Recommendations for Patent Leather Formal Shoes

[moosy]

I have a formal wedding (posted about it in another thread) and decided to spend money and buy my own tux. Now I have the tux, shirt, tie and am just missing the shoes. I went to Nordstrom to get an idea and got confused. With regular (non patent leather) shoes it is fairly easy to see the differences in quality but all the shoes I saw felt plasticy. I saw the Allen Edmonds Kendal and the Allen Edmonds Copley and the Calvin Klein Gareth.

Though I presume there are serious quality differences (besides the fact that the CK were hideous) they seemed at par, hence my questions:

1) What shoes would you recommend buying? (I would like to keep it bellow $300 but it's not rigid).
2) Is it really worth buying expensive shoes for rare events? I know, I spent all this money on the rest of the outfit and want the shoes to be at par, but is there such a difference?

 

[chorse123]

There has been some debate on this before. Cap toe oxfords in calfskin, if given a good polish, are in my mind nearly as appropriate as patent leather.

I don't think it makes sense to spend a lot of money on formal shoes if they are going to be rarely worn, unless you have a generous budget.

 

[distinctive]

I would prefer a cordovan cap-toe myself. Add a military shine and you're good to go

 

[Cordovan]

I don't think that they are nearly as appropriate, but depending on the frequency of their use, it would be wise to budget your money for other wardrobe upgrades.

However, my threshhold for the number of times a year that would warrant purchasing them is not high.

But, do not skimp on them once your buying them. Of your 3 choices, I would go with the Copley.

Here is Brooks Brothers'

Cordovan

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by Cordovan

Here is Brooks Brothers'

Cordovan

I have a pair of these to go with my tux and I love them. They look great and will last for years. Just pop in a good shoe tree.

 

[brad-t]

oh my god babar is the best children's show ever, i actually still watch it and it is just as entertaining as when i was a kid