Dress Shoes

[historian]

Well, I'll blame the Boots thread for my idea of asking Ingo, but my wingtips are getting old (about 10 years of nearly daily use), and it will soon be time for new dress shoes. I would like some that are comfortable to stand and walk in, as I do a lot of that, so pretty looks are second, but they need to be worn with a suit.

What says the hive mind of INGO?

 

[Gabriel]

The closest thing I have to dress shoes is an old pair of Danner Striker boots with the toes polished. I hope this helps.

 

[HoughMade]

In my experience, only way to know is to go and try them on. I know we want to shop online these days, but I can't quite get it right when shoe shopping. Obviously steer clear of man-made uppers, though a rubber sole isn't bad. I've had both rubber and leather soles (and combination) and rubber stands up better over time. I also like a heal that can be replaced if need be, meaning it is attached to the sole, not molded with it.

My preferred construction and fit mean more to me than brand.

I stopped wearing lace-up dress shoes years ago. It's slip-ons for me.

 

[historian]

I stopped wearing lace-up dress shoes years ago. It's slip-ons for me.

Pretty soon we'll be adding you to the Hall of Age with Indi and CM...

 

[HoughMade]

Pretty soon we'll be adding you to the Hall of Age with Indi and CM...

It was before I had TSA Pre Check and I found I liked it. I still do wing-tips with tassles.

 

[Itchytriggerfinger]

The most comfotable pair of shoes I own are Clark's UnSheridan. I promise I don't work for Clark's but I'm on my feet for 10 hours a day in different environments and it's the only shoe I can wear with a suit or a pair of jeans on casual Friday.

 

[indiucky]

Pretty soon we'll be adding you to the Hall of Age with Indi and CM...

I got a couple of years on Hough but between the tractor and the woodworking he is rapidly catching up....

 

[Nojoy621]

Look at Cole Haan. They have a line with Nike and are super comfortable but may look a little casual for some. Johnston and Murphy also make some really comfy dress shoes.

 

[KittySlayer]

I stopped wearing lace-up dress shoes years ago. It's slip-ons for me.

Me too, although in the last few years dress shoes are just for special outings so I look like I belong next to my classy wife.

Been happy with Bostonian Classics for a number of years and have been able to find the exact same model year after year.

 

[spec4]

Florsheims.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Price range?

 

[Vigilant]

Ecco, if they don’t make a shoe dressy enough for the occasion, I don’t need to be there.

 

[Dean C.]

I have a pair of Allen Edmond's Fifth Avenue shoes that I absolutely love they are made in the USA and are on a Goodyear Welt so they can be resoled and essentially never wear out. Very comfortable after about a couple days break in. I waited for their big annual "made in the USA" sale around October/November and only paid like $220 for them at the store in Chicago (the same sale happened at the Allen Edmond's store at the Keystone Fashion Mall). These shoes have garnered almost as many compliments as my Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger boots.

Fifth Avenue - Cap-toe Lace-up Oxford Mens Dress Shoes by Allen Edmonds

 

[natdscott]

Price range?

Agreed. Dress shoes can get kinda salty/stupid on price, but your need sometimes is determined by your profession and position.

Johnston & Murphy get pretty good reviews, and they make widths.

The upper end of Clarks is what I am wearing right now (Dorset Boss cap-toe oxford, Black). I can't bear the thought of spending more than $200 on a pair, simply because I ask them to do things they sometimes ought not do, so they don't last as long as a dress shoe would on carpeted cubicle-land.

Do please consider wearing something OTHER than a wingtip, unless that's strictly your style, or it is somehow directly befitting your role. They are a little dated, and they speak to a specific generation. Maybe that's okay.

Brogue details can be alright, but I say understated is better and more formal (less is more).

Up to you.

-Nate

 

[jag09]

I second Allen Edmonds. I have two pairs of their Mcallister Wingtip Oxfords, one in Black and one in Oxblood. Mine broke in quickly, after purchasing and after they were refinished. There is a Allen Edmonds store at Keystone and the Crossing, so you could go there check out sizing and fit. If you don't need them in a rush something I do is to buy lightly used leather dress shoe shells on ebay then have them refinished by a shoe shop downtown. AE also offers the service through their stores as well.

 

[Vigilant]

I have a pair of Allen Edmond's Fifth Avenue shoes that I absolutely love they are made in the USA and are on a Goodyear Welt so they can be resoled and essentially never wear out. Very comfortable after about a couple days break in. I waited for their big annual "made in the USA" sale around October/November and only paid like $220 for them at the store in Chicago (the same sale happened at the Allen Edmond's store at the Keystone Fashion Mall). These shoes have garnered almost as many compliments as my Red Wing Heritage Iron Ranger boots.

Fifth Avenue - Cap-toe Lace-up Oxford Mens Dress Shoes by Allen Edmonds

Those would be great if they weren’t slick soled. Vibram or some other more grippy sole material is a must for any shoe I wear.

 

[Dean C.]

Those would be great if they weren’t slick soled. Vibram or some other more grippy sole material is a must for any shoe I wear.

Done and Done, if I ever need to re-sole mine I will have it done in their "V-Tred"


Fifth Avenue - Dress Boots Leather Sole Men's Dress Boots by Allen Edmonds

 

[Vigilant]

Done and Done, if I ever need to re-sole mine I will have it done in their "V-Tred"


Fifth Avenue - Dress Boots Leather Sole Men's Dress Boots by Allen Edmonds

Now I’m interested.

 

[Thor]

This thread would have been valuable for me a while ago...now my dress shoes are a set of Wolverine Plainsman boots. I'm the boss so we've gone business tactical. Glad you found what you were looking for.

 

[historian]

Now I’m interested.

Same here, but the price is a bit steep.

I was hoping for something in the $100 range. Now that those shoes can "last forever" (with $125 each time you refinish them), that may be worth thinking about...