Are Allen Edmonds meant for "older people"

[PASstudy]

To get back on track....

I also don't find myself feeling out of place wearing my Chili Waltons to work each day. I'm 31, in medicine which is fairly conservative. I did purchase insoles to make em perfect enough to wear while I round on hard tile floors all day. The shoes look good, fit in well with other physician's attire. In addition, I can expect these shoes to last 10 years so I am not missing my old KC or CH at all (though I did love the CH shoes with the Nike insoles).

 

[red81]

if you don't know why AE's would look "better" or more "stylish" than ecco's or basketball shoes, then AE's are not for you.

I'm 31, just bought my first pair about a month ago (black park avenues), and i'm yet to see anyone in person (in the last month) whose shoes would beat them in "style".

 

[ShelterIslandMike]

I'm not sure where this thread is going, but AEs are a quality dress/casual shoe, well constructed and offered at a very good price.

I am sure that the top-end English manufacturers make a better shoe. I am equally sure that, aside from maybe 1/10th of one percent of the population, no one can tell the difference between a man wearing an AE shoe and the same man wearing a higher quality shoe from England, including EG, AS, C&J, Loake, etc. Indeed, the shoes most guys wear are not only ridiculously ugly but also flimsy and unlikely to last.

Shoes are just one part of the wardrobe. Paying $1200 for English shoes is over the top. My dress clothes, which I wear about three times a week, cost me less than $1800 per outfit (more in the winter), including the suit, dress shirt, tie, belt and shoes, although I am a picky buyer and rarely pay full retail for anything.

That makes me better dressed than about 98% of the business and professional communities, and I work in New York City.

Good shoes do not make an outfit, but bad shoes (or trendy shoes) can certainly wreck one, even if you're wearing a five thousand dollar suit.

So, buy a pair of AEs that you like, and move on. Take proper care of the shoes; they will last many years. Spend the money elsewhere.

 

[Hiras Fashion]

The AE shoes are timeless. Regardless of age, if you're after durability, elegance and style this is definitely a worthy investment.

 

[Quadcammer]



if you don't know why AE's would look "better" or more "stylish" than ecco's or basketball shoes, then AE's are not for you.

I'm 31, just bought my first pair about a month ago (black park avenues), and i'm yet to see anyone in person (in the last month) whose shoes would beat them in "style".

well, given that abrupt toe cap, I might disagree with you.

 

[wurger]

well, I am 26, and have 2 pairs of AEs, they are excellent solid classic shoes for their price point, but not as elegant and nice as the other English shoes I own, but then again, my English shoes are about double the price.

As for quality and finishing, I think AE is comparable to bench grades of English shoes, as for style, well, they are more stubby and round.

 

[Quadcammer]



English shoes, as for style, well, they are more stubby and round.

there are several AE and English lasts, so this is not always the case.

 

[samadhi27]

Allen Edmonds look far better than those snow shovel-like shoes that 90% of young professionals wear

 

[random-adam]

At my sister-in-law's wedding on Sunday, the wedding planner (a thirtysomething-looking guy) called me out (also in my 30s) on my black Park Avenues. I'll take it.

 

[Dempsy444]

They do have a bit of that Bostonian frump though they have gotten better. To Boot NY has a more modern hip look but isn't as well made as A. Edmonds. Another option at a similar price point is A. Testoni.

 

[chinngiskhaan]

if you don't know why AE's would look "better" or more "stylish" than ecco's or basketball shoes, then AE's are not for you.

I'm 31, just bought my first pair about a month ago (black park avenues), and i'm yet to see anyone in person (in the last month) whose shoes would beat them in "style".

just to be clear... I only wear my basketball shoes while playing basketball. I did not buy the Ecco's because of style, I bought them when I lived in a place where leather soled shoes were not a practical option (mongolia, 7 month winter, average winter temp of -30 to -35 celcius).

moving on... AE's are just as elegant as any other dress shoes I have seen. However, the highest end store we have in these parts is Nordstrom's, so I haven't exactly seen the cream of the crop. At any rate, AE's are certainly more elegant looking than the dress shoe's that a large majority of men wear in these parts, and they aren't that much more expensive, especially when on sale. I think AE's are great for a younger man who is finally willing and eager to invest in good quality footwear, but does not yet have the means to go all out with top of the line shoes.

 

[HughJ]



AE's are just as elegant as any other dress shoes I have seen.

I like AE for what they are, but that's utter nonsense.

Now a PSA: Lands' End is selling the McTavish for $200 right now. Between the seemingly daily coupon codes, you should get free shipping at a minimum.

 

[chinngiskhaan]

I like AE for what they are, but that's utter nonsense.

Now a PSA: Lands' End is selling the McTavish for $200 right now. Between the seemingly daily coupon codes, you should get free shipping at a minimum.

I see what you mean... but you must keep in mind that I live in a place where high end footwear is virtually non-existent. 99% of men in my area think ecco's are the cream of the crop. In no way am I saying that they are more elegant than other high quality shoes in the same price range or above. I live in Provo, Utah; one of the cheapest places in the world. A land where when guys take girls on dates to olive garden and share a meal. Then when they have 8 kids two weeks later they take their kids to Olive garden (once a year) and buy 3 meals for the whole family and of course don't leave a tip. Now that you understand where I'm coming from maybe you'll understand what I mean when I say AE's are far and away more elegant than the dress shoes guys around here wear.

 

[thetasmanian]

I disagree, when I was "younger" (and i would have you believe that I am now 21) I wore brogues. What is not for younger people is the costs associated with long lasting shoes, they seem to have other things to spend their money on, cars women and Jack Daniels etc... What is for older people is the value concept associated with good shoes and the capacity to work out that the actual cost of a pair of shoes is the annual cost over the life of the shoe and perhaps the though of having an old friend on your feet.

I actually like the style of AE over Aldens, because it is slightly less boxy, as for the olive garden I though that was only on The Big Bang Theory, do you mean that it really exists?

 

[OxxfordSJLINY]



Exactly. I'm not a huge fan of AE either, but it makes zero sense to compare them to C&J, EG, JL, and Cleverley. Those brands cost anywhere from 2 to 5 times more than a pair of AE.

Cleverly and JL (at least their bespoke shoes that are more than 1/2 of their production and sales) can cost as much as 10 times (maybe even more than 10 times) that of AE.