$800 shoe budget in London - need Black Captoes

[nepats81]

So I will be in London this weekend as the first leg of my trip to Europe. I was planning on going to Jermyn Street and checking out C&J, Lobb, EG and Church's as I am in search of the perfect black captoe dress shoe for work. I would like to stay under $800 so that probably eliminates EG and Lobb unless there is a generous sale OR if someone can convince me that the step up in price would be worth it in added quality (I work finance in NYC so a decent amount of walking). So can anyone reccomend any specific models or lasts that I should consider? I'm open to other brands as well.

FYI my current shoe lineup consists of AE's, and SF Tramezza's, so this will by my first step into English shoes.

Thanks!

 

[Quadcammer]

CJ Handgrade Prestwood on the 358 last.

$600, so you can save the remaining $200 on a few dozen pints.

 

[Quadcammer]

or, if you must have an oxford

Audley, CJ handgrade

 

[Macallan]

Go to Edward Green and spend about £440 ($685) on shoes and £70 ($108) on shoe trees

Then:
go to JJ Fox and spend your vat refund on proper cigars
or
go to Soho and spend your vat refund down some 'seedy' side street

 

[msulinski]

Since you will be doing a lot of walking, I recommend getting sole guards put on, assuming they don't come installed from the factory.

 

[AlexE]



Go to Edward Green and spend about £440 ($685) on shoes and £70 ($108) on shoe trees

$685 for shoes and $108 for trees? Must have been some years since they had prices like that ;-) Today you need to replace the $-sign with a £-sign.

 

[Quadcammer]



Since you will be doing a lot of walking, I recommend getting sole guards put on, assuming they don't come installed from the factory.

no

 

[Macallan]



$685 for shoes and $108 for trees? Must have been some years since they had prices like that ;-) Today you need to replace the $-sign with a £-sign.

The Big Green Monster* has a 30% sale until mid-July, prices are similar/same to the 2011 xmas sale where I purchased two pairs of shoes with shoe trees.

(*re: Red Sox fans, not that monster)

 

[msulinski]

no

Care to expand on why not? He is going to destroy the soles in about a year if he walks as much as I do.

 

[Fraiche]



The Big Green Monster* has a 30% sale until mid-July, prices are similar/same to the 2011 xmas sale where I purchased two pairs of shoes with shoe trees.
(*re: Red Sox fans, not that monster)

On select products or everything?

 

[Quadcammer]



Care to expand on why not? He is going to destroy the soles in about a year if he walks as much as I do.

Well, anybody spending $800 on shoes probably has more than one pair. Secondly, so what...shoes are meant to wear out, which is why you can have them resoled and start again. Finally, who wants to cover the beautifully done sole of an EG, CJ handgrade, Lobb, G&G, etc with some rubber cover. You can also make the breathing argument, but I think its stupid, so I wont.

 

[Macallan]



On select products or everything?

Selected; however, more then enough options

 

[nepats81]

Thanks for the responses everyone...I'll definitely post pictures. Where is this store "green monster"?

 

[Geezer]



Thanks for the responses everyone...I'll definitely post pictures.  Where is this store "green monster"?

He means the EG shop. Their shoeboxes and bags are - these days - a rather distinctive bright emerald green.

 

[nepats81]

aaah I see. So is it worth it to get EG's for 440 pounds over C&J Handgrades for 320 pounds? I suppose I'm opening a can of worms...