My new brogues

[longhuntr74]

I've been yearning for a pair of brown standard brogues (or wingtips, as we call them here on the left side of the pond) for some time now. I looked at virtually every brown wingtip out there on the market and the one that had been on the top of my list was the Allen Edmonds McAllister. I find this shoe really attractive due to its coloration...and certainly the quality of Allen Edmonds and the fact that it's made in the USA are selling points. Unfortunately, the price tag of $300+ has kept it on my dream list for several months.


Well after seeing an add in my most recent issue of GQ, I once again started to drool over a brown pair of wingtips and started surfing the net again. I happened across this pair (that I don't know how I missed before...maybe because I was looking for a lighter brown).


The color and apparent softness of the calfskin in the pictures grabbed my attention. This "Limited" edition also appears to have a slightly higher ankle than the standard models of this shoe and about every other wingtip I've looked at, a feature which I like. I also like the natural brown edge contrasted with the upper color. Zappos had one left in my size, so I snagged it. Received notice that the are on their way...I will try to post pics when I receive them and give them a trial run.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Excellent choice, and I hope they fit. If they do, I'd suggest that you have your local shoe repair shop put a thin rubber sole over the leather soles. This won't affect the flexibility of the shoe, but it will prevent slipping on damp or wet surfaces. It will also prolong the life of the shoe, as the rubber over sole will take 100% of the wear and tear, thus protecting and preserving the leather underneath.

[Chirs]

Those are beautiful shoes! And I would second MacMillan's advice, a thin rubber sole can save you from slipping disasters. (Wearing the kilt and leather-soled shoes, a light mist falling, a little slip... people saw more than they had planned. What to say?)

[longhuntr74]

I do prefer leather soles, but I had never thought about having rubber attached aftermarket...good tip MoR!

I expect to get a lot of use out them at work too...in addition to kilt wear. I think they'll look great with grey or blue! By the way...They are Florsheim Marlton's, for anybody that might want to know...realized that I hadn't said what kind they are.

[artificer]

I have the Allen Edmunds in your first pic but in black. They are probably my favorite shoe.

Florsheim in pic 2 is very nice. The colour should be an easy one to polish as well, very close to standard colours. The Allen Edmund "Walnut" is beautiful, but I would worry about the difficulty in polishing scuffs out.

Probably best you went w/Florsheim in this case. Good buy.

ith:

[Cowher]

Nice. Very nice.

[thescot]

The Florshiem is a good shoe. The Allen Edmonds is a great shoe and worth the money, even if you have to save a while longer. You can get the A.E. in other colors as well.

I have a pair of Florshiem cap toes, and they're good shoes. But they aren't Allen
Edmonds.

Just something to think about.

[Highlander31]

Excellent choice, and I hope they fit. If they do, I'd suggest that you have your local shoe repair shop put a thin rubber sole over the leather soles. This won't affect the flexibility of the shoe, but it will prevent slipping on damp or wet surfaces. It will also prolong the life of the shoe, as the rubber over sole will take 100% of the wear and tear, thus protecting and preserving the leather underneath.

Congratulations. I own several pairs of Allen Edmunds. They are an excellent investment, and will last for decades (I have one pair that I purchased in 1990.) I've used the Vibram brand on all of them for years. On one assignment, the op required I cover ten miles a night (I used a pedometer to check the mileage.) This gave me the opportunity to see how far the the soles would go. The soles lasted 500 miles before I had to take the shoes in for a new set of the soles. The Vibram soles are simple for a cobbler to attach to the leather and can be replaced quickly. As M.o.R. stated, the rubber soles protect the leather underneath (I still have the original leather soles on my shoes.)

[SlackerDrummer]

Excellent choice, and I hope they fit. If they do, I'd suggest that you have your local shoe repair shop put a thin rubber sole over the leather soles. This won't affect the flexibility of the shoe, but it will prevent slipping on damp or wet surfaces. It will also prolong the life of the shoe, as the rubber over sole will take 100% of the wear and tear, thus protecting and preserving the leather underneath.

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

[English Bloke]

Nice shooooooees! I like shoes.