What is medium ground for shoe quality?

[c55]

In a recent thread a few people were talking about the Testoni Black Label. People start to mention that the Black label is superior and almost everything below the black label just isn't worth it, or that great, which I think is crap advice.

I think if you are going to give someone advice on a shoe, you should really set the standard for what is a good value priced shoe. I mean where is the bar set and what brand - John Lobb?

A Yoox $200 Testoni that is made in italy with nice leather and construction is going to be a far superior shoe than a Kenneth Cole made $160 shoe made in China - that's obvious to many, but not to everyone.

What brand(s) should set the bar, and at what pricepoint?

 

[csgrad]

When I mentioned that I wouldn't recommend buying below black label I meant that below that level, you're not getting anything special that warrants the testoni name. By default, testoni shoes are over priced as they are more of a fashion forward brand, like a black label testoni retails more than a tramezza but is not as good.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "medium-ground" but I believe most people use Allen Edmonds as the standard here, whether they consider AE to be the minimum acceptable quality or as a benchmark for grading other shoes.

 

[c55]

E came to mind, but ya "minimum acceptable quality" is something I was thinking of.
What brand starts that chain?

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by csgrad

When I mentioned that I wouldn't recommend buying below black label I meant that below that level, you're not getting anything special that warrants the testoni name. By default, testoni shoes are over priced as they are more of a fashion forward brand, like a black label testoni retails more than a tramezza but is not as good.
I would think it depends what testoni's you're looking at. I own both. I like my black label testoni's better, in terms of styling, leather quality, fit, and just the way they feel. So although some black labels may not be as good as some tramezzas, it's not a matter of fact.

 

[hossoso]

Originally Posted by c55

AE came to mind, but ya "minimum acceptable quality" is something I was thinking of.
What brand starts that chain?

I don't think the term "medium ground" is entirely accurate. I would say that AE is the ground level for a quality shoe to be had at a reasonable price. I would call them "minimum acceptable quality" to spend over $150 on. Trying to find a "medium ground" shoe that we can all agree on (or even a clear majority) may be difficult.

 

[grimslade]

What I would do is put AE squarely on the so-called knee of the curve. Above that, the marginal utility per dollar spent starts to tail off, and below it, the utility lost per dollar saved becomes out of proportion.