The 2025 Allen Edmonds (AE) Appreciation Thread

[MajorDash]

$575 for the trunk show suede Liverpool boots. I'm out. Maybe if it had the brown elastic, but the $100 markup on the trunk show is a lot harder to swallow when it isn't shell cordovan.

 

[Neo1]

The HM zip boot is going back, about a 2 in cut on the left boot and the leather just isn't appealing overall. The Sienna Tompkins Shearling lined nice and wore it today.

My first experience with the 2020 last I think, and it seems a good fit for me. Still not truly wide enough but then the B34 has been the only last actually as wide as I'd like.

I was actually going to comment when you originally posted about these couple purchases but figured I would wait until you got them first.


Re: the chelsea -I'm always kind of interested when they release chelseas. I think I started with the Knightsbridge back in the day. More recently I got 2 of the Liverpools - super frustrating platform for me on that one. To me they fit like the tightest possible lasted Cornwallis but unlike the Cornwallis which broke in after like 2 wears, these Liverpools just don't want to stop bothering my instep. Everything else about them like length, width etc is close to perfect.

The 2020 last like those I think is the AE last of choice going forward. Literally just because the Denali chelsea happened to be the last one on the 511 I picked it up against better judgement because I figured the fit would be kind of predictable - it's an ok boot, i'm not in love with it. But with all of these there is a real possibility that (probably like for yourself) I wouldn't be able to pull them on. So it's good to hear they worked out for you.

While we're on this subject I guess I'll mention two others (little off-topic). When I got the GS Chelsea at first I felt like I had found the answer as it really fit great. Unfortunately I think GS' UK last overcompensates with the cone height a little bit. I'm down to a 6.5D in these (7D in the AEs) and while this is definitely my correct size (same as everything else I own in GS), they just feel "generous" and I can't wear them in anything but super thick wool socks.

Final honorable (or dishonorable) mention - I fell for the hype and picked up an RM Williams Chelsea in the yearling. Hot garbage. The material is kind of soft and flexible which makes them easier to pull on than some others but it's super thin and delicate - they rubbed up against my shoe rack and even that was enough to create some considerable scratching. They wear like squishy unsupportive sneakers, not boots. For the price I feel like it's a robbery - I think I got them on sale for like 240 or so and I definitely have major buyer's remorse.

Re: the HM - I was going to suggest you wouldn't like them but didn't want to jinx it. When I bought the Austin zip engineer boot I remember thinking oh I have to get them in the Husk - the pictures kind of had a vintage cool vibe to them like the old gray Aberdeen & San Marco. Like a distressed silver. This was an oddball case where the pictures I think were better than the real thing. The husk is actually more like the original distressed Normandy - they were definitely all brown, not gray. And the material like I said in earlier posts is like a sherpa jacket and seems incredibly delicate, like any little thing could scratch and damage it. Seems like a cool concept with really bad execution. Doesn't make much sense on something like an Austin or HM where you wouldn't be planning to baby either one of them. Hard pass for me on that, wound up with the Austin in black.

 

[Neo1]

From AE Facebook page:

Trunk Show Alert

Allen Edmonds first trunk show of the year is a suede show!
Here is an opportunity to get some of our new and old styles in suede colors not available in our Custom Shop.

Dates:
February 13th - March 3rd

Where:
All of our stores can order help place orders for you. You can also order online. Welts and soles are customizable only through stores.

Some of our stores will have samples for a limited period of time:
February 14-16
Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Houston River Oaks, Boston Newberry, NCY Madison Ave, Short Hills

February 21-23
South Coast Plaza, Chicago Michigan Ave, Scottsdale, Natick, NYC Rock Center, King of Prussia

February 28-March 2nd
Walnut Creek, Denver, Dallas, Altanta, Cincinnati, Raleigh

Pricing:
Standard pricing

Shoes:
Strand Verse *New*
Winston Sneaker *New*
Liverpool
Courtside
Randolph 2.0
Trevor
Chandler
Sebastian Driving Shoe

Colors:
Terracotta
Cabernet
Cosmic Blue
Deep Sea
Chocolate Brown
Dark Olive
Smokey Grey
Tan

**Welts and sole are customizable only through store orders**

I try to hold my tongue at times as I realize everyone's preferences are different. The last time I was going to remark who in their right mind would get the Newman in shell other than Profila's moustache guys....but someone on here (pretty reputable guy too) did get a pair.

But this time I have to say something - Sebastian Driving Shoe? Please people - just. Don't. Do it.

 

[Genericuser1]

The 2020 last like those I think is the AE last of choice going forward. Literally just because the Denali chelsea happened to be the last one on the 511 I picked it up against better judgement because I figured the fit would be kind of predictable - it's an ok boot, i'm not in love with it. But with all of these there is a real possibility that (probably like for yourself) I wouldn't be able to pull them on. So it's good to hear they worked out for you.

While we're on this subject I guess I'll mention two others (little off-topic). When I got the GS Chelsea at first I felt like I had found the answer as it really fit great. Unfortunately I think GS' UK last overcompensates with the cone height a little bit. I'm down to a 6.5D in these (7D in the AEs) and while this is definitely my correct size (same as everything else I own in GS), they just feel "generous" and I can't wear them in anything but super thick wool socks.

Re: the HM - I was going to suggest you wouldn't like them but didn't want to jinx it. When I bought the Austin zip engineer boot I remember thinking oh I have to get them in the Husk - the pictures kind of had a vintage cool vibe to them like the old gray Aberdeen & San Marco. Like a distressed silver. This was an oddball case where the pictures I think were better than the real thing. The husk is actually more like the original distressed Normandy - they were definitely all brown, not gray. And the material like I said in earlier posts is like a sherpa jacket and seems incredibly delicate, like any little thing could scratch and damage it. Seems like a cool concept with really bad execution. Doesn't make much sense on something like an Austin or HM where you wouldn't be planning to baby either one of them. Hard pass for me on that, wound up with the Austin in black.

The 2020 has more instep height compared to the 511 IMO. If something else, I like comes out or is offered at a good price on the 2020 last I'll give it a try. Nothing taller than the Tompkins will work for me, I have Olympian BB level calves.

Most GS I have I've needed to stretch the instep on to make them work.

You are spot on for the Husk leather, from the pics it looked like a cool distressed leather, but it looks closer to the crackle leather they had 10+ years ago which was awful. Even if there wasn't a 2" gash I would have returned them.

Couple of boots for the snow on Tue/Wed.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

The last time I was going to remark who in their right mind would get the Newman in shell other than Profila's moustache guys....but someone on here (pretty reputable guy too) did get a pair.

It's been many years since I worked with those moustache guys.

I wore my chili Higgins this morning but then became aware that I'm coming down with the same cold my son and wife picked up in their airplane. So far though, I'm still able to work remote. We'll see if I can beat this thing before it does its thing. We're supposed to get a ton of rain tomorrow, which is nice.

 

[Vincent George]

Library Loafing

 

[MajorDash]

I try to hold my tongue at times as I realize everyone's preferences are different. The last time I was going to remark who in their right mind would get the Newman in shell other than Profila's moustache guys....but someone on here (pretty reputable guy too) did get a pair.

But this time I have to say something - Sebastian Driving Shoe? Please people - just. Don't. Do it.

I actually quite like the Sebastian, but they don't fit me. Not to mention that $395 for a pair is kind of a sick joke from AE.

The other problem with the Sebastian is that they already come in a host of interesting suede colors. There is no need to get one of these suede pairs at a markup when plenty of better options exist at a much lower (perpetually on sale) price.

I would love a pair of drivers, but loafers just aren't for me.

 

[marchello]

I received (as a gift) an almost brand new pair of Allen Edmonds Brooks Brothers dark brown suede MacNeil shoes. They are and old model and are beautiful!

As you know, the insole in these shoes has a layer of poron topped with a layer of soft leather.

You would expect the poron to make these shoes more comfortable. Unfortunately, the footbed is rock hard, so much that they are rather uncomfortable. Are the BB models known to have a harder footbed versus the regular AE models? I thought under the poron the leather insole isn’t any different in the BB than in the AE models.

 

[donkeyhoatie]

These Alpine monkey boots in grain with Arctic Grip Vibram soles don’t get a ton of wear. But they are pretty great for when I have to clear our 150+ foot driveway of 4 or so inches of snow. Only one sorta slip.

 

[Shoenut]

I received (as a gift) an almost brand new pair of Allen Edmonds Brooks Brothers dark brown suede MacNeil shoes. They are and old model and are beautiful!

As you know, the insole in these shoes has a layer of poron topped with a layer of soft leather.

You would expect the poron to make these shoes more comfortable. Unfortunately, the footbed is rock hard, so much that they are rather uncomfortable. Are the BB models known to have a harder footbed versus the regular AE models? I thought under the poron the leather insole isn’t any different in the BB than in the AE models.

It is not a leather insole. The insole is Texon. A leather substitute. There are a few other things that AE did to cut costs as these shoes were not high margin shoes. But the Poron just laid on top made for bad fit. I like mine because the extra padding actually improved the fit for me. But if you are buying a D width and are a D width? I don’t think it would feel good at all.

 

[marchello]

It is not a leather insole. The insole is Texon. A leather substitute. There are a few other things that AE did to cut costs as these shoes were not high margin shoes. But the Poron just laid on top made for bad fit. I like mine because the extra padding actually improved the fit for me. But if you are buying a D width and are a D width? I don’t think it would feel good at all.

So the Poron (foamy material) is glued on top of Texon? I didn't know that.

Should I expect these shoes to ultimately have an imprint of my foot on the footbed? I assume there is cork under the Texon insole, unless that was taken out also to minimize costs.

I don't mind the Poron layer and the shoes fit me quite well. It's just that the sole, even with the Poron, is really hard.

 

[Genericuser1]

Grain MacNeil's for wet and misty weather

 

[SpallaPerfetta]

Navy McAllisters today. I still have a hard time pairing these with my pants but I think they go well enough with grey.

 

[ProfilaBinding]

So the Poron (foamy material) is glued on top of Texon? I didn't know that.

Should I expect these shoes to ultimately have an imprint of my foot on the footbed? I assume there is cork under the Texon insole, unless that was taken out also to minimize costs.

I don't mind the Poron layer and the shoes fit me quite well. It's just that the sole, even with the Poron, is really hard.

It happened to me once. I had a pair of Clark Street shoes that had a poron insole. The insole felt like I was walking on extremely hard rubber. I thought it was the outsole for a long time, but it was not. I later tried another pair of Clark Streets and it felt very comfortable and soft. On rare occasions, the poron can be extremely hard.

 

[Whiskypriest]

It happened to me once. I had a pair of Clark Street shoes that had a poron insole. The insole felt like I was walking on extremely hard rubber. I thought it was the outsole for a long time, but it was not. I later tried another pair of Clark Streets and it felt very comfortable and soft. On rare occasions, the poron can be extremely hard.

I experienced similar issues with a pair of suede MacNeil shoes made for Nordstrom’s, the Schautal Tan Suede # 5603. These were made around 2012, IIRC. While it has Allen Edmonds on the insole and the sole itself, MacNeil is not found anywhere on the shoe or the box. But it is clearly the MacNeil pattern. New, I felt like I could detect the entire surface of the sole with every step on a hard surface. The simple fix were Handarte Natural Leather inserts and then they were comfortable. Great looking shoes that required a little modification. Along these lines if AE offered a real MacNeil for their 2025 Suede Trunk Show, I would buy several colors. Suede sneakers……nah, hard pass.