How is To Boot New York quality in 2019?

[ozmos]

I'm on the market for a pair of brown dress shoes for a new suit and I really like the look of a few of the TBNY models. I've tried doing some research on the internet and get some reviews, but i've found some not so favorable ones about the quality from a few years back and how they're not worth the $400-$500 price point. Has this changed at all? Is there any difference in quality between what is being sold at nordstrom, bloomingdale's, etc, and what is being sold directly from the TBNY website? Both seem to have different models available. I know a lot of celeb suit-wearers are dressed in them, and GQ has featured them a bunch of times, so I was wondering if this holds any merit.

 

[othertravel]

Nope. For that price, you can get two pairs of meermin, or 1 pair of carmina.

 

[ozmos]

Nope. For that price, you can get two pairs of meermin, or 1 pair of carmina.

even these? https://toboot.com/collections/lace-ups/products/faro-burnished-brown

 

[othertravel]

Yeah, that's not a good price. The To Boot shoes I've handled looked plasticky. Like I said, for $500, you could do sooooooooo much better.

Exhibit A:

TLB Mallorca Artista

We at Skolyx have worked together with TLB Mallorca to develop a whole new shoe range: Artista. The aim has been to push the bar for Goodyear welted shoes in the midrange price segment, where we have looked and learned from both some of the absolute high-end RTW shoe brands and had help from...

www.skolyx.se

Paging @j ingevaldsson

 

[usctrojans31]

Yeah, that's not a good price. The To Boot shoes I've handled looked plasticky. Like I said, for $500, you could do sooooooooo much better.

Exhibit A:

TLB Mallorca Artista

We at Skolyx have worked together with TLB Mallorca to develop a whole new shoe range: Artista. The aim has been to push the bar for Goodyear welted shoes in the midrange price segment, where we have looked and learned from both some of the absolute high-end RTW shoe brands and had help from...

www.skolyx.se

Paging @j ingevaldsson

Exactly this. Poor price to quality ratio.

 

[ozmos]

alright then. damn shame. really nice looking shoes

 

[Viatu]

Also, check out Vass' website. I'm sure they have something in this price range that is far superior to To Boot.

 

[Yoda_in_oxfords]

Speaking for the sneaker/oxford hybrid ("Sector" model on the TBNY website), they're just okay. I haven't bought their proper oxfords, so I can't comment on those.

I got them at about half off at Zappos. I certainly wouldn't pay full price. They seem to be corrected leather, and the color really comes off if you use Saphir Renovateur. As for cream polish during maintenance, they don't "drink" the polish like full grain. The polish just sits there on the surface. But at least it's ridiculously easy to give the toe caps a mirror polish (trying to look on the bright side--like trying to shine plastic, it's relatively easy to shine).

IMHO it's purely a fashion brand. The pair I have is useful for running around concrete & tile hallways at work (academia), but I'll have to live with them a while longer before I decide if I'd buy this brand again. Definitely not worth full MSRP, but at half off, they're not horrible.

1st pic = fresh out of box.
2nd pic = after polishing, hand patina, and a few miles of wear.

 

[pleatedjeans]

I have an old pair of suede made in italy ToBoots that I really like - but everything I've handled in the last few years hasn't been there quality wise

 

[iliamerk]

They're decent shoes, but certainly not worth the full price point. I've managed to get my hands on a few pairs for quite cheap and I don't mind them for daily office wear. I keep my higher end dress shoes for special occasions. That said, I find their QC to be even better than Allen Edmonds as of late, a lot of companies have been seriously slipping. Definitely better than Magnanni and the outlet level dress shoes you see at Saks Off Fifth and Nordstrom Rack.

 

[BespokeBrooklyn]

Since work from home began, I've stopped wearing dress shoes, and have been taking a lot more long walks around the neighborhood. I've been looking for a casual shoe with a crepe rubber role, preferably suede or unlined calf. Modestly priced, because few people will see these and I plan to put a ton of mileage on them. There is an suede Allen Edmonds penny loafer I'm considering, and Nordstrom has this To Boot model on sale for $160. Is one preferable to the other? Is there some other maker that makes size 14 shoes that you might recommend instead?