School me on: Dress Shoes

arof · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: School me on: Dress Shoes

I'm looking to buy a pair of nice dress shoes.

Here's the background: I wear dress shoes almost every day. Every season, through winter snow and salt, spring mud and summer and fall. I buy a new pair almost every year, spending between $60 and $100. After a year, they're pretty much ruined and no longer wear-able to work/meetings/etc.

Looking for recommendations or other considerations for a NICE pair of dress shoes. Willing to spend more money but want them to last much longer . . .

Give me some feedback!

eeven73 · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 12:40 pm Post subject:

What is your definition of last?

Frankly a $500 pair isn't going to last significantly better.

If you wear your dress shoes during activites that are not comparable to office work(night out, etc..) they are going to get scuffed and marked up. Which can be helped by polishing but only so much.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

I've had a couple of pairs of Cole Haan dress shoes. Each pair saw use just about everyday for 3 years each. I got them shined every couple of month and they each lasted. CH is a good fit for my foot, I tried Ferragamo, Magninni, Allen Edmonds, but CH was perfect for my foot.

Now I work in industry and am wearing my Asics....so much more comfortable.

ohsix · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject:

I have found Cole Haan to fit my foot best. I have one pair of Johnston & Murphy shoes that are in my regular rotation. I've tried a few other brands and had one pair custom made, but now I don't look any further than Cole Haan. I wear dress shoes 4 days a week and have a rotation of 5 pairs of dress shoes that I wear regularly. I've yet to retire a pair of nice dress shoes, but I do have them re-heeled (~$25) or re-soled occasionally (~$75). I would suggest you buy nice ($150+) dress shoes and take care of them. Get a Kiwi express shoe shine sponge and go over your shoes with it when they look a little rough. I'm always impressed at the results from those things. Otherwise, I just carry all my shoes to the shoe shine guy at my bank about once a year to get them done right.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Cole Haan Pinch Air Tassel/Air Penny's

pet575 · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 2:57 pm Post subject:

I wear dress shoes every day to work all day and I can get a couple of years out of CH's or J&Ms as well. Mine always wore out in the sole right under the ball of my foot before anything else. One thing I learned a few years back to help your shoes last as long as possible is to wear cotton/cotton blend socks as often as possible. These types of socks absorb more moisture than the poly blend thin socks. The thin poly blends don't hardly absorb anything and so the moisture from your foot's sweat gets transferred straight into the sole of the shoe and makes it soften up and wear out quicker.

Since I started the cotton sock thing I've doubled the amount of time I can get out of any shoe-whether $60-100 or $300, so I just buy the $60-100 pairs during a sale when I can get a deal on a second pair or get them free.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I wear dress shoes most weekdays. You should probably have 2 pairs (hopefully different colors, brown and black at minimum) if not more to rotate. They will last a lot longer that way as it gives the shoe a chance to dry out. Also on that end cedar shoe trees are a must along with a regular cleaning/polishing regiment. Sounds like a lot but I keep a shine kit in the office and can get things done in 10 minutes before anyone else shows up for the day.

Rotation/Rest, Shoe Trees, and Cleaning will substantially extend the life of any brand...

Allen Edmonds are nice and you can even send them back to the factory for refinishing for a fee.

jgriffith · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 5:29 pm Post subject:

I have always liked cole haans

Chattwake · Posted: Nov 18, 2013 6:45 pm Post subject:

Johnston and Murphy was my go to brand but I went with two pair or banana republic shoes last year and they have been amazing.

ohsix · Posted: Nov 19, 2013 7:14 am Post subject:

eich82 · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 860 City: MTP

Another CH fan here. Once they get broken in, they're the most comfortable brand I've found. They will also resole them if you send them back to the factory for like 75 bucks or something. Also have to agree with Shoe Trees and regular polish/care. It also helps if you have several pair that you can rotate to keep them dry.

Also I keep a couple of older but decent pair for days when the weather is really crappy. I also have shoe rubbers, but the reality is that sometimes I don't have time or forget to throw them on. I've found it's easier to just wear the older pair and not worry about it much.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

if you want your nice shoes to last, stop wearing them in this:

Chattwake · Posted: Nov 20, 2013 6:02 am Post subject:

My BR shoes have been great. They both have rubber soles, which have worn way better than my leathers. No foot sweat problems here.

BrtnDan · Addict Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 609

Cole Haan and Two Boot New York are my go-tos. I typically buy 2-3 pairs per year.

The key to dress shoes is maintaining them. Shoe trees are extremely important, as is regular polishing. My dad, who is a bit old school, polishes his shoes nearly every time he wears them.

I have a vintage pair of To Boot New York shoes from my grandpa that are VERY old, but still look amazing because they have been taken care of.

I currently have:

Black and Brown cap toes from Cole Haan

Black and Brown Wingtips from To Boot

Slip ons from Allen Edmonds - Airport Shoes

Double Monk Strap in Brown from To Boot.

Black "Felix" from To Boot.

One of the first thing women notice about men are their shoes. Shoes are really the kind of thing you get what you pay for. SQUARE TOES = NEVER, EVER EVER.

Also, get to know a cobbler, and talk to them about it.

I would prefer, if I were in your position, to buy more than 1 pair until you've established a bit of a rotation.

eich82 · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 860 City: MTP

Bump

Cole Haan is running a 40% off sale for Cyber Monday. Just picked up a couple pair of my personal favorites for ~$100 which is a steal.

arof · Posted: Dec 03, 2013 7:01 am Post subject:

so an update - i looked for shoes when i was in Houston over the weekend.

Didn't like anything at the Cole Haan store. I bought a pair of Ecco's and found a another pair that i like but didn't have my size. Will be buying them online.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Dec 06, 2013 2:07 pm Post subject:

Nordstrom will be having their big year end sale pretty soon, I would keep my eyes out for a nice pair of Allen Edmonds. The uppers will last a lifetime if you take care of them and you can always get them resoled/refurbished at the AE factory for $100.

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

arof - I figured you were more of a red patent leather peep toe pump kinda guy! Wink

Chattwake · Posted: Dec 16, 2013 7:04 pm Post subject:

Bought the wife some Christian Louboutins when were in NYC last month. Good lore those are 'spensive! Like all of my shoes combined. Oh well.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

I would die for those shoes. They're a dream to own.

bjeremi · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 433 City: Owasso

Like Chattwake, Johnston and Murphy's were my go to brand for quite a while. I always wore out the heals though. A couple of years ago I got a pair of Ralph Lauren Sanderson Wingtip's. Stupid expensive! I had a buddy who worked for them and got me the shoe's at half price. Still stupid expensive!

However after owning the things for a couple of years I have realized why the cost so damn much. Super comfortable and the top looks as good as when I bought them. I wear them almost everyday during the week so they take some abuse. I have had the heals replaced twice ($20).

Seriously amazing shoes. Trying to find a used black pair as I still can't swallow the MSRP price tag.