The 2023 Allen Edmonds (AE) Appreciation Thread

[JFWR]

Well, they were. These days, kind of a hybrid of dress and casual, wouldn't you say?

The idea behind even their dress sneakers is they're still dress. They have moved into the semi-work boot realm.

They do have defined casual shoes, but is that their brand?

Cause if I'm thinking sneakers, I think converse, Nike, new balance, Adidas, keds, etc. I don't think Allen Edmonds. They do seemingly want to compete with Redwing, Alden, Doc Marten, Thursday, etc, in the boot market, though. But that's also pretty wide, as I'd say they're half I'm, half out given their dress boots still being more of a focus.

 

[mreams99]

How about some loden suede?

 

[Shoenut]

The idea behind even their dress sneakers is they're still dress. They have moved into the semi-work boot realm.

They do have defined casual shoes, but is that their brand?

Cause if I'm thinking sneakers, I think converse, Nike, new balance, Adidas, keds, etc. I don't think Allen Edmonds. They do seemingly want to compete with Redwing, Alden, Doc Marten, Thursday, etc, in the boot market, though. But that's also pretty wide, as I'd say they're half I'm, half out given their dress boots still being more of a focus.

Do you think that Redwing competes with Redwing of old these days? Last time I was in one, there was only crap in stock, anything decent was order only. I like the fancy sizing machine that mis sized me as well as any AE master fitter has. 9D! Cause that is my size? No cause it is the closest thing to my proper size.

 

[JFWR]

Do you think that Redwing competes with Redwing of old these days? Last time I was in one, there was only crap in stock, anything decent was order only. I like the fancy sizing machine that mis sized me as well as any AE master fitter has. 9D! Cause that is my size? No cause it is the closest thing to my proper size.

I don't know. The only Redwing in town closed down and I never went to one when I was back in NY.

I think Redwing still has a very popular boot style, though. You see people really like their moc toe. This is at least part of the reason we have the AE takes on it.

I'd say that in terms of casualish boots, AE is definitely beginning to be properly in competition with the other makers on the market that go after that look. Though I still think they are mostly half-in, half-out because of their focus on dress boots, that you don't see Thursday or Redwing attempt. In that sense, they are kind of trying to be Alden, too.

Plus, of course, AE is not usually making legitimate, actual workboots, like Wolverine. Though it is telling they worked with Wolverine on the AE 1000 Mile and the like, which is admittedly, a nice looking, old fashioned work boot - kind of like the Higgins Mill but more legit. They could go down that route.

My question is just this: If you are going to go down the kind of weird, bohemian shoe route, I don't know if they really have anyone looking for what AE provides. Why even focus on like relatively inexpensive footwear in that market? Make it a decidedly fashion shoe and charge much more, to appeal to the "I like art, but I also have a trustfund" crowd of wannabe bohemians.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

How about some loden suede?

View attachment 1892219

That combination works really well.

 

[MajorDash]

My question regarding the Denim Strand issue is this question:

Who is AE trying to appeal to with this kind of piece?

Because it strikes me that AE really doesn't have a sufficient marketing department to have gotten credibility with the younger crowd as an option for dress shoes. Simply put, I have never seen an Allen Edmonds ad ever in print, and the only reason I see Allen Edmond ads at all is probably because the algorithms for the ads already know I buy Allen Edmonds shoes.

Also, they are a dress shoe company. Why are you trying to introduce your shoes to the bohemian, artsy crowd? Do you think they are really the type of person who is going to fall in love with your dress shoe options? Or do you think the future is in bohemian shoes and people want casual crazy stuff now and nothing formal?

I don't know, it seems like there's no market here.

Like who exactly is going to think "cool, Allen Edmonds will let me live my wild bohemian lifestyle with denim brogues?"

If they are going to go do that, why are they even keeping it an affordable price point? Why not go the way of Yeezy and sell crazy shoes for 1000+ dollars to Instagram influencers and celebs and the like?

Umm... They're only making 22 pairs and they're $1295 each. They aren't really for wearing. They're just art pieces.

 

[EZB]

Umm... They're only making 22 pairs and they're $1295 each. They aren't really for wearing. They're just art pieces.

Ah. If they were japanese selvedge indigo denim, I'd consider it

 

[MajorDash]

Ah. If they were japanese selvedge indigo denim, I'd consider it

They're American black selvedge denim.

 

[Shoenut]

My question regarding the Denim Strand issue is this question:

Who is AE trying to appeal to with this kind of piece?

Because it strikes me that AE really doesn't have a sufficient marketing department to have gotten credibility with the younger crowd as an option for dress shoes. Simply put, I have never seen an Allen Edmonds ad ever in print, and the only reason I see Allen Edmond ads at all is probably because the algorithms for the ads already know I buy Allen Edmonds shoes.

Also, they are a dress shoe company. Why are you trying to introduce your shoes to the bohemian, artsy crowd? Do you think they are really the type of person who is going to fall in love with your dress shoe options? Or do you think the future is in bohemian shoes and people want casual crazy stuff now and nothing formal?

I don't know, it seems like there's no market here.

Like who exactly is going to think "cool, Allen Edmonds will let me live my wild bohemian lifestyle with denim brogues?"

If they are going to go do that, why are they even keeping it an affordable price point? Why not go the way of Yeezy and sell crazy shoes for 1000+ dollars to Instagram influencers and celebs and the like?

I don’t understand how AE benefits from this Collaboration. Is it just brand exposure to the customers of this brand? I understand the Barbour Collaboration. That boot fit the country dress esthetic of the Barbour brand. Did that boot get sold on the Barbour website? Hmmm. I think a good Collaboration would be with Indochino. At least they sell suits. They have a brick and motor in Oakbrook and from what I saw, a funky Strand would work there.

 

[JFWR]

I don’t understand how AE benefits from this Collaboration. Is it just brand exposure to the customers of this brand? I understand the Barbour Collaboration. That boot fit the country dress esthetic of the Barbour brand. Did that boot get sold on the Barbour website? Hmmm. I think a good Collaboration would be with Indochino. At least they sell suits. They have a brick and motor in Oakbrook and from what I saw, a funky Strand would work there.

Indochino also has a store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. I don't think too funky of a strand would work there, as their style, while slim cut and modern, is still decidedly within the realm of traditional suits. Denim would look dumb a f with an indochino suit. In contrast, if AE wanted to go for a more sleek Italianiate style dress shoe, then I think they could do something there.

Also, as you point out, the Barbour collab makes sense. What you have there is a Higgins Mill that looks like something that would totally go with Barbour clothes. I could see the same kind of collaboration work with say, a Lands End or something.

 

[JFWR]

Umm... They're only making 22 pairs and they're $1295 each. They aren't really for wearing. They're just art pieces.

I missed the 1200 dollar price tag. If that is the price tag, then they are doing the right thing with something like this. Appeal to the weird fashion crowd, though I honestly don't know what the hell that is supposed to do for anything beyond that.

Maybe they want to permanently establish a collection for fashion shoe people. AE for the type of people who think Berluti and Yeezy and such is cool.

 

[EZB]

They're American black selvedge denim.

The color is my issue. It’s too dark

 

[VeritasAequitas]

Do any of you ride a motorcycle? I’m looking for some recommendations for riding boots.

P.S. I can’t figure out how to insert a spoiler from my phone after the update. Sorry.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

PSA: Nordstrom has a couple of natural Freeports for $261. Pretty good deal.

Has anyone figured out if the logo on the tongue can be cleanly removed?

 

[MajorDash]

PSA: Nordstrom has a couple of natural Freeports for $261. Pretty good deal.

Has anyone figured out if the logo on the tongue can be cleanly removed?

That really depends on how much work you want to put in. You’d have to unstitch and restitch the tongue.