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

[ScottyBoy920]

Have you considered the walnut Jefferson? The outlet stores have seconds on sale for $249, so if you are open to seconds and they have your size this would be a nice deal. I have a pair on the way. From your list I think the Clifton is a great looking shoe and really versatile. Looks great in walnut too.

Would you choose the Jefferson at $249 over the Mcallister at the seconds price? Not sure what that is right now, but I gotta assume they are close.

 

[gsgleason]

Have you considered the walnut Jefferson? The outlet stores have seconds on sale for $249, so if you are open to seconds and they have your size this would be a nice deal. I have a pair on the way. From your list I think the Clifton is a great looking shoe and really versatile. Looks great in walnut too. 

Would you choose the Jefferson at $249 over the Mcallister at the seconds price? Not sure what that is right now, but I gotta assume they are close.

The Jefferson is esentially the McAllister but nicer, so if they're comparable, I'd go for Jeff.

 

[OptoDoc]

I'm not a huge fan of the Kenilworth anyhow - so I sold them to a friend whose feet are a 1/2 size smaller than mine.

The Kenilworth is an odd bird. It just doesn't fit like any other 5 last shoe. There is not a single combination that fits me well in the heel and toe. Easily the least comfortable pair of AE I have. If they fit exactly like my strands, I'd purchase every color.

 

[ScottyBoy920]

The Jefferson is esentially the McAllister but nicer, so if they're comparable, I'd go for Jeff.

Looking at my latest price sheet from the Shoebank, I dont see the Jeffersons being that cheap. Hmmm

 

[cldpsu]

A little unsure about sizing after a trip to Allen Edmonds in D.C. yesterday, and it's going to be a pain to ship back and forth:

I have a difficult foot to fit. The area around my ankles is very bony and I often have slippage because of it. Because of this, I have a hard time finding shoes that allow for a gap in the eyelets when laced.

I tried on the strand in a 13 C and it felt too loose around the ankle area. The SA laced them so there was a finger's width but it could have been laced more to fit more snug in the ankle, which would have resulted in the eyelets touching. The 13B felt a lot better, still somewhat loose, but my problem was more in the front of the right shoe where I felt some slight pressure along the outside of my big toe. I'm not sure if it's a problem or if I'm just conscious of it. More importantly, what are my options if the next size up, 13C, is too lose in the ankle area? 14 AAA?AA? B?

 

[wohwoh]

Would AE's Premium Shoe Polish be an acceptable substitute for their shoe cream?

I have a Walnut Sanford and Chili Delray coming in, but I do not see their shoe cream in those colors.

Also, is it recommended to use their Neutral Carnauba Wax Polish for those colors? AE's Carnauba Wax does not come in Walnut/Chili.

Typically, I will be using 4 different products for care:

1. Leather and Conditioner (AE)
2. Shoe Cream or Premium Shoe Polish (AE)
3. Carnauba Wax Polish (AE)
4. Heel and Sole Edge Dressing (AE)

Seeing as how I am tight on time and money, I'd prefer to get the shoe care products directly from AE.

 

[Cold Iron]

I've logged many miles over the past 1.5 years in my Delrays, so they're not going to break in anymore. The perils of getting older as my foot has grown wider since I originally purchased the Delrays. Sizing up to an E width is also not an option for me as my heel swims in the shoe. I've come to accept that I should not buy any more 8 last shoes and the 1 and 5 last are as narrow as I go.

I too gave up on the 8 last. The 5 last is my favorite and I feel that I have even more room in it than the 1 last. Although the 1 fits me very well also. My TTS is 10D and I tried the Clifton in 10D, 10.5D, and 9.5E, the fit was less than perfect in all sizes, in E my heel also swims in all lasts, so I finally came to the conclusion that the 8 is just not going to work with my feet.

 

[Cold Iron]

Would AE's Premium Shoe Polish be an acceptable substitute for their shoe cream?

I have a Walnut Sanford and Chili Delray coming in, but I do not see their shoe cream in those colors.

Also, is it recommended to use their Neutral Carnauba Wax Polish for those colors? AE's Carnauba Wax does not come in Walnut/Chili.

Typically, I will be using 4 different products for care:

1. Leather and Conditioner (AE)
2. Shoe Cream or Premium Shoe Polish (AE)
3. Carnauba Wax Polish (AE)
4. Heel and Sole Edge Dressing (AE)

Seeing as how I am tight on time and money, I'd prefer to get the shoe care products directly from AE.

In my experience yes, the Premium Shoe Polish contains enough cream that you can do without the dedicated cream. The Carnauba Wax polish will give a higher shine but the shine with the Premium Shoe Polish is acceptable IMO for most shoes.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

Would AE's Premium Shoe Polish be an acceptable substitute for their shoe cream?

I have a Walnut Sanford and Chili Delray coming in, but I do not see their shoe cream in those colors.

Also, is it recommended to use their Neutral Carnauba Wax Polish for those colors? AE's Carnauba Wax does not come in Walnut/Chili.

Typically, I will be using 4 different products for care:

1. Leather and Conditioner (AE)
2. Shoe Cream or Premium Shoe Polish (AE)
3. Carnauba Wax Polish (AE)
4. Heel and Sole Edge Dressing (AE)

Seeing as how I am tight on time and money, I'd prefer to get the shoe care products directly from AE.

In my experience yes, the Premium Shoe Polish contains enough cream that you can do without the dedicated cream. The Carnauba Wax polish will give a higher shine but the shine with the Premium Shoe Polish is acceptable IMO for most shoes.

I agree with Cold Iron. I think the Premium Polish is the perfect middle ground.

It's more complicated than this, but to keep things simple, try to think of the three products like this:

1. Shoe Cream = highest dye content, highest moisturizer/conditioner content, lowest wax content
2. Premium Polish = middle dye content, middle moisturizer/conditioner content, middle wax content
3. Carnuba Wax = lowest dye content, lowest moisturizer/conditioner content, highest wax content

For most people, they want their shoes to have an attractive shine, while keeping the leather properly colored and conditioned. The Premium Polish is the best at this in one product and is perfect for the average user. If you want a more mirror like shine, bring in the Carnuba wax to be added on top of one of the other products. Don't use it alone, because it doesn't have enough conditioning agents to keep your leather healthy.

 

[Cold Iron]

Two year old Walnut Strands. I don't find myself wearing them very much in the winter anymore, but, since the weather warmed up, I've been wearing them 1-2 times a week. Still one of my favorite shoes for fit and aesthetics.



Related question: I find they are taking on more of a reddish tone after years of polishing with AE's walnut polish. Any suggestions on a specific polish color to introduce a little more brown to the equation without darkenng them up much more? I fear a medium brown may darken them up too much and a tan color won't add any brown to the mix.

The BB models have the combination sole instead of straight leather, and cannot be recrafted by AE. Probably does not matter that much to many people- indeed, I just picked up a pair of the BB walnut strands to go with my AE bourbon strands

The AE for BB shoes are recraftable. It is the RL shoes that are not. The AE Italian line can be recrafted but not with the original Italian soles.

 

[tampatravel]

Any thoughts on these Island Slippers? Horween leather and having owned a pair they're really like wearing a comfortable slipper.

They had these at the SF AE store when I visited a few weeks ago. Now I might not have to wear anything but AE.

No word of if there will be a Shell Cordovan model

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SFPT202AE4_1_40000000001_-1

 

[kmdsimpson]



I agree with Cold Iron.  I think the Premium Polish is the perfect middle ground. 

It's more complicated than this, but to keep things simple, try to think of the three products like this:

1. Shoe Cream = highest dye content, highest moisturizer/conditioner content, lowest wax content
2. Premium Polish = middle dye content, middle moisturizer/conditioner content, middle wax content
3. Carnuba Wax = lowest dye content, lowest moisturizer/conditioner content, highest wax content

For most people, they want their shoes to have an attractive shine, while keeping the leather properly colored and conditioned.  The Premium Polish is the best at this in one product and is perfect for the average user.  If you want a more mirror like shine, bring in the Carnuba wax to be added on top of one of the other products.  Don't use it alone, because it doesn't have enough conditioning agents to keep your leather healthy.   

MWS, excellent summary. There is so much data available on the forum on how to care for shoes, that it's getting near impossible to process everything (how many thousand posts on the shoe care thread, plus advice here and in the other forums). This is a great, concise explanation that should be pinned somewhere.

I've come to the realization that there is no "one" way to care for shoes. I think if you hit the basics - proper moisturizing/conditioning and then a polish or cream as desired - plus whatever else works for you in terms of finishing and shine, then you'll be fine. It also goes for brands - yes, Saphir may be the supposed gold standard, but you won't ruin your shoes by using other established brands.

 

[kmdsimpson]

Sorry, double post.

 

[kmdsimpson]



Any thoughts on these Island Slippers? Horween leather and having owned a pair they're really like wearing a comfortable slipper.

They had these at the SF AE store when I visited a few weeks ago. Now I might not have to wear anything but AE.

No word of if there will be a Shell Cordovan model

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SFPT202AE4_1_40000000001_-1

Wow, these are pretty nice. I had not noticed them before. Good find!

If I needed sandals, I'd seriously consider. Definitely worth getting on sale.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Not AE, but I came across this brand called Indosoles. They are made in Indonesia and use recycled tires. This version that uses a grass mat for the insole is amazingly comfortable.
http://indosole.myshopify.com/collections/mens/products/green-grass-mat

 

[AmericanGent]

A black shell PTB = good choice. I own 2 pairs.

"Great minds" and all that-- I've got a pair of shell Leeds inbound.