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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Quality Non-Third-World Made Oxfords?
- Thread starter oguruma
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My father introduced me to Allen Edmonds and I've been wearing them ever since. Made in the USA for 90 years but some (not all) uppers are sent to be sewed in the Dominican republic (because of shortage of craftsmen left in USA), before they are returned to be assembled in Maine & Wisconsin factories.
It will be an "investment" but the shoes will last your lifetime as you can keep getting them refinished & resoled (for a fee), not like most of today's glued-together junk.
It will be an "investment" but the shoes will last your lifetime as you can keep getting them refinished & resoled (for a fee), not like most of today's glued-together junk.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2012
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- 314
Another recommendation for Allen Edmonds. They can cost a good bit compared to department store fare, but they're rock solid and one of the best values in men's high-end production dress shoes.
Of course, there are higher end, handmade and custom options, but these usually run around $500+, which is usually too much for most.
Of course, there are higher end, handmade and custom options, but these usually run around $500+, which is usually too much for most.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2012
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- 314
I had to look hard for some AE's I liked myself, they are not the most stylish of shoe, though they're built to last.
Well, the obvious (and mid-priced for high-end shoes) is Ralph Lauren, but only some of the more expensive shoes will be made in USA, (they're clearly marked as such). The others are as questionable as any other piece of clothing they sell.
J. Crew also offers some Alden models that are made in the USA, though they might be too streamlined for your tastes.
Bumping the price up, you may look at Crockett & Jones, which are handcrafted in England. Their Oxfords start at $400+, however, and it may be tough to find a good dealer for a specific model and size in the US, as most are based in the UK. The same Goes for Gaziano & Girling, which start at a slightly higher price point. Lastly, there is Edward Green. His shoes are usually very expensive but they are fantastic pieces, and again completely hand made and usually bespoke. Expect double what you'd pay for C&J or G&G, but also, like knives, don't expect twice the shoe for twice the cash. The main difference here is the attention to style, and pride of ownership, though if you buy a pair of C&J's or G&G's, you need not worry about either of those in the first place. I personally think the lowly AE is the best quality/value compromise going in the industry now.
Now, other brands which I am not sure about, but make good shoes include L.L. Bean (much of their stuff is US-made, but I've never inquired about their shoes), Carmina of Spain, (these will be a bit more expensive than AE's, but that's mostly due to the strength of the Euro and shipping costs. As far as I know, they're made in Spain and I've heard only good things), Buxley's (again, I've only seen online hearsay, but they're about half the price of AE's and seem to have good reviews if you can nail the sizing). That's all I can think of now, though I'm no expert on shoes. I hope it helps!
Well, the obvious (and mid-priced for high-end shoes) is Ralph Lauren, but only some of the more expensive shoes will be made in USA, (they're clearly marked as such). The others are as questionable as any other piece of clothing they sell.
J. Crew also offers some Alden models that are made in the USA, though they might be too streamlined for your tastes.
Bumping the price up, you may look at Crockett & Jones, which are handcrafted in England. Their Oxfords start at $400+, however, and it may be tough to find a good dealer for a specific model and size in the US, as most are based in the UK. The same Goes for Gaziano & Girling, which start at a slightly higher price point. Lastly, there is Edward Green. His shoes are usually very expensive but they are fantastic pieces, and again completely hand made and usually bespoke. Expect double what you'd pay for C&J or G&G, but also, like knives, don't expect twice the shoe for twice the cash. The main difference here is the attention to style, and pride of ownership, though if you buy a pair of C&J's or G&G's, you need not worry about either of those in the first place. I personally think the lowly AE is the best quality/value compromise going in the industry now.
Now, other brands which I am not sure about, but make good shoes include L.L. Bean (much of their stuff is US-made, but I've never inquired about their shoes), Carmina of Spain, (these will be a bit more expensive than AE's, but that's mostly due to the strength of the Euro and shipping costs. As far as I know, they're made in Spain and I've heard only good things), Buxley's (again, I've only seen online hearsay, but they're about half the price of AE's and seem to have good reviews if you can nail the sizing). That's all I can think of now, though I'm no expert on shoes. I hope it helps!
I have refused to wear leather soled shoes since I was in grammer school and during the Christmas Pageant went flying as we "danced" on the tiled lunch room floor doubling as the "theater" that night. It is a trauma going back almost 40 years and one which I have never fully recovered!
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Trask
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There is style and there is fashion.
Allen Edmonds shoes have plenty of style, which is why you can wear them for 20-40 years. They will not be up to the latest fashion however.
If you want fashion, you can buy Kenneth Cole for cheap, or buy Italian handmade shoes if you really want to spend money.
Nothing wrong with leather soles, just depends on where you are wearing them. They do fine on carpet, hardwood, cement, even lawns. You probably want full lugged synthetics if you're going to be working in the machine shop or hosing down a gravel construction site. Just the right shoe for the job.
Allen Edmonds shoes have plenty of style, which is why you can wear them for 20-40 years. They will not be up to the latest fashion however.
If you want fashion, you can buy Kenneth Cole for cheap, or buy Italian handmade shoes if you really want to spend money.
Nothing wrong with leather soles, just depends on where you are wearing them. They do fine on carpet, hardwood, cement, even lawns. You probably want full lugged synthetics if you're going to be working in the machine shop or hosing down a gravel construction site. Just the right shoe for the job.
If you don't have a problem spending a couple hundred (or more) bucks on shoes, and you're looking for a more rounded toe, you might want to check out Russell Moccasin - made in the USA, to your exact specs - the toe can be as round as you like, and you can pick your leather and outsole (among other things). Spendy, but will last a lifetime. Wait time is long though.
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