Strand and Cambridge return to AE

[Christofuh]

I'm 2/3 positive the actual shoe doesn't look 1/2 as good.

 

[meister]

Originally Posted by grimslade

OK... but why no Ds? I remember the Bancroft was also not available in a D. Is it some European thing?

Euro and UK/Aussie have wider normal width (aka F) such that the normal D width in the USA would be a UK E and normal EUR width (aka F) is EE. This is a much more comfortable fitting for most people in the world. Maybe USA folks have narrower feet. The popularity of A and AA fittings in the USA is surprising to us.

 

[Vault]

How is Cambridge different from McClain?Except maybe it's on a different last,but overall,I don't see a lot of difference.Also,it's only offered in shell and suede,no calf skin?
Although,I must admit that I am very tempted by the suede,but not at that price.

 

[Sator]

The following makers also have medium width fittings that are as narrow as or narrower than anything from AE:

Ferragamo
Edward Green
G&G
Vass
Trickers

The Church's Royal range are also made on a rather narrow last - makes AEs seem generous by comparison.

BTW, one model I once saw that I think AE should revive is the Fifth Avenue. This appeared to be a punch cap version of the Park Avenue. It makes me wonder if there was once a whole range of models named after streets in New York.

AE would be wise to look through its catalogue of patterns dating back to the 1930s and reviving old classics. This is much preferable to the silly fashion forward models it has been meddling with of late.

 

[Vault]

Originally Posted by Sator

AE would be wise to look through its catalogue of patterns dating back to the 1930s and reviving old classics. This is much preferable to the silly fashion forward models it has been meddling with of late.


+1,they have much better models that have been discontinued.

 

[Sator]

My shirtmaker told me that Acorn once tried making a range of fashion forward shirtings. The buyers of Acorn shirtings preferred classical and understated styles with the result that the experiment was a dismal fiasco. Acorn retreated to offering styles that were its traditional strength and stronghold after just one season. There is more than a little lesson in this for Allen Edmonds.

I also wish they would make a range of American made shoes that was equal to their old best work. Their current stuff is not as good as it used to be. The older shoes had a more neatly and closely trimmed sole with wheeling. They have definitely declined in quality.

 

[AlanC]

Originally Posted by Sator

BTW, one model I once saw that I think AE should revive is the Fifth Avenue. This appeared to be a punch cap version of the Park Avenue.

Yes, it's a great model. I have two pairs, one in brown the other in burgundy, although the latter in corrected grain. They're still nice, though. And speaking to the width issue, these are 9.5B:

I just came across a wholecut model called the Austin. A search revealed Big Bris has a pair who discovered that they were discontinued in 1986. A thread on great AE models might be worthwhile.

 

[constant struggle]

those are beautiful!

 

[Sator]

AlanC: you can very clearly see the wheeling around the soles. You never see that any more on current models. The finishing overall seems more refined. I think you will find that the stitching was also much finer than on current models too. In fact, as fine as on current Edward Greens.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by Christofuh

I'm 2/3 positive the actual shoe doesn't look 1/2 as good.




Actually, the Strand (and the Cambridge) is a pretty nice looking shoe IRL. Brigbris has some pictures of his black Strands in this thread:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...and#post968378

EDIT: Better Strand picture here.

Originally Posted by Vault

How is Cambridge different from McClain?Except maybe it's on a different last,but overall,I don't see a lot of difference.Also,it's only offered in shell and suede,no calf skin?
Although,I must admit that I am very tempted by the suede,but not at that price.

The Cambridge is a real classically designed wingtip. If you look at the pattern of the seams, the differences should be obvious. I'd take a picture of my cambridges for comparison, but I don't have them handy. The Cambridge is by far the better shoe.

 

[Tarmac]

The McClain is a horrendous "Triple Wing" design. It borders on the dandy.

 

[greekgeek]

Fyi AE wrote me back today and stated that they will be offering D widths shortly for both the cambridge and the strand.

 

[Henry Boogers]

Here are my Strands in pebble grain for those debating the real life appearance:

When I purchased them they had been laying around for a while:

 

[lbcgav]

Originally Posted by Henry Boogers

Here are my Strands in pebble grain for those debating the real life appearance:

When I purchased them they had been laying around for a while:

This was my first pair of dress shoes...got them at a tent sale in Port Washington, WI back in '91. Mine are this same color...almost orange. I think it's a very good looking shoe, and quite comfortable.

 

[Henry Boogers]

They are almost orange...they look like basketballs but I like them. I guess I bought a deflated pair.