Hello gents, I've hit a snag. I just got a job selling suits, unfortunately I don't own any dress shoes appropriate for wear with a suit. I also have the misfortune at being pretty well broke at the moment, I had to cover a roommate's rent because his car broke down. I need a pair of plain black dress shoes that look fairly dressy as I work in a shop where the low end runs $700. Do you have any ideas of suitable brands?
Dress shoes for now and later.
- Thread starter Devilpup
- Start date
I'm a fan of Allen Edmonds. The Park Aves are classic - captoe balmorals.
Devilpup, do not sweat. Search up Allen Edmonds shoe bank and give them a call. They are located in WI and they sell Allen Edmonds 'seconds'. Most of the time you won't even be able to tell what the cosmetic flaw is.
Get the Park Avenue in black - it is a captoe balmoral and a shoe that will never go out of style. Find a Nordstrom or Allen Edmonds near you and try it on to determine your size. Once you do that then give them a call ASAP as they are having a sale this week. I picked up a Park Avenue 'second' for $199. If that price is in your ballpark then look no further.
Get the Park Avenue in black - it is a captoe balmoral and a shoe that will never go out of style. Find a Nordstrom or Allen Edmonds near you and try it on to determine your size. Once you do that then give them a call ASAP as they are having a sale this week. I picked up a Park Avenue 'second' for $199. If that price is in your ballpark then look no further.
Definitely Allen Edmonds Park Avenue.
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I agree Park Aves are the classic men's dress shoe but it would be a bad choice if you'll be wearing them daily. Shoes like these need time to fully dry between wearings or they'll end up breaking down and needing replaced. You should really have at least two pairs of shoes.
I would recommend giving the shoe bank a call about picking up some Park Ave seconds since they are currently on sale for 15% off. I believe they usually are around $199 so that would be $169.15+WI sales tax. If your budget could afford two pairs (maybe some Strands of they are your style) that would be the best bet and you would be good on dress shoes for many years to come. If not, I would say go for a cheaper pair at a place like Off Broadway for around $75 (like Bostonian's. They're a cap toe, leather soled shoe that's pretty decent). That way you have one very nice shoe that will last and a decent one that will get you by for a couple years until you can afford to get another nice pair from AE, Alden, ect.
I would recommend giving the shoe bank a call about picking up some Park Ave seconds since they are currently on sale for 15% off. I believe they usually are around $199 so that would be $169.15+WI sales tax. If your budget could afford two pairs (maybe some Strands of they are your style) that would be the best bet and you would be good on dress shoes for many years to come. If not, I would say go for a cheaper pair at a place like Off Broadway for around $75 (like Bostonian's. They're a cap toe, leather soled shoe that's pretty decent). That way you have one very nice shoe that will last and a decent one that will get you by for a couple years until you can afford to get another nice pair from AE, Alden, ect.
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If you need to go really cheap for the short term, hit Target and they have $38 dress black shoes. Wingbacks. They are my every day wear and I save my Italians for dress.
I agree, AE Park Avenue a perfect choice, if you can swing it. Get some wooden shoe trees to go with them. Nordstrom's rack often has Woodlore (or whatever it is brand) for $12 or less. Will really help preserve them.
I agree, too, that wearing them everyday is going to be very hard on them, even with the shoe trees.
A stop gap might be to buy find something at some thrift shop, Good Will, or whatever. Maybe as a second pair to alternate with the PAs until you can afford something additional or even instead of the PAs if you can't afford them. They would not have to be in perfect shape. I think it is better than folks think you have owned and worn a good pair of shoes for a long time. Hard to give a lot of guidance on this. Laced. Cap toe or wing tip, I would think, or something conservative, anyway. Maybe not full wingtips. Not super thick soles. In a good brand, like AE, Alden, I am not sure what all. I think a good short cut would be to look for composite heels. That is, heels that are leather in the part toward the toe and rubber on the part toward the heel, although AEs are going to be all rubber heels.
I am not big on used shoes myself because I think shoes tend to break in to the original owner. But for this purpose, they seem fine.
Good luck.
I agree, too, that wearing them everyday is going to be very hard on them, even with the shoe trees.
A stop gap might be to buy find something at some thrift shop, Good Will, or whatever. Maybe as a second pair to alternate with the PAs until you can afford something additional or even instead of the PAs if you can't afford them. They would not have to be in perfect shape. I think it is better than folks think you have owned and worn a good pair of shoes for a long time. Hard to give a lot of guidance on this. Laced. Cap toe or wing tip, I would think, or something conservative, anyway. Maybe not full wingtips. Not super thick soles. In a good brand, like AE, Alden, I am not sure what all. I think a good short cut would be to look for composite heels. That is, heels that are leather in the part toward the toe and rubber on the part toward the heel, although AEs are going to be all rubber heels.
I am not big on used shoes myself because I think shoes tend to break in to the original owner. But for this purpose, they seem fine.
Good luck.
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If you're on a budget and need a nice looking/fairly bomb-proof shoe, consider Florsheim. I've gotten a million-billion miles out of my pair of oxblood wingtips. They set me back about $100.00 in 1995. I continue to wear them and they still look very sharp.
What style of suits are you selling, BTW? More contemporary or more traditional? I think Park Avenues should work with either, really. Other styles, maybe not so much.
What`s your budget (other than `under $700`, obviously ... )
If you cant afford something pricey at the moment I'd say Rockport, Florsheim or Aldo.
Mezlan and Gordon Rush. Look 'em up.
Mezlan is okay, but not ideal for long-term quality. But if you need inexpensive and decent placeholders, go for it (or Sandro Moscaloni from Spain).
If $$$ is an issue ZAPPOS has DEERSTAGS wingtips $50.00...They can hold you until better times or your roommate pays you back.
Until you can get the cash together to purchase some higher end shoes, check out stores like Kohls to see what they have. I have gotten some very decent and passable shoes from them. In fact yesterday I picked up a blazer, a corduroy sports coat and a pair of nice dress slacks for less than $150. They are not high end, but you can get some very decent values there. They also sell online if you wish.
- Thread starter
- #18
Thanks for all the help gents. I sell both more modern style and traditional suits, and our customers often range from college students to CEO of large accounting firms and senators. I managed to pick up a pair of Bostonian cap toes for $20 which will hold me off until I can find a good deal on Allen Edmond off ebay or the warehouse. Thanks for the help gents.
Wow, good find!
+1
I'm quite happy with my $120 Florsheim. I was looking at $250-$350 for AE's, and they will likely be my next shoes (my boss did warn me that my new job is hard on shoes).
Keep in mind that "low end" and selling $700 suits do not go together. You aren't working at Men's Warehouse where a pair of $40 WalMart no-names will be overlooked.
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