because I needed some brown ones. I think i'll be picking up some cordovan oxfords next just for the sake of variety. anyway, bought a pair of Bostonian Brayton's from shoes.com - 20% with free shipping for $68.80
picked up another pair of dress shoes
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because I needed some brown ones. I think i'll be picking up some cordovan oxfords next just for the sake of variety. anyway, bought a pair of Bostonian Brayton's from shoes.com - 20% with free shipping for $68.80
Nice looking shoe and a great price! I personally only use black and cordovan colors. IMHO, cordovan goes with anything.
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- #3
yeah, I probably should've bought cordovan but since the brayton is a dark brown it should go well with a navy suit. seems like the bostonian and rockport shoes I want are either discontinued or are more than i'm willing to spend.
+1
I like the way they look with jeans as a casual look but I can't bring myself to buy some for myself.
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- #6
I think this particular shoe is ok but not TOO square like some other models i've seen. I go back and forth with oxfords. i'm not a huge fan of the traditional oxford look but i've seen some cap toe oxfords I like.
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- #7
oops, just ordered another pair. some Rockport Evanders from Macy's. that should hold me over for awhile
Nice looking burgundy color. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the square toe. BUT! At least they aren't Kenneth Coles. 
I have a couple casual shoes with that much squareness. I really like the look of the AE Park Aves. And their cordovan line looks amazing. Alden's too.
I have a couple casual shoes with that much squareness. I really like the look of the AE Park Aves. And their cordovan line looks amazing. Alden's too.- Thread starter
- #10
they were on sale from Macys, but I bought them through Amazon. I think they were something like $53 + $13 shipping.
No offense to the OP but I'm not a fan of the square toe shoe either! I see guys on the subway every day wearing square toed shoes...looks like the old kicking shoes that straight-on kickers would wear.
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- #12
anyone have an opinion on the Bostonian Ardlay cap toe oxford?
I'm not a fan of Bostonian. I think the leather and construction is cheap.
But the shoe looks good. Reminds me of the Park Aves by AE. Classic design. But seriously, after reading up on construction of shoes and foot problems, I have come to the unfortunate and costly conclusion that anything under Allen Edmonds quality is quite possibly bad for your feet and most definitely not a worthwhile investment, considering Allen Edmonds can be recrafted several times and should last 5+ years if properly taken care of.
But the shoe looks good. Reminds me of the Park Aves by AE. Classic design. But seriously, after reading up on construction of shoes and foot problems, I have come to the unfortunate and costly conclusion that anything under Allen Edmonds quality is quite possibly bad for your feet and most definitely not a worthwhile investment, considering Allen Edmonds can be recrafted several times and should last 5+ years if properly taken care of.
I have this shoe in black. Got it from Belk for $50.00 about 6 months ago. Beware the insole - they tend to creep back in the shoe and climb the heel from inside! Otherwise, incredibly comfortable shoes and so far very durable.
BUT! At least they aren't Kenneth Coles.
I have two different pair of Kenneth Coles (from the Reaction line, so cheap) that I've had for more than six years that still look and wear like new. Their appearance, while trendy, is actually pretty versatile and their durability has been amazing.
With the noted exception of the insole creep above, the actual leather and sole have held up to six months of daily wear without any folding, creasing, lining, rippling, or any other adverse appearance issues. I'm actually impressed in my Bostonians for $50.00, and I'll admit that I didn't want to like them at first.
My mom was an office manager for a small chain of family shoe stores in Grand Rapids, Michigan for about 25 years, and I worked there for six years as a stock boy (16-18) and then in sales (18-22). We sold mostly middle-of-the-road shoes (Rockports, Clarks, Born, Ecco, Florsheim) but also Allen Edmonds and Johston & Murphy.
A.E. shoes will last much more than five years if treated right (put them in a rotation, careful cleaning and leather upkeep, resole), and are an incredible value in shoes if you figure the value over 10 years. Excellent choice.
Another great shoe is the Ecco. If you ever get the chance to really, really inspect the construction and talk with someone who knows something about them, you'll be impressed. Most American's are very uncomfortable in them because they're designed to hold your foot by the instep rather than the wide part of your foot near the toes, and that "free toe box" feeling can be disconcerting, but they're incredibly comfortable, supportive, and well-built shoes. I've got some from when I was 20 (10 years ago - yikes!) that are still suit-worthy. I have an abused pair of their hiking boots from 2000 that are, to this day, the most comfortable footwear I own.
I really like Cole Haan shoes with the Nike Air insole, they are extremely comfortable and I have about 10 pair. They are always on sale...I bought the ones below for next to nothing, on sale for $139 minus another 30% = $98 plus free shipping. For a couple extra bucks, you could have a shoe that will last many times longer. The shoe below is the Air Jackson wingtip, I already have the cap toe and needed another black dress shoe to add to the rotation. I have 2 black, 2 brown, and 1 oxblood/burgundy in the dress shoe rotation and would like to add another burgundy.
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- #16
since I rarely wear dress shoes I figure the 3 pairs I own should easily last me 10 yrs. of course, once my dress shoe AD starts kicking in i'll have more pairs than I know what to do with
oops, just ordered another pair. some Rockport Evanders from Macy's. that should hold me over for awhile
Sessy ports!
Nice looking burgundy color. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the square toe. BUT! At least they aren't Kenneth Coles.
Park Avenues are truly the classic business dress shoe, aren't they?
I bought these at a great price in both black and brandy, which is sort of a tan. I guess they are a discontinued style, and I could live with the toe beingg less square, but I really loving the black ones. Thought I would like the tan ones better than I do as sort of a change of pace. I wish the picture was of them in black. Also bouth of my have plain, regular, leather soles, which I much prefer over this rubber insert stuff.
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Ah...if money were not an issue, I'd have much nicer shoes... And in the colors I want!!! Not to mention perfect sizing. 
Darn Park Aves do not fit me well. I think I have to go down a full size and get an E or EE. Then they'd maybe fit.
Not to mention perfect sizing. Darn Park Aves do not fit me well. I think I have to go down a full size and get an E or EE. Then they'd maybe fit.
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- #20
do you guys have an opinion on johnston & murphy shoes? are they of high quality like AE?
