can't go wrong with that. You have to be very patient waiting for the sales though.

 

[Raralith]

About a decade ago I interned at a large accounting firm in Manhattan, New York. I believe I bought a pair of black, derby Rockports which lasted about a year. The next conservative shoe was Allen Edmonds which was easy to get at Nordstroms, and than got a few BB/Alden's and Alden's when visint San Francisco.

 

[in stitches]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

What is your budget?

To OP; ^herein lies the answer to your querry

 

[musicguy]

I think this thread is more of a sharing thread, than a recommendation thread. OP is asking what we thought our first pair of good shoes were.

For me, I thought my first pair of good shoes was pair of Ecco shoes 10 years ago. I thought they were the ****. Then they wore down really quickly and I gave up on expensive shoes. They were over 100 bucks, made with the crappiest corrected grain shiny leather ever in a sexy square-toe boot style. I thought it wasn't worth it to pay more so bought really cheap **** shoes for years.

The next pair of shoes that was a bit more acceptable were some Calvin Klein driving shoes. They were bicycle toe though. On ultra sale at Macy's. I got tons of complements for them and they lasted for a long time and were comfortable.

When I saw the light, the first pair of real shoes (goodyear welted and made with full grain leather) I bought were Allen Edmonds Lambert (pebble-grain bluchers). Still have them. Still wear them.

 

[BBC]

I think it was a pair of black Hanover wingtips - had them about 20 years and finally got rid of them a couple of years ago.

 

[mrhills0146]

Cable & Co. brown cap-toes purchased in ~1996. I still have them and still wear them regularly.

 

[hotspur11]

Cole Haan burgundy cap toes, were the first I bought (from the Macy's expensive shelf) and in H.S I did think my Sebago penny loafers were as good as it gets.