Johnston & Murphy for the most part are cheap glued on soled shoes. Not the type that will generally last very long or will be of good quality. For a bit more you could but something from Allen Edmonds and if you buy seconds they wouldn't cost much more or about the same and you could re-sole them because they would be GYW shoes or boots.
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Pull On, Rubber Sole Dress Boot?
- Thread starter BP_
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Johnston & Murphy for the most part are cheap glued on soled shoes. Not the type that will generally last very long or will be of good quality. For a bit more you could but something from Allen Edmonds and if you buy seconds they wouldn't cost much more or about the same and you could re-sole them because they would be GYW shoes or boots.
BP_
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so based on that response, it makes me feel like those are the type of shoes you'd put your kid in for prom, knowing he'll only wear them once or twice.. but at least they didn't come from Kohls.. that about sum it up? I really have come to respect a good quality, but stylish, rubber sole. my feet and lower back taught me that.
Not at all, but Allen Edmonds are considered the low entry GOOD Quality Footwear. Johnston & Murphy, Cole Hahn and others are considered cheap cemented footwear.
Your limiting the amount of styles and models you could be considering. Besides closed lace Balmorials are considered more dressy. These for example are considered more casual.
BP_
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that is what I am trying to stay away from. I'm at the point in my life, it's time to step my game up. I have always went cheaper on dress shoes, because I never saw a real need for them. I wear Chippewa boots to work every day. There are just things in life that require certain attire at this stage and age, and I don't want to look like I don't know how to put myself together properly.
Your limiting the amount of styles and models you could be considering. Besides closed lace Balmorials are considered more dressy. These for example are considered more casual.
I actually really like those! I was browsing some of your other posts, and I saw these (and your comment about them) too! they're also very nice. I think a black version would be killer. You, sir, have excellent taste in shoes.
that is what I am trying to stay away from. I'm at the point in my life, it's time to step my game up. I have always went cheaper on dress shoes, because I never saw a real need for them. I wear Chippewa boots to work every day. There are just things in life that require certain attire at this stage and age, and I don't want to look like I don't know how to put myself together properly.
I actually really like those! I was browsing some of your other posts, and I saw these (and your comment about them) too! they're also very nice. I think a black version would be killer. You, sir, have excellent taste in shoes.
Thank you sir. Both of these are actually considered smart casual at best and not really suit worthy. Although if you were to wear the top pair not the chukkas with a suit you might be able to get away with it. The info I gave you of where to start will certainly give you a lot to digest, but if you go thru some it you will certainly have a much better idea as to what all I am trying to get across to you. Allen Edmonds being at the lower end but respectable and a solid shoe, from there shoes and boots just start to look better but mind you not guaranteed to last any longer. But they can certainly LOOK BETTER.
BP_
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agree. I think some nice wing tips look best on me in a suit. smart casual I feel is a little more comfortable, while still being appropriate for 'most' situations I would find myself in. you're absolutely right, it's quite a lot to digest, but I'm actually very excited to do so. I have a big thing for shoes, and boots, and this is just a whole new world to dive in to. I'm definitely into aesthetics, but I'm also a big quality guy. most people really just don't understand how much farther a quality pair of footwear will take you, in so many ways.
Me as well and as such I don't mind taking a a bit if not a good long time to do some research and look around. I may not always draw the right conclusions, but I generally draw the conclusions that make me feel like I've done a bit of looking, comparing, and finally I am ready to make a decision I am comfortable with.
Keep in mind like I said once you have crossed that $300 barrier and made a decision to buy good quality footwear anything more you pay will be gravy. They wont be guaranteed to last any longer but there is a good chance they will look better. Its the law with diminishing returns when it comes to Ready To Wear men's' footwear. If you were however to choose to do so generally your paying for aesthetic things such as better designs, more attention to detail, better finishing, more refined Lasts, better quality leather, and overall better quality control. This also means they will tend to look better as they age over time. I personally don't mind paying for better footwear.
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BP_
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I agree. You definitely get what you pay for (for the most part) in this world, and footwear is certainly no exception. I have always been the type that wants to know what I'm getting, where it's coming from, who makes it, ect. and that has helped me countless times in decision making. I generally tend to stray from the 'accepted norm' when it comes to fashion (I go more for comfort), but there are certain instances when you can get both comfort and fashion, and I feel that dress/smart footwear should be one of those things. I'll have to do some more research, and figure out what fits me, but you've given me a great jump start on it.
Lucky for me, I have a pretty 'standard' foot shape when it comes to the way shoes are generically shaped. The only problem I have is with shoes that have no arch, and are completely flat. Other than that, I have to say, I have it pretty good when it comes to off the shelf. That includes dress, casual, and boot. It's amazing how many different styles and variations there are out there.
The Zieg
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So far so good in the conversation. Another point: You will have a harder time finding a rubber sole in a dress boot that goes with a suit or slacks. You might have to buy a pair with leather soles and then have them resoled.
J&M may be at the lower end of dress shoes these days, but they are not all cheap. They have a range of quality worth checking out.
Zieg
J&M may be at the lower end of dress shoes these days, but they are not all cheap. They have a range of quality worth checking out.
Zieg
Rubber vs Leather is one of those topics that comes up a lot, and then there's whether to toppy or not. Although I don't tend to use it on my more dressier shoes rubber sole do tend to give me longer wear and work better in foul weather. Besides if you purchase a lower profile rubber sole it's really not that bad. The two previous boots both have a rubber soles and don't look too bad. One of which has Dainite and the other uses what Edward Green calls their R1 rubber sole.
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BP_
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I think that has been my biggest problem, finding something 'dressy' while still having a "true" rubber sole. I think the comfort aspect goes without saying. I had never given thought to having a pair resoled, now I'm wondering how it would turn out. Very interesting. I see this potentially becoming quite the expensive endeavor. I'll have to do my research, I'm fairly seasoned at hunting down good deals.
Frankly Good Year Welted footwear tends to be more structured and less comfy say when compared to American sneakers and Cole Hahn cemented soled shoes, however by being structured they are also better for ones posture.
When people talk about shoemakers they tend to place them in one of three tiers. Johnston and Murphy is typically dismissed and does not even rate in the lowest tier. It's my understanding they still make a few but very little GYW shoes. Allen Edmonds and shoemakers like them tend to rate at the lower end of the spectrum. Alden rates at the lower end of the middle tier, and shoemakers in the top tier consist of shoemakers such as Edward Green, Gaziano and Girling, St. Crispins, and John Lobb.
Unfortunately gone is the time when the USA had a number of good quality shoemakers. Either they no longer exists or their product is no longer what it use to be such as Johnston and Murphy and Cole Hahn. As such its not as easy to access good quality footwear in the USA. Whatever the reason it's more difficult to access in the US because the demand may just not be there. These aren't the kind of shoes one buys at Walmart. Sure one can access Allen Edmonds fairly easy but Alden is a bit harder and those made in other countries are even harder. Although there are places in the USA which even sell the likes of John Lobb and the others there are very few. For those prices this is understandable however even accessing the likes of Carmina, Enzo Bonafe, Alfred Sargent, and Crockett and Jones are fairly difficult and these are all middle tier shoemakers.
Personally I prefer the English shoemakers much more than the American shoemakers as the American shoemakers tend to use a rather blobby Last. However since shoemakers use their own Last and sizing conversions these things can be a bit difficult to buy the right size especially when done so without the ability to try them on first. It does make it easier if one knows their Brannock size, establishes ones size in a few known Lasts first, conducts research based on other users experiences, finds a retailer thats fairly knowledgeable, and has a fairly averaged size foot. This reduces the risk but its still risky.
If I were the OP I would look at Allen Edmonds for availability and price. Meermin for price and style but more risky if issues with quality and fit arise. In the middle tier I would recommend Alden for availability, but Carmina and Enzo Bonafe for better style and they do this kind of boot rather well. Crockett and Jones will even cost more but I really like their boots. For the style described or desired I would also look at RM Williams. Above any of these recommendations it would be at an even greater cost.
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I second good old Australian RM Williams boots! I have two pairs of kangaroo leather craftsman boots I wear almost on a daily basis, excellent quality and available in lots of width and sizing options to get a good fit. Shouldn't be too hard to find in the states...