My new brogues

**Cygnus** · 21st March 11, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer

Poor Mrs. MoR! You can't dance with all that rubber on your leather sole. James Brown would be appalled.

I'm not sure that brown daywear brogues would be appropriate to wear to most dances and balls... though I have little doubt James Brown could pull it off.

I actually have a few pairs of Florsheim shoes and have liked every single one of them, though I don't currently own any of their wingtips/brogues. Given your review, I may have to remedy that!

**billmcc** · 21st March 11, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer

Poor Mrs. MoR! You can't dance with all that rubber on your leather sole. James Brown would be appalled.

MoR mentioned a while back that he wears special shoes when dancing.

**longhuntr74** · 21st March 11, 10:38 PM

I don't think I am likely to be dancing in these shoes. As billmcc mentions...there are party shoes for that. To be clear...I bought these shoes for dual purpose. In my current assignment, I wear "business casual" almost every day to work...sometimes a suit even...so they will get the most use over the next year or so in that mode. I do believe that I'll be wearing them as daywear with my kilts as well.

To Jim and others who have posted...I'm aware that A-E is in a different class than Florsheim (made one at a time in a US factory vs. mass production import). Florsheim used to be in that same class...I remember a couple of pair of Florsheims that my dad had and wore several times a week to work in the late 70s and early 80s....they were built. Like most other commercial goods, Florsheim has since gone overseas. I don't necessarily equate foreign made with poor quality, however. Like anything else, they can be great or a lemon.

This model is one of Florsheim's more expensive shoes...and I'm hoping that the higher price equates to higher quality. I have a pair of black "Lexington" wingtips that I was somewhat disappointed in and would not recommend to others. They are ok for what they are...but the leather is pretty stiff, the heel is a plastic spacer, and the sole is glued on, not sewn. This model, which costs about $50 more than the Lexington, appears to be made of better materials with a goodyear welted real leather sole and heel. If I am not happy with what I see when I receive these new ones, I'll simply send them back and put that money away in my Allen Edmonds piggy bank.

**tripleblessed** · 21st March 11, 10:47 PM

The Allen Edmonds site has some on close-out at $250, still a chunk, but $75
off regular price.

I'll chime in on their shoes as well. My favorite shoes. So far. Still no bespoke.

**longhuntr74** · 21st March 11, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by tripleblessed

The Allen Edmonds site has some on close-out at $250, still a chunk, but $75
off regular price.

I'll chime in on their shoes as well. My favorite shoes. So far. Still no bespoke.

Did you check out the size? The only size on clearance was a size 6! LOL

**Rollo** · 22nd March 11, 06:18 AM

Very beautiful shoes !

**longhuntr74** · 25th March 11, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Rollo

Very beautiful shoes !

Very beautiful indeed...the UPS man delivered them today. Unfortunately, they are going right back to Zappos.com. Upon close inspection, I was happy with neither the quality of construction nor the quality of the materials used..

The first shoe I looked at was fairly good at first glance. I noted some relatively thin leather...and then I noticed what I expected to be a stacked leather heel is just a facade...the inside of it actually appears to be a block of plastic, just like my other, cheaper Florsheims. The sole is, in fact, stitched to the upper...or at least from the heel forward it is...but the groove and holes (on the bottom of the sole) seemed awfully large, which I would assume would cause weakness in the sole and excessive dirt or water to seep into the bottom of the shoe.

Upon inspecting the second shoe, there was no question left in my mind that the shoes are being returned. The upper half of the threads used to stitch the soles on (think sewing machine with lower and upper threads) left large loops hanging out in 3 places...meaning the stitching is not doing its job and is holding nothing. Very poor quality in construction and apparently little to no quality control.

I'll be getting my $140 back and putting it into a fund for those Allen Edmonds.

**Jack Daw** · 25th March 11, 01:35 PM

For the money, Johnston & Murphy make a very good wingtip/brogue. I prefer the brand to Bostonians, and a shoe repairman I know also endorses J&M.

**tripleblessed** · 25th March 11, 01:37 PM

Disheartening, I'm sure. Sending a bundle of commiserations your way.
Arriving Fedex soonest, I'm sure.

Allen Edmonds site had various sizes in a couple of different styles as of
my post, or maybe you only wanted specific style. As I wear a 12, I would have noticed only a 6. Oh. well. maybe another day. I know you'll enjoy wearing their shoes.