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Work shoes beyond AE Park Avenue

mikeway2000

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Hi,
I'm a recent grad who currently has 2 allen edmonds shoes, one in black and one in dark brown. Alas, however, as everyone at my foreign-based firm only seems to wear black shoes.
My black is Park Avenue, and I LOVE the fit and the elongated look. The dark brown is Dryden I got for cheap.
I'm looking for something with similar overall elongated elegant shape as the PA w/ some detail differences to highlight that I don't wear the same pair everyday (but is still very appropriate for work).

What would be the best bet for my next pair: a blutcher, a perf balmoral, or maybe even a non-cap toe?

I'm looking into AE or C&J from Plal, and I would appreciate model names as you make your suggestions. I am a bit sensitive to cost (<$500), but much more so to overall shoe shape. Thank you in advance for your input.
BTW, for my fourth shoes, I'd like to get the C&J Saville or Malvern. Would it be more prudent to wait until my collection grows a bit larger to add a monk?
 

Wes Bourne

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Have you considered the AE Strand?
http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline...val=&Widthval=

Meets most, if not all of your criteria:
-available in black
-same Allen Edmonds #5 last = should provide same fit and overall shape as your Park Avenue
-enough brogueing and punching to set it apart from your Park Avenue
-$325
 

rilian

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I considered going for the Park Avenue's for first my first dress shoes, but when I went to go look at them at Nordstrom's they looked a little two bulky and chunky/high to me. Some people on the forums suggested Martegani which can be found on eBay. I haven't seen them in person, though. In photos, they look much sleeker, with a lower profile, than AE Park Avenues. I'm still new to shoes, but I'd personally go for a cap-toed blucher. It seems versatile enough to work with jeans or dress pants. I have my eyes on these, though I haven't seen them in person:
399H_Black_enlarged.jpg
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...uct_Id=1211435 Let us know what you decide on! And post pics!
 

The_Foxx

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grimslade

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I would not do a cap-toe blucher. Maybe a punch cap or a semi-brogue bal tho.
 

bigbjorn

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Cap-toe bluchers are worse than useless. For cap-toe dress shoes, stick with balmorals.
 

rilian

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Can you give an explanation why cap-toe bluchers are a no-no? What's a punch cap? Does it mean that holes are punched into the shoe in pattern to resemble a cap-toe? Sorry for the naivete.
 

AlanC

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If you like the look of the Park Avenues, try to track down a pair of the now defunct Fifth Avenues. NOS pairs come up sometimes on ebay, etc. Of course, that's not an option you can bank on.
 

unpainted huffheinz

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Originally Posted by rilian
Can you give an explanation why cap-toe bluchers are a no-no? What's a punch cap? Does it mean that holes are punched into the shoe in pattern to resemble a cap-toe? Sorry for the naivete.

Cap toe is fairly formal while the blucher is fairly informal. I have perf cap toe brown bluchers that I think are fine for sport coats and blazers, but I would probably not wear them with a navy or charcoal suit.
 

unpainted huffheinz

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Originally Posted by AlanC
If you like the look of the Park Avenues, try to track down a pair of the now defunct Fifth Avenues. NOS pairs come up sometimes on ebay, etc. Of course, that's not an option you can bank on.

The Hale is also worth looking at from AE.
 

cvac

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Try to find the discontinued AE Byron - punch cap bal at the Shoe Bank. They should still have some in Chili brown.
 

whacked

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Originally Posted by unpainted huffheinz
Cap toe is fairly formal while the blucher is fairly informal. I have perf cap toe brown bluchers that I think are fine for sport coats and blazers, but I would probably not wear them with a navy or charcoal suit.

I think plain toe bluchers would go well with suit.
 

raphael

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If you like the AE park avenues (I do too) you'll love the Ferragamo Bruce.
 

DocHolliday

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So what are you wearing to work each day? Suits? I'd guess some folks are providing answers based on that assumption, while others may not be.

As for captoe bluchers, I don't see anything wrong with them for casual wear. They have a natural affinity with khakis, having a shared military heritage.
 

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