Top 14 list of shoes under $500 for newbies

[clee1982]

I haven’t really see any Magnanni that I would take instead CJ/Carmina

 

[deez shoes]

I haven’t really see any Magnanni that I would take instead CJ/Carmina

Only a person that hasn't handled cj,carmina,tlb, or as would be impressed by magnanni. They're basically odd looking patina'd meermin shoes at inflated prices.

 

[deez shoes]

Forgot to include "probably."

 

[DapperPhilly]

Only a person that hasn't handled cj,carmina,tlb, or as would be impressed by magnanni. They're basically odd looking patina'd meermin shoes at inflated prices.

I prefer to wear my shoes on my feet. as opposed to handling them. I like my Magnanni (made for NM), few (4) pairs of AE's, couple of Bruno Magli and Mezlan. Herring Wholecut and some others.Tried Meermin and didn't care for them so sent them back.
All my shoes were well under $300 and some under $200.

I sold these quickly here on Styleforum. Quite unique, great patina and as far as I know Meermin makes nothing like it.

Sold Magnanni Artesano Monk Strap Cuero Hand Painted Patina Spain Worn Once Size 10

Magnanni Artesano Monk Strap Cuero Hand Painted Patina - Made In Spain - Worn Once Size 10. Retail $495 The ‘Artesano Stitch’ is a strong design statement created by linking the sole to the upper with double-needle threading. The technique uses...

www.styleforum.net

 

[Crispyj]

I prefer to wear my shoes on my feet. as opposed to handling them. I like my Magnanni (made for NM), few (4) pairs of AE's, couple of Bruno Magli and Mezlan. Herring Wholecut and some others.Tried Meermin and didn't care for them so sent them back.
All my shoes were well under $300 and some under $200.

I sold these quickly here on Styleforum. Quite unique, great patina and as far as I know Meermin makes nothing like it.

Sold Magnanni Artesano Monk Strap Cuero Hand Painted Patina Spain Worn Once Size 10

Magnanni Artesano Monk Strap Cuero Hand Painted Patina - Made In Spain - Worn Once Size 10. Retail $495 The ‘Artesano Stitch’ is a strong design statement created by linking the sole to the upper with double-needle threading. The technique uses...

www.styleforum.net

That looks like a pair of shoes that no one should ever wear.

 

[DapperPhilly]

That looks like a pair of shoes that no one should ever wear.

I wore them and received many compliments. Sold them for what I paid (I bought on sale). They were just too small.

 

[JohnMRobie]

 

[clee1982]

Can’t say I’m a fan of underbelly wing…, and I guess your usage is carpet to carpet, I walk 700 to 900 miles a year, think any leather sole gets more wear in 5 minutes than that I have to say…

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

View attachment 1781627

That's a Helluva funny gif 😂.

 

[DrewMill]

Not to too much, but I was able to buy a pair of C&J Suede Cavendish loafers yesterday (on sale) for $434...

 

[BColl_Has_Too_Many_Shoes]

Not to too much, but I was able to buy a pair of C&J Suede Cavendish loafers yesterday (on sale) for $434... View attachment 1781682

The Cavendish is a mighty good loafer. Nice pickup 👌🏻.

 

[Spinster Jones]

Best valued brands over 500$, according to the gaudishly Gentleman's Gazette.

 

[JFWR]

Best valued brands over 500$, according to the gaudishly Gentleman's Gazette.
View attachment 1784214

It's strange ot me to place Allen Edmonds as a brand over 500, because they basically do not make shoes over 500 which are not made of shell cordovan. Moreover, you'd be crazy to buy a pair of their calf shoes for retail, as they are on sale almost every day of the year for around 300 or less. The only time I've ever bought calfskin shoes from them on retail was because I wanted a very specific model and it was a limited run (Broadstreet spectators).

Allen Edmonds is a great brand for ~300ish dollar calf shoes, especially if you have wide feet. Their shell cordovan are also worth shelling out (ba dum dum pssh) for, especially given how many options you have for cordovan shoes, but the only reason those are that expensive is that cordovan is a rarer leather now that horses don't play that big of a role in our economy anymore.

 

[Spinster Jones]

now that horses don't play that big of a role in our economy anymore

Yeah, more bulls and chimps running things these days.

 

[Mirage-]

I would love to try some brand like Yearn but no EU reseller means nightmares for me. Same for brands like CNES.
If shops offered DDP I might try them, but I really don't want to spend my weeks trying to recoup VAT if I need to return them because sizing didn't work. In fact, I haven't even been able to figure out with certainty if, let alone how you can do it.
Italian authorities are absolutely terrible regarding communicating rules about VAT and imports.
I once spent an entire day trying to understand how much I would pay in duties ordering some deeply discounted stuff from Yeossal.