First SF approved shoe purchase. C&J.

[blackplatano]

I have not had a need to wear shoes much until recently. The shoes I have had were not the kind of stuff seen here often (designer, etc).

Now, I want to start building a collection of good quality business shoes.
The first shoe I would need to buy would be a park avenue. I haven't bought it yet, but I will.

For my second shoe, I was thinking about a C&J from pediwear.

I narrowed it down to the Hallam in beechnut

http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/oxfords-hallam.html

The westbourne in Chestnut

http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/oxfords-westbour.html

And the drummond in beechnut

http://www.crockettandjones.co.uk/oxfords-drummond.html





Which shoe would give me the most mileage in a business setting and the best in your opinion?

Also, If I am a 10D in AE park avenues, what size should I get on the 348 Last?



Next, I will try to get some shoe trees.
Do the following shoe trees work well with the 348 last? Does it streach it?

http://www.cedarvillestore.com/shoe_..._shoe_tree.htm


Also, Should I get the matching belt? Or are there cheaper better alternatives that match the color of the shoes?


Thanks



P.S. Answer my questions

 

[Flambeur]

Originally Posted by blackplatano

I have not had a need to wear shoes much until recently.

so did you like leave on the beach?

 

[stickonatree]

i vote for westbourne > hallam > drummond. just remember to get it in a darker brown for a more "conservative" business setting.

the shoe trees you linked to are good; if you go through ask andy forums, you'll get them for slightly cheaper ($19.99 a pair) via the forum special.

 

[grimslade]

I would go for Hallam, then Drummond, and then Westbourne. I refuse to advise you on sizing, but the traditional answer would be a 9.5E. The C&J belts are overpriced, IMHO. BUt I'm not fussy about matching exactly.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Go for the Westbourne - its a great shoe.

 

[SuitingStyle]

I am partial to wingtips, so I would go for drummond.

 

[Baron]

I wear a 9.5D in Allen Edmonds and fit perfectly into a 8.5E UK in the 348 last. I strongly advise you to get a 9E in this last.

 

[FidelCashflow]

Westbourne. Period. It's a beautiful shoe.

 

[sweisman]

Originally Posted by FidelCashflow

Westbourne. Period. It's a beautiful shoe.

+1

 

[blackplatano]

Originally Posted by Flambeur

so did you like leave on the beach?

No, I did not leave on the beach...I don't know how that's possible.

 

[satorstyle]

The Westbourne gives the ornamentation of the Drummond, but the classic usability of a cap toe in a half brogue style. What a shoe.

 

[Albert60]

I have the Westbourne in Black and think it's spectacular.

I'm a "winter" and agree that warm colored shoes don't look good on me and I suspect the chestnut is too orange and warm toned. However, I like how the chestnut looks in pics and on others.

The Drummond in beechnut is on my short list.

For your purposes, viz. utility in a business setting, I would place the color of the Drummond as more versatile. Beechnut is a more muted, toned down color. The Westbourne's perforated cap toe style is more versatile but the color less so. The Hallam is the most versatile but the least overtly stylish. They're all nice shoes. As an owner of a couple pair on the 348 last I can affirm that it is as striking as discussed ad nauseum on this board.

All excellent choices.

 

[Albert60]

Re: sizing...

From my experience and from what I've read it is most common to drop a full size from your US size. If you're a 10D in PAs then a 9E on the 348 is most likely to fit.

 

[blackplatano]

I see most prefer the westbourne. The thing that prevents me from getting those, is the reddish/orange color, which doesn't complement my skin. So while it is a great shoe, I feel like albert in that it might not suit me.



I another question thought...

Can toe plates be put on shoes with channeled soles?

By toe plates I mean one of these

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php...ght=toe+plates

It seems like the stitching would get in the way...

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by blackplatano

I see most prefer the westbourne. The thing that prevents me from getting those, is the reddish/orange color, which doesn't complement my skin. So while it is a great shoe, I feel like albert in that it might not suit me.



I another question thought...

Can toe plates be put on shoes with channeled soles?

By toe plates I mean one of these

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php...ght=toe+plates

It seems like the stitching would get in the way...

Two things:

First, the soles are "stitched aloft." "Channeled soles" refer, perhaps paradoxically, to soles on which the stitching is sewn into a channel, and then closed.

Which brings us to the second point. Both channeled soles and soles stitched aloft (like the C&J benchgrades under discussion here) have stitching. The trick is to shave down the toe without cutting the stitching.