Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[ElDave]



Rockin' my new Kenilworths. Need some more shine, but I'll take it for now. Love these shoes.

I don't own a single pair of plain toe shoes (I generally hate them) but these are really growing on me.

 

[whnay.]

In my experience the only men that wear AE's with any panache are old timers that live in small southern cities.

Then again, most of these places still fly confederate flags...

 

[JubeiSpiegel]



Rockin' my new Kenilworths. Need some more shine, but I'll take it for now. Love these shoes.

For the sheer simplicity and elegance, it is a great looking shoe. Enjoy friend.

 

[lachyzee]

E experts, I require your assistance. Today I received my first pair of AEs from Endless, but I'm not sure of the fit. I know it's impossible to tell how something fits on someone else's foot from a few photos, but I'm hoping if I give a key few indicators you guys might be able to assist me.

On a Brannock, I'm right on the border of an 11B/C. On the advice of AE themselves, I ordered a 10.5D Fifth Ave. I'm worried that they are slightly too big. There is heaps of room in the toe box - but I think that is to be expected with this last. They fit well through the arch, but I wonder if they are too loose in the heal. With thicker dress socks they feel OK, but not "snug" like I think a new shoe should (since it will, presumably, loosen up some.

1. In this photo you can see that the laces bring the uppers all the way together - should they? I have previously read that you want a bit of a gap here to account for the leather stretching a bit down the track.

2. In these next photos you can see that I can easily fit an index finger between in the space between my instep and the heel of the shoe.





3. I feel like these two issues may be able to be corrected with a tongue pad (and since it will cost me $60 to return them to Endless for an exchange it might be better to just suck it up and keep them) but there is a final issue that might mean I can send them back and have Endless cover the cost. I don't know if it's my imagination, but I feel like the cap toe on the right shoe is slightly crooked. I'm sure no-one would ever notice, but it bothers me for some reason (especially given that it's a $300 shoe). I'd be interested to see if you agree, or if I'm just being pedantic.



4. If they are, indeed, a little too big and I do exchange them I'm not sure what size I should go with to mitigate the issues I am having - 10.5B, 10.5C or even a 10D or 10E. Mainly I feel like the heel needs to be narrower.

Here's a couple more photos for reference:

 

[JubeiSpiegel]



AE experts, I require your assistance. Today I received my first pair of AEs from Endless, but I'm not sure of the fit. I know it's impossible to tell how something fits on someone else's foot from a few photos, but I'm hoping if I give a key few indicators you guys might be able to assist me.
On a Brannock, I'm right on the border of an 11B/C. On the advice of AE themselves, I ordered a 10.5D Fifth Ave. I'm worried that they are slightly too big. There is heaps of room in the toe box - but I think that is to be expected with this last. They fit well through the arch, but I wonder if they are too loose in the heal. With thicker dress socks they feel OK, but not "snug" like I think a new shoe should (since it will, presumably, loosen up some.
1. In this photo you can see that the laces bring the uppers all the way together - should they? I have previously read that you want a bit of a gap here to account for the leather stretching a bit down the track.
2. In these next photos you can see that I can easily fit an index finger between in the space between my instep and the heel of the shoe.


3. I feel like these two issues may be able to be corrected with a tongue pad (and since it will cost me $60 to return them to Endless for an exchange it might be better to just suck it up and keep them) but there is a final issue that might mean I can send them back and have Endless cover the cost. I don't know if it's my imagination, but I feel like the cap toe on the right shoe is slightly crooked. I'm sure no-one would ever notice, but it bothers me for some reason (especially given that it's a $300 shoe). I'd be interested to see if you agree, or if I'm just being pedantic.

4. If they are, indeed, a little too big and I do exchange them I'm not sure what size I should go with to mitigate the issues I am having - 10.5B, 10.5C or even a 10D or 10E. Mainly I feel like the heel needs to be narrower.
Here's a couple more photos for reference:

Definitely, size down in width. There is no room for stretching on those, the fit will only get worse. Not sure if you should size down in length though. The creasing seems to be in the right place. I'm guessing you do not have a store near by that carries AE shoes? Even trying on a similar lasted shoe should point you in the right direction.

 

[ajmanouk]



Definitely, size down in width. There is no room for stretching on those, the fit will only get worse. Not sure if you should size down in length though. The creasing seems to be in the right place. I'm guessing you do not have a store near by that carries AE shoes? Even trying on a similar lasted shoe should point you in the right direction.

+1

If you were measured as an 11 B/C, then the standard procedure for a shoe on the 5 last is to go down length by half a size (which you've done), and up width by one (so either a C or a D in your case). Since the D appears too wide, go for the C width.

Not sure about the crooked cap toe. I can't really tell, but then again, it's a small picture.

 

[patrick_b]



Do you know where you can find the discontinued styles?

Yeah, how do you get these? What's left? a mora (especially in brown or chocolate suede) or a soho would be cool but there are other discontinued styles that would be fine at that price.

My local AE outlet store manager offers to email me a list of disco'd models in my size upon request. You could try any outlet that's near you. For reference, my local store is the AE Factory Store in Freeport, ME, manager's name is Edward Wickham.

 

[dieselman89]

What sucks for me is that I have reasonably enjoyed 11D for AE and when I went to a local store that carries AE and an AE store in NYC they confirmed 11D, however I recently purchased a pair of shoes on the exec. line and they are not as comfortable as my other pairs of AE shoes. I wish I had read the posts on here about the different lasts.

 

[dieselman89]

Gents, also I spoke with an AE sales rep who sales most of the shoes listed on the clearance section of the website are the ones being offered at the 2 for $200 deal. The only ones I really like are the Lombards and the Parliment. My concern is that the Lombards are bluchers and cannot be worn with a suit, and the Parliments are too similar to the Strands that I already know. Any thoughts?

 

[Winston S.]



Gents, also I spoke with an AE sales rep who sales most of the shoes listed on the clearance section of the website are the ones being offered at the 2 for $200 deal. The only ones I really like are the Lombards and the Parliment. My concern is that the Lombards are bluchers and cannot be worn with a suit, and the Parliments are too similar to the Strands that I already know. Any thoughts?

I think most people, i.e., the general population, wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an oxford and a derbie. There are plenty of people that wear bluchers with suits. Some even wear loafers with suits

 

[the_drizzle]



Gents, also I spoke with an AE sales rep who sales most of the shoes listed on the clearance section of the website are the ones being offered at the 2 for $200 deal. The only ones I really like are the Lombards and the Parliment. My concern is that the Lombards are bluchers and cannot be worn with a suit, and the Parliments are too similar to the Strands that I already know. Any thoughts?

I think most people, i.e., the general population, wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an oxford and a derbie. There are plenty of people that wear bluchers with suits. Some even wear loafers with suits

I agree with Winston, a nice pair of bluchers should be fine with a suit.

 

[hohneokc]



Gents, also I spoke with an AE sales rep who sales most of the shoes listed on the clearance section of the website are the ones being offered at the 2 for $200 deal. The only ones I really like are the Lombards and the Parliment. My concern is that the Lombards are bluchers and cannot be worn with a suit, and the Parliments are too similar to the Strands that I already know. Any thoughts?

I wear my Lombards with suits - they look great.

Chris

 

[Geoff Gander]

Just cashed in on the 2 for $200 sale with a couple of guys at work who have never owned AEs before. I snagged a pair of Thayers in chocolate suede, one my buddies got a pair of Memphis in black, and the other got Van Ness in burgundy and probably the last McClain spectators in black and white. Score!

 

[kmdsimpson]



What sucks for me is that I have reasonably enjoyed 11D for AE and when I went to a local store that carries AE and an AE store in NYC they confirmed 11D, however I recently purchased a pair of shoes on the exec. line and they are not as comfortable as my other pairs of AE shoes. I wish I had read the posts on here about the different lasts.

Gents, also I spoke with an AE sales rep who sales most of the shoes listed on the clearance section of the website are the ones being offered at the 2 for $200 deal. The only ones I really like are the Lombards and the Parliment. My concern is that the Lombards are bluchers and cannot be worn with a suit, and the Parliments are too similar to the Strands that I already know. Any thoughts?

Note that the Lombard is on the executive last, which you said was not comfortable for you - also known as Last 2. The Lombards run very narrow. I am also an 11D and had to get rid of my Lombards because they were too narrow for my feet.

 

[AnGeLiCbOrIs]



Note that the Lombard is on the executive last, which you said was not comfortable for you - also known as Last 2. The Lombards run very narrow. I am also an 11D and had to get rid of my Lombards because they were too narrow for my feet.

The VanNess is on the same last and was too narrow for me as well in a D width. It is a shame because they are very nice shoes. I may take advantage of the sale to pick up a black 10.5E VanNess.