What these guys don’t understand, is that there are plenty of us who: 1. Have never had major quality issues with cheap shoes, and we can make them last with decent care, 2. don’t want to be married to a pair of shoes for the next decade, and 3. don’t have the cash on hand to lay down for bulletproof oxfords… even if they are a fine investment.

The ten pairs below look good enough to catch some stares, and they’re inexpensive enough that they’d make a snotty shoe snob’s toes curl.
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Mike Konos Luca Medallion Oxford – $139.95 – $149.95

Sales can drop these down to the low $100s.

Another potential major winner from the DSW house brands of Mike Konos and Mercanti Fiorentini.  Made in Italy with decent quality and great looking leathers.  Leather sole, good looking toe shape, and while the soles aren’t stitched, these brands seem to hold up real well.  Will get cheaper when DSW runs their next tiered sale.  Need an ultra cheap doppelganger?  These run only $70, and more on those tomorrow.  Through today, 5/7, use the code BIGSTYLE to save $5 on one pair of shoes.  SHIPR gets free shipping if you join their email club.  Hey, it’s something…

Mercanti Fiorentini Black Cap Toe – $149.95

Having none of the fancy-pants nonsense.

Not one for all the fancy perforations, medaillons, or wing tips?  Or maybe you just want something clean, sleek, but not too trendy either.  They’re almost sold out online, but these from DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini should satiate the Budget Minimalists appetite for clean, closed lacing dress shoes in black.  The way those lines sweep and crawl halfway up the laces give it a real modern look.  Made in Italy.  And like the Mike Konos above, through today, 5/7, use the code BIGSTYLE to save $5 on one pair of shoes.  SHIPR should work too.

Calibrate Brandon – $125.00

Impressive for $125.

From the Nordstom house brand and as inexpensive as it’ll get for a pair of shoes with this kind of look.  A true oxford with closed lacing.    Full review here.  Ships and returns free via Nordstrom.  Toe could be a little rounder.

John W. Nordstrom Adrian Oxford – $175.00

The Bees knees of Nordstrom house brand shoes.

And for fifty bucks more, you get the Calibrate’s big brother.  Made in Italy with a more traditional toe shape.  More elegant than the Brandon, but fifty bucks is a lot of money.  More over here.

Hugo Boss Matano – $139.30 ($275) | Cenerello Wingtip – $129.50 ($225)

Ships free with LCMAY75

Both drop to the prices shown here during the many extra 30% off sales LastCall.com seems to run.  They’re running one now, and it happens to end today.  The Matano is a pretty basic, modern wingtip with what they call an “almond toe”.  The Cenerello has been kicking around for awhile, and it’s a wingtip that looks smoother than most thanks to a lack of those sawtoothed pinked edges and perforations.  Consider those an extra pair to the list, since sizes are getting short.

Cole Haan Air Adams Cap toe – $124.80 ($198)

Conservative and stable.

For the traditionalists who don’t want a lot of flash.  Just a plain, brown, cap-toe dress shoe with a rubber sole.  Equipped with Nike Air, like most Cole Haan shoes, and like most Cole Haan shoes, this one started out awfully high at full retail.  Dropped down to an about right price through Endless.

Ciro Lendini Brogue – $158.00

Made in Italy.

Made in Italy and sold through Yoox.  Their wingtip boots did real well during the wingtip boot search, and this is just one pair of dress shoes that they offer.  Cap toe and brogue styling.  True oxford.  Available in brown too.

Mr. B’s for Aldo Laguer – $150.00

Not Bostonians. At all.

The Mr. B’s collaboration has done wonders for Aldo’s reputation.  They’re upgraded shoes with plenty of looks, and clock in at reasonable prices.  Scared off by the “dotted detailing?”  They make a similar black and brown pair called the “Decost” that doesn’t have it.

John W. Nordstrom Lido Oxford – $175.00

Simple, sleek, ships and returns free.

Not the first time these have appeared on the site, and they’re one of the few pairs of shoes that look this good, hit this price range, and come in a wide width.  Now if they’d just make a brown version.

Johnston & Murphy Letson Medallion – $185.00

Looking much more expensive than $185.

The star of this list.  A wholecut oxford for under two bills is a rare thing.  Made in India from Italian Calfskin uppers that have slight shade variations throughout… but it’s subtle enough that it totally adds to the look.  A lone medallion with little other detailing aside from a sweeping line of stitching and a few perforations on either side of the achilles.  Leather quality feels surprisingly good.  Real slim so if you’ve got a widefoot, you’ll have to look elsewhere.  Once again, no stitched soles here and they come with a “bondwelt” construction, but man do they look good.

Got a favorite pair of dress shoes under $200?  Under $100 even?  Your picks go in the comments.

This is the gaping hole in the men’s dress shoe market:

• Between $100 and $200
• A modern shape but not spear like
• Equipped with a few extras like closed lacing, a leather sole, or brogue style details

There’s just not many men’s dress shoes that fulfill those three requirements.  DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini true oxford plugged that hole for awhile, but after it sold out?  Once again there was nothing.

Until now.  Enter the Nordstrom house brand Calibrate and their “Brandon” true oxford, which picks up where the Mercanti Fiorentini shoes left off, and they even come out ahead in a few areas.

The “genuine” leather uppers feel more durable than the Mercantis (which on a side note, are holding up just fine for me) and like the Mercantis they don’t look cheap or plasticky.  The sole happens to be rubber and is most likely glued on, but it’s slim and doesn’t scream “Hey look!  There’s rubber down here!“  If that makes any sense.

Styling is spot on.  They’re trim through the toe box and not overly elongated.  The cap toe, medallion, and the lines where the perforated detailing sweeps up and over the vamp give it an expensive look.

The brown is a true darker brown (not a lighter cognac) and they’re certainly suit worthy.  But the brogue details also give them enough texture that you could wear them with a pair of deep, dark jeans.

Plenty comfortable right out of the box and they might run a half size large.  Maybe.  They are made in China but they don’t feel like they’ll fall apart on you any time soon.  Especially if you’re not the daily dress shoe type.  Ships and returns free if you don’t have a Nordstrom nearby.

No code is needed for Kenneth Cole.  For Banana Republic, you’ll need the code BRSWEATER.  Exp. 10/10

Happy Columbus Day.  Right, you’re thrilled.  Anyway, it’s a good day if you’re in the market for a new coat, some boots, or a sweater for the upcoming colder weather.  Kenneth Cole launched a 30% off outerwear, boots, and some other stuff sale on Friday, while BR is running a 30% off sweater sale today.

Just a few picks below.  Figure it’d be an okay way to spend that 45 seconds you’d have otherwise spent checking the mail today.  Just try not to spend too much money.  The banks might be closed, but they’ll take your money tomorrow.
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Kenneth Cole New York Wool Trench – $192.50 ($275)

Major potential here.

Darting in the back means it should be more fitted.  Length looks to be close to perfect.  Not an easy color to find a double breasted coat in.  Under $200 with the sale and ships free.  You’re on the hook for return shipping.

Kenneth Cole New York 5-Pocket Plaid Pant – $48.65 ($69.50)

Just odd enough.

Straight leg, cotton, and a not too out-there plaid pattern.  All slapped on a cotton pant with a  5-pocket jean-like layout.  Haven’t seen them in person but they look like they could be winners.  Shipping is a decently low $4 flat rate if you’re not spending over the $100 free shipping threshold.

Kenneth Cole New York Cross My Mind Boot – $111.99 ($215)

Styling = simple but very, very effective.

Was on sale for $160 and now an extra 30% off that price.  Drops them to almost half retail and just above $100.  Ships free as well.  The cap toe makes it look like a sleeker more dressed up version of the Timberland 6″ city zip.  Still not a dress boot though.  A hybrid that lands somewhere in between.

Kenneth Cole New York Regal King – $103.60 ($148.00)

Not Allen Edmonds. In any way.

The round toe purists have never liked these.  But if you like a slightly elongated toe, and you can stand a bit of a rounded corner chisel at the end, then for just north of $100 it’ll be hard to do better.  Ships free and just barely.  Surprised they didn’t mark it down a few bucks more to nail you with shipping charges.  Full review here.

Banana Republic Merino Wool V-Neck – $41.65 ($59.50)

Best sweater so far this year?

Most of you guys know about the appreciation this website has for Banana Republic’s silk/cotton/cashmere v-necks.  They’ve been #1 for awhile despite their too deep V.  It’s time to crown a new champ.  This year’s BR merino v-necks are the perfect balance between:

1. Weight – Not tissue thin, not bulky at all.
2. Depth of V – It dips, but not wildly low.
3. Width of collar ribbing – more substantial than the silk/cotton/cashmere blend.

They also fit decently close but not tight.  And now at 30% off, they’re a bargain at $40.  Well done BR.

Banana Republic Silk/Cotton/Cashmere V-Neck – $48.65 ($69.50)

Still very much appreciated.

As stated right up there ^  now #2 but a close second.  It’s really hard to beat the smoothness of the fabric on these.  And they’re awfully strong and wear well.  The V just dips a little too deep and they’re an extra $10 retail.

Banana Republic Full-Button Cardigan – $62.65 ($89.50)

Not quite as fitted in real life.

You see those two dents in the professional model’s sides in the pic on the left?  Looks like the stylist didn’t smooth out the impact of the close-pin, chip clip, or whatever it is they’re using to gather extra fabric at the back.  These are a bit boxy.  But if you happen to be a bit boxy yourself and want a cardigan that’s no fly-weight weakling, these are reinforced through the neck and placket and have a good but not too heavy weight to them.

Banana Republic Tweed V-Neck – $62.65 ($89.50)

Going to be your topmost layer.

If the other V-necks are soup, then this one is a stew.  Thick, chunky, and you won’t be comfortable with a blazer over it.  Just like stew.  No one likes a blazer over their stew.  A more noticeable knit with flecks in the fabric.  Warm and substantial, and not all that close fitting at the sides.

Both the Kenneth Cole and BananaRepublic.com sales expire today.  All sweaters shown are size medium.  Use BRSWEATER for the savings.  Free shipping kicks in at $100 with Kenneth Cole and $50 with Banana Republic. 

This is a stacking sale.  The base is an extra 30% off all items on Lastcall.com through 8am on October 12th.  Between 10/4 – 10/6 you’ll get an extra 15% off on top of the 30% off.  No code necessary for the potential 45% off extra savings but the code LCCDAY50 will get you free shipping on orders over $50.

UPDATE: As Spartanlaw correctly points out in the comments, you don’t take 45% off all at once, but instead 30% off the reduced $235 price (to get $164) and then 15% off that price (to end up with $138.65).  So yes, they more or less just called their flat 41% off sale by another name.  Kudos to Spartanlaw for the catch.

The Neiman Marcus outlet Last Call has been on a roll lately.  First the 41% off birthday sale, and now an extra 30% off for Columbus day, plus another 15% off on top of the 30% for those that show up and get any purchasing in early.

If you’re looking for a pair of unique but not too wild shoes that can work both casually and a little more dressed up, suede is most likely what you’ll want to look for.  Especially if they’ve got a capped medallion toe like these.

Not as casual as the long since sold out favorites from Mike Konos, but the darker sole on the Magnannis looks more dressed up and more fall and winter appropriate.  Made in Spain.

The extra 15% off is set to expire on Thursday the 6th with 30% off carrying through the Columbus Day weekend.  Other options worth a look:  A sleek tassel loafer for those that can pull off tassels, a cashmere winter hat for $30, and a black lambskin moto jacket for $124.  Update:  Down to XXL.  There were Mediums left.

No code necessary.  Prices are marked on the site.  Sale prices expire October 11th.

They’re calling it their biggest sale event of the year and it’s pretty damn big.  The entire Allen Edmonds site is marked down by at least 15% off, with more than a couple good looking pairs getting the 30% off treatment.  Wander on over into their clearance section, and some AE standards are under $200.

There’s no code, no hoops to jump through, and it’s going on in-store too.  Free ground shipping on all domestic orders and they return free in store.  Proud Canucks and those with wide feet can rejoice.  They ship to Canada and there are plenty of wide sizes available.  It is Allen Edmonds, so even after the discounts these aren’t cheap:

Allen Edmonds Elgin – $229 ($295)

Waxy leather is perfect for dressed up casual.

Featured in the how to dress up in a dressed down workplace post, but somehow, someway, left off the best looking rugged laceups list.  That’s a traveshamockery.  Making up for it now.  The McTavish is also on sale.

Allen Edmonds Norwich – $249 ($325)

One buckle and not two.

If shoes can drip with sex, then a double monk probably does the most dripping.  A single monk like the Norwich seen here doesn’t really drip or even glisten with sex.  Still a real interesting shoe and a monk strap all the same.

Allen Edmonds Vernon – $276.25* ($325)

Know what I mean... Vernon?

It’s too bad they seem to have killed off the Weybridge, but these which debuted last fall look like a relative.  Allen Edmonds claims to have originally designed it for black tie use, but of course you can wear it with suits as well.  Also available in brown.  *UPDATE:  These are now $259.96 through Endless with the code SEPEVENT.  Sizes and widths might be limited though.

Allen Edmonds Macneil Longwing – $249 ($335)

Tradition for a quarter of a thousand.

The open-laced, built on the 7-last AE longwing. (More on Allen Edmonds lasts here.)  Longwing = a wingtip that has a perforation line which wraps all the way to the back while remaining unbroken.  Expensive at $250, but available in a perfect walnut color or an ultra conservative black.  The Shell Cordovan options are also marked down just in case you drive a rocket car and live in a gold plated house.

Allen Edmonds Juneau Loafer – $149 ($295)

Bit of a freak.

Almost half off.  Probably because there’s not many people out there with a want for a suede loafer with a mini lugged sole.  Still, for $150, you’re getting AE quality in a real nice looking suede penny loafer.  Upscale pub worthy.

Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue – $249 ($325)

The safe but still excellent play.

Just enough character thanks to that perforation driven cap toe.  Drool worthy stitching.  A true oxford built on the longest last in the Allen Edmonds arsenal.

Allen Edmonds Fifth Street – $297.50* ($350)

Available in brown too. The sole is something else.

The big brother boot of the Fifth Avenue oxford.  True Oxford lacing, a perf cap, but instead of a plain toe this one gets a medallion.  Incredible looking.  Not cheap by any stretch.  *UPDATE:  These are now $280 through Endless with the code SEPEVENT.  Sizes are extremely limited though.

Allen Edmonds Player’s Shoe – $249 ($325)

Also available in a fall friendly "snuff" color.

From the site: “Originally crafted as a gift for golfers participating in the 2010 PGA Tournament at Whistling Straights in Kohler, Wisconsin…”  I knew I should have become a professional golfer.  Totally could have happened too (no.)  Four colors to pick from with the white option and sand option (shown) looking pretty close.

Allen Edmonds Dalton Wingtip Boot – $318.75* ($375)

Would win the wingtip boot search if they were affordable.

One of the new arrivals for Allen Edmonds.  Deserves a parade.  Wildly expensive for most of us.  A complete splurge and then some.  But look at them.  *UPDATE:  These are now $300 flat through Endless with the code SEPEVENT.  Sizes are extremely limited though.

The Allen Edmonds “Rediscover America” sale expires 10/11/11 and is also going on in stores as well.  Are these too expensive to be labeled as affordable by most?  Yes.  But that’s why there’s a “too expensive” category.

As always, it’s incredibly tough to peg when Macy’s will launch a One Day Sale.   Sometimes a month and a half will go by between them, sometimes only a few weeks will pass.  One thing is certain: These are sales worth paying attention to.  The one-day sale prices are some of the best mark downs in the retail industry.  Here’s some of the best from the One-Day-Sale which runs Friday July 15 – Saturday July 16th.  Items marked with a * are “Web Busters.” In store prices may match up, and may not.  Selection on all items (especially shoes) in store can vary greatly.
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Tallia Grey Stripe Sportcoat* - $139.99 (reg. $250)

Somebody get that guy a sweet tea.

Southern Style for sure and not for everyone.  Light in color but long on boldness.  Talia usually runs good and trim, but the pics online make the jacket look boxy (he’s also standing with it unbuttoned).  Haven’t seen it in store.  Ships free, returns free, still a bit of a risk.

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Club Room Khaki Slim Fit Suit Jacket & matching pant – $164.98* (reg. $350)

Good, not great. But good.

One of the first suits tested for the Summer Suit Search.  It’s labeled a slim fit, and there’s some contour through the sides, but it still needs serious work by a tailor if you’re athletic or slim.  Full review here.

 

Calvin Klein Carter Textured Laceup – $77.99 (reg. $140)

Sizes are getting scarce.

Surprisingly versatile.  The black options look to be completely sold out, but the grey “lead” color and dark brown are still available.  Full review on this shoe can be found right over here.

 

Alfani RED Grey Sharkskin Slim Fit Suit – $199.98* (reg. $450)

Get that guy a contrasting tie. And maybe some sweet tea too.

Was the same price during the last O.D.S. and not a bad suit for the price.  As always, the armholes on Alfani RED suits are just a little too low for most.  So know that going in.

Timberland Boat Shoes – $49.99* (reg. $75.00)

One of the better color combinations.

Black and brown can absolutely work together.  Timberland’s boat shoes prove it, and $50 isn’t a bad price at all.  Sizes are getting limited on these.

 

Tasso Elba Slim Fit Cotton/Linen Polo – $24.99 ($34.50)

Could have done without the collar piping.

There’s probably one or two too many retro stripes on these, but, give the Macy’s house brand Tasso Elba credit for slimming down the sides and going with a cotton linen blend.

 

Kenneth Cole First Squad Cap Toe – $109.99 (reg. $138.00)

Trim lines, modern look, par for KCNY's course.

Shoe hounds won’t be impressed.  But if you want a pair of modern, slim black laceups for close to $100 (free shipping too) these are a good option.  Yes the toe isn’t perfectly rounded off, but it’s not Frankenstein’s Monster chopped either.  Real simple cap toe.  Good feeling leather for the price.

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Kenneth Cole Reaction Textured Money Clip – $23.99* (reg. $35.00)

Solid style for little cost

Cheap money clips can be flat out hideous.  This is one of the rare exceptions.  Textured top, quiet & not easy to notice small logo on the underside.  Gets the job down well for a very small investment.

This current Macy’s One Day Sale ends Saturday 7/16.  And yes, it sure seems too convenient to be pure coincidence that Macy’s launches their One Day Sales whenever Nordstrom has their own sizable sale.

There just aren’t a lot of shoes available in the not super expensive yet not uber cheap price range.  So it’d be nice to know exactly what Robert Cameron is, and where the brand came from.

Each shoe is described as a “Limited Edition Robert Cameron exclusive with Endless.com and Amazon.com.”  What?  So, is this an in house experiment by Amazon and its shoe site Endless?  Kinda like Alfani and Macy’s, only in this case it’s Robert Cameron is to Endless?

Simple Laceup - $155.00

A quick search of the name “Robert Cameron” doesn’t reveal much.  There was an American Photographer named Robert Cameron, but I doubt his publishing house is dabbling in shoes.  Then there’s this Robert Cameron who led a mid 60s craze called “The Drinking Man’s Diet.”  Time Magazine even did a story on it.  It’s like Atkins with a twist.  And that twist is in a dry martini.  The guy even released a cookbook.

Neither option seems to point towards footwear.  But this brand, whatever it is, might have some potential.  The Shooter Cap Toe is interesting with its laser etching instead of traditional stitching across the top.  Their Simple Oxford is just that, and it looks pretty similar to Gordon Rush’s take on a plain lace up.  Their “Surprise” Penny Loafer has a non stubby toe, which is a nice update to your Grandpa’s chooped slipper like loafers.

Some of their shoes are downright goofy.  But others are all right.  The laser etching looks okay online on some of the shoes, but in person it might be another story.  The price is in that rare $100 – $200 window.  Your thoughts?

Here’s a bit more from the brand:

Find any shoe under $175 and you’ll have to make some sort of compromise.  Maybe it doesn’t have a leather sole.  Maybe it’s an open lacing Blucher and you’d prefer more formal closed lacing.  Or maybe… it has a slightly “different” style quirk.

Why’d they have to do that across the top?  Wouldn’t some plain, regular stitching provide just enough of a border if you’re going for a cap toe look?  It’s like they decided to take some inspiration from wing tip perforations, but left the rest of it awkwardly naked.  Makes you want to verbalize the frustration.

OR… it’s a unique detail on an Italian made shoe which a shoe connoisseur might enjoy adding to his collection.  The price is decent for the country of origin, it has the more formal closed lacing, a sleek shape, and comes in two different colors.  Looks like DSW is the only place to sell it.  Might be some kind of Italian made DSW house brand.

So would you wear it?  In both colors or just one?  Neither?  Leave your vote in the comments section below…
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A few more angles of the shoe...

Ever since the DKNY Max Cap Toe Oxford bit the dust, there’s really been no affordable options if you wanted a slight cap toe on a sleek modern lace-up silhouette.

Well… long live the sale on the Regal King.

The Kenneth Cole Regal King has an incredibly subtle cap toe (just like the DKNY Max Cap), an updated shape, and although the chisel toe won’t satisfy the rounded-toe purists, it’s far from squared off.  Frankly, I kinda like it.

On sale for a moderate investment of $120.  Usually out of range for many at $150.

All sizes available for now.
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Usually $150, now $120.

]]> http://dappered.com/2010/09/kenneth-cole-regal-king-20-off-sale/feed/ 5 http://dappered.com/2010/08/esquires-best-new-dress-shoes-at-any-price/ http://dappered.com/2010/08/esquires-best-new-dress-shoes-at-any-price/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:59:45 +0000 Joe http://dappered.com/?p=26295 Esquire Style Blog: Fall 2010 Footwear Trends

There’s an argument to be made for spending the extra money on dress shoes.  If you work in a dressed up environment, you’ll probably have a weekly rotation between black and brown laceups, and then maybe a pair of loafers on Fridays.  Your shoes are suffering a lot of pounding, and a lot of wear.  So spending the money will probably be well worth it in the end.

But since when is $225 “affordable”?  That’s the cheapest pair you’ll find on the Esquire Style Blog’s list of best new dress shoes.  The Style Blog on Esquire.com is a recent addition, and it’s terrific.  A daily read for sure.  The list is a nice breakdown of five different styles with five suggested pairs for each… but there’s nothing truly affordable on there.  Click on over to their slideshow and give it a look.  When you’re done with the sticker shock, head back this way for their cheapest suggestions with even lower priced alternatives from us.

Click up there for the Esquire guide.

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#1 Wingtips:  Esquire - J. Crew Gifford $225 |  Dappered – Cole Haan Garrett $103.95

Left: J. Crew $225. Right: Cole Haan $104

There’s only about nine different kinds of wingtips, and it all depends on what you want to use them for.  A standard modest go-to for work is the rounded toe, not too sleek, classic wingtips you see above.  Only the Cole Haans on the right cost half as much as the pair from J. Crew.  If you want a super casual bang around pair, you can get those for $60 with free shipping from American Eagle.  Want a lighter brown Italian made higher-fashion stunner?  Try these narrow toed wingtips from Mercanti Fiorentini.  On sale for $130.
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#2 Loafers:  Esquire – Saks 5th Ave. – $298 |  Dappered – Steve Madden Ezee – $50.00

High quality vs. dirt cheap

Admittedly totally different, the Esquire pick leans more conservative while the Steve Maddens are certainly more modern.  But if you want modern and plain, to-ta-lly plain (which is hard to find), $50 with free overnight shipping from Endless is tough to beat.  If you want something almost identical in shape and detail to the Esquire picks?  Try the Gant Cage Penny Loafers which made a strong showing in the recent loafer feature.
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#3 Monk Straps:  Esquire – Brooks Brothers $448 | Dappered – Cole Haan Lucarno $180.40

Very in. Very expensive.

Monkstraps started to form a substantial resurgence around two years ago.  Now they’re in a full blown revival, but finding a pair under $200 is almost impossible.  The option from Cole Haan sneaks in around $180, plus they’re made in Italy.  If you want something sleeker with a double monk, give this Burgundy pair from Mercanti Fiorentini a look.
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#4 Cap Toes:  Esquire – Allen Edmonds $295 | Dappered -  Aldo Crubmliss – $100

Left: On Wisconsin! Right: On Sale! (in taupe?)

It’s tough to argue against the legendary quality of the Made in the Midwest Allen Edmonds, but $300 is just not possible for a lot of guys.  And if you need a pair of dress shoes, a cap toe is a good safe option if you want something more than just a plain toe lace up.  The Aldo Crumbliss is also available in black and taupe.
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#5 Boots:  Esquire – Cole Haan Colton Chukka $228 | Dappered – F. W. Adler Chelsea $120

Hooray for non-clunky boots

Desert, Ankle, Chelsea, Rugged, and Extra Dressy.  Those are the five types of boots Esquire runs through.  Finding minimalist versions of all of those for under $150 is a challenge.  For a casual Desert boot, those J. Shoes leather Desert Boots are still available through American Eagle for just $60.  For wingtip styled boots, you’ll have to wait but the back-ordered Urban Outfitters Ritanos look pretty sweet.  And for a plain zip up Chelsea, the above Frank Wright Adler boots have the perfect slim but not razor sharp toe that’ll go with everything.

What do you wear the most of?  And at what price point do shoes get expensive for you?