Which cigar shell (dark brown) cordovan shoes to get?

[huskyzealot]

Really slow day at work and I'm having an unusually tough time deciding which of these shoes to purchase. I want to get a dark brown cordovan shoe to wear primarily with navy and light grey wool slacks at work, but also the occasional pair of chinos outside of the office. These will never really be worn with a suit.

Assuming the current Ralph Lauren sale applies to cordovan shoes (I haven't tested this yet), all the shoes are relatively the same price.

Option 1: Alden Full-Strap Loafer (cigar shell)
http://www.theshoemart.com/alden-men..._cordovan.html

Option 2: RL Darlton Loafer
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...ductId=1812817


Option 3: RL Darlton Wingtip
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...ductId=1812819

I am leaning towards the Alden's - I have a pair in color 8 already, and I love them. I have never seen either of the Darlton's in real life (maybe that is an issue), but it seems as though they are both less formal shoes which might look a little off with my somewhat sleek wool trousers at work (esp. the bulkier wingtips). I also have some mild concerns about the appropriateness of wearing the wingtips in the workplace since I am 24 years old and get the feeling that some of the older guys view wingtips as ultra formal (even though they are not).

Of course, right when I am about to pull the trigger on the Aldens, I think of how idiotic I am for not picking up the arguably better quality (C&J) shoes at the discounted price, and how dumb it is to purchase an almost identical shoe to the ones sitting on my feet currently (the same shoes in color 8).

Can someone just make my life easier and tell me which ones to get?

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Buy the Dalton cordovan wingtip or the tassel loafer. Pennies are a bit informal for the office...(i know, i know)/

The cordovan is included in the sale.

 

[huskyzealot]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

Buy the Dalton cordovan wingtip or the tassel loafer. Pennies are a bit informal for the office...(i know, i know)/

The cordovan is included in the sale.

So you'd consider the wingtips more formal than the alden full straps? I wouldn't wear either with a suit, but since the wingtips aren't balmorals i found them to be pretty casual looking.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Yeah, but just a hair more formal. I'd wear them with flannel and tweed and never a suit....unless it was flannel or tweed

 

[Slewfoot]

Darltons wingtips for sure.

 

[JayJay]

Darlton wingtips or Alden cigar longwings.

 

[Hoofit]

I have the Darlton loafer, and the color is amazing. I think the Darlton longwing is your best bet though. That shoe is rediculous. Get em and post some pics.

 

[huskyzealot]

A lot of love for the Darlton wing tips.

Are they true to size? I wear 10.5D in allen edmonds, and 10D on the alden aberdeen and plaza lasts for reference.

 

[Hoofit]

Originally Posted by huskyzealot

A lot of love for the Darlton wing tips.

Are they true to size? I wear 10.5D in allen edmonds, and 10D on the alden aberdeen and plaza lasts for reference.

My Darlton pennys fit TTS. I am a 12 D in AE and have 12D in the darlton.

 

[cioni2k]

Those Darlton Pennies and Wingtips are incredible. I will own both someday in the not so far off future, I'm sure of it

 

[W.R.]

Originally Posted by Slewfoot

Darltons wingtips for sure.

+1

 

[marco_rol]

Originally Posted by huskyzealot

I also have some mild concerns about the appropriateness of wearing the wingtips in the workplace since I am 24 years old

You're only 24 and you're going to buy cordovan wingtips? My hat's off to you young sir.

+1 for the Darlton wingtip. I was just looking at them today and put them into my cart (still trying to decide if I want to pull the trigger as well). My issue is I need a brown wingtip more for suits than for casual, so I think I'm going to have to pass on the Darlton's and go with a pair of EG's or something.

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by huskyzealot

A lot of love for the Darlton wing tips.

Are they true to size? I wear 10.5D in allen edmonds, and 10D on the alden aberdeen and plaza lasts for reference.

Your sizing sounds funny - you're 1/2 size down from AE in the Aberdeen and Plaza? That'd put you in about a 9.5D Barrie.

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by Hoofit

I think the Darlton longwing is your best bet though. That shoe is rediculous. .

It's not a longwing. http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/i...entPage=search

 

[huskyzealot]

Originally Posted by marco_rol

You're only 24 and you're going to buy cordovan wingtips? My hat's off to you young sir.
This is actually a concern of mine. Am I too young to be wearing wingtips to the office? Also, every picture I see of the Darlon wingtips (image search & RL website) has them paired with more casual pants like chinos, jeans, etc., but I only wear wool dress slacks (mostly single pleated with a cuff) to work....will the shoes work with that look?