Shoe recommendations, please

[woofmang]

I've started to upgrade my shoe collection over the past year or so, and so far, the upgrade process hasn't had much direction; the Boulders and the Surreys were bought to replace an older pair of driving mocs and an older pair of chukkas, respectively, but the others were impulse buys. I'd appreciate recommendations for what to add next (or just what to add).

The shoes in the picture below, from top to bottom and left to right:

Bostonian Cap-toe Oxford (my first dress shoes; now over 25 years old)
Alden 994 in Color 8 Cordovan (my second pair of dress shoes; now over 15 years old)
AE MacKenzie in Walnut
Brooks Brothers 1818 Tassel Loafer in Burgundy
AE Boulder Driving Moc in Navy/Brown
AE Surrey in Brown Nubuck
AE Higgins Mill in Brown Chromexcel

(Not pictured are several pair of New Balance Walking/Running shoes, a pair of Limmer Lightweight Hiking Boots, and several pairs of retired shoes that I didn't wish to embarrass by including in the group photo.)

What say you, gentlemen?

 

[standaloneprotein]

Sartorial talk from the Parisian Gentleman
"May I warn you, Shoes for men can be very addictive. "

 

[breakaway01]

you will get better recommendations if you give us more information about:
- how you dress (e.g. in the workplace and casually)
- where you live (urban/suburban, do you walk much outside and if so, does traction in rain/snow/ice matter?)
- budget
- which of your current shoes do you wear most and why? Which do you wear rarely?

 

[woofmang]

Sartorial talk from the Parisian Gentleman
"May I warn you, Shoes for men can be very addictive. "

Thanks for the great video! I'm going back to watch Part 2 now...

 

[woofmang]

you will get better recommendations if you give us more information...

Thanks for that advice; I'm sure you're right.

I dress pretty informally most of the time: I'm in a position where I can wear whatever I like to the office (we do pretty much all of our business online or over the phone, so we never have clients in to visit, plus I'm the CTO, and I only answer to the CEO, who I've never seen in a suit and tie).

In fact, what most people would consider business casual would be dressed up for me at the office. I'm far more likely to actually dress to go to dinner or a show, and then it depends on the occasion: it may be a nice pair of slacks and a sport coat, or a formal suit and tie.

I live in the suburbs, and most of the walking I do outside involves being pulled along by a large dog on the far end of a lead, and I usually wear a pair of New Balance walking shoes for that.

I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I also don't have unlimited discretionary funds, so probably $1,000 a pair would be my limit for the time being.

As to my rotation, the Higgins Mills and the chukkas have been getting a lot of use lately because of the weather, and the loafers generally get a lot of use because they're comfortable and can go with almost anything. The Aldens I generally reserve for special (but not necessarily formal) occasions, the Bostonians I use for really formal stuff like weddings and funerals, and I just got the wholecuts a week or two ago, and haven't actually worn them outside the house yet.

The bottom line is, I don't really need any more dress shoes than I already have; I'm just a guy who likes to have a selection of nice shoes to wear when the mood strikes or the occasion calls for it.

 

[standaloneprotein]

Thanks for the great video! I'm going back to watch Part 2 now...

In all sincerity, you do not need anything else but, who am I to tell you what to do?

 

[thefringthing]

Brown wingtips of some kind seem conspicuously missing and go well with casual outfits.

 

[woofmang]

Brown wingtips of some kind seem conspicuously missing and go well with casual outfits.

Funny you should say that: I was just looking at this Alden 976 at The Shoe Mart: https://www.theshoemart.com/alden-mens-976-long-wing-blucher-brown-calfskin/

 

[breakaway01]

given how casually you dress I would expand your selection into more casual styles. Also consider suede.
Chukkas are very versatile, maybe add another pair in a sleeker last
Agree with a pair of wingtips
Maybe another pair of loafers (the Alden Leisure Handsewn or LHS is a classic)

 

[UNOAIMX]

Quoting OP "I don't have a specific budget in mind, but I also don't have unlimited discretionary funds, so probably $1,000 a pair would be my limit for the time being."

Go for the iconic Edward Green Galway Boot, you will not regret, lots of forum members selling "new" pairs for around 1k.

 

[woofmang]

given how casually you dress I would expand your selection into more casual styles. Also consider suede.
Chukkas are very versatile, maybe add another pair in a sleeker last
Agree with a pair of wingtips
Maybe another pair of loafers (the Alden Leisure Handsewn or LHS is a classic)

Thanks for the recommendations - I do love Chukkas, and I'll definitely have another look at the Alden LHS.

 

[woofmang]

Go for the iconic Edward Green Galway Boot, you will not regret, lots of forum members selling "new" pairs for around 1k.

Thanks for that suggestion (I'm guessing those are Galways in your avatar).

I love those boots, but I've yet to find a pair of English boots that fit me (they all seem to be too narrow). Years ago, I bought a gorgeous pair of Crockett & Jones chukkas at Barney's (Hand Grade for Ralph Lauren; they were essentially the Brecon in a Light Brown Shell with a Dainite sole). They felt pretty tight across the forefoot when I tried them on, but I allowed the salesman to persuade me that, because they were shell, they would expand with continued use and eventually fit me like a glove. Of course, they never did, and they hurt my feet every time I wore them. I finally sold them off a couple of years ago on eBay (as a wise man once said, "The most expensive shoes in your closet are the ones you never wear.").

I see that all the Galways on the EG site are listed as E width, which is what those C&J chukkas were, and I'd hate to drop a grand (or more) on a pair of boots that I can't wear (I wear a 9.5E in most AE lasts, and a 9 C/E in the Alden Barrie last). But OMG, the Galway boot in dark oak calf and mink suede!

 

[MrUnderwood]

I think breakaway01 says alot of the right things. Know how you want to dress and build from there. Stop looking at this stupid forum, and realise what YOU want, both in terms or what you need but just as importantly figure out how you would like to look.

 

[Encore]

Thanks for that suggestion (I'm guessing those are Galways in your avatar).

I love those boots, but I've yet to find a pair of English boots that fit me (they all seem to be too narrow). Years ago, I bought a gorgeous pair of Crockett & Jones chukkas at Barney's (Hand Grade for Ralph Lauren; they were essentially the Brecon in a Light Brown Shell with a Dainite sole). They felt pretty tight across the forefoot when I tried them on, but I allowed the salesman to persuade me that, because they were shell, they would expand with continued use and eventually fit me like a glove. Of course, they never did, and they hurt my feet every time I wore them. I finally sold them off a couple of years ago on eBay (as a wise man once said, "The most expensive shoes in your closet are the ones you never wear.").

I see that all the Galways on the EG site are listed as E width, which is what those C&J chukkas were, and I'd hate to drop a grand (or more) on a pair of boots that I can't wear (I wear a 9.5E in most AE lasts, and a 9 C/E in the Alden Barrie last). But OMG, the Galway boot in dark oak calf and mink suede!

In which case I would suggest you to look for Galway boots in 202 Last, I have the feeling that E width should work but to be on the safe side, try 202 in F width.

A pair of EG Dover could also be a good choice, not so formal but still in the formal category.

 

[Orbis881]

I also like my Higgins Mill very much, but among my more casual boots my favorite is the Alden Indy. The 403 (CXL same as your Higgins Mill) is very nice and can patina very well as they age; However I find the 405 to be very attractive. It has a brighter tinge, a complete contrast to the darker, brown CXL. I find them to be very eye catching, yet refined as most Aldens I've seen.

Among my boots, I like my AE Walnut Daltons, J.Crew Kenton Pacers and Grant Stone crimson Ottawas as well.

I would also recommend a few Longwings in case they are your cup of tea. I find myself switching between loafers, boots and longwings most of the time.