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Best Affordable Style of 2011 – The Shoes

December 30, 2011 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini / Mike Konos Trio:  Oxfords, Monk straps, and Suede

The end of the year means it’s time to hand out some awards.  But calling these “the dappys” would just sound terrible.  Instead, we’ll stick with a highly generalized “best of…” strategy, with the very best from the past year being highlighted all this week.
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DSW’s Mercanti Fiorentini’s plain, slim, Italian-made true oxford, which was selling for $120.
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Cheap double monks are rare.  Attainable at $140.  Also made by Mercanti Fiorentini.
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DSW’s other Italian house brand “Mike Konos.”   Surprisingly durable for $100.

None of these would satisfy a shoe snob.  When compared to shoes that run $200 and up, their construction is moderate.  But for those of us who can wear a pair of shoes a few times a week without grinding them into a pulp, all of these over perform when it comes to looks, while coming in at that sweet spot price of $100 – $150.

DSW’s two house brands Mercanti Fiorentini and Mike Konos sacrifice bombproof quality to keep their prices low, but they do posses some sleek Italian aesthetics.  Sure there’s some weird looking shoes in their collections, but usually there’s a few choices that aren’t too modern or funky.  And they sell em’ at a price most of us can handle.  Especially when DSW runs a site wide sale.*  Both brands are certainly worth keeping track of in 2012.

*Speaking of, DSW is doing $20.12 off $99+ and $45 off $199+ with code SHOES2012.  Expires 1/3/2012

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: best of 2011, Dress Shoes, DSW, Mercanti Fiorentini, Mike Konos, monk straps, Oxford, Suede

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Comments

  1. Anotherjames says

    December 30, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    DSW does some great things with its house brands.  

  2. Anonymous says

    December 30, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Picked up a couple of slip-on loafers from DSW this weekend for excellent price. Fit and finish are excellent. Did have to “air-out” the strong leather glue smell. Just sat them on the window sill during the day and all is good.

  3. Butch_Z says

    December 30, 2011 at 12:35 PM

    Gorgeous.

  4. tooshay says

    December 30, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    Any idea on where to buy the first pair in the article?

  5. BenR says

    December 31, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Lately I’ve been avoiding shoes with the “chisel toe” like the Mercanti Fiorentinis. There’s nothing awful about it, except that it looks a little trendy and in a few years I think it will probably look fairly dated – like a pair of spade sole shoes look nowadays.

    I’m trying to build a wardrobe that is not only high-quality enough to last a long time, but timeless enough in style that I’d still want to wear it in 5, 10, 20+ years.

  6. Joe says

    December 31, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    They’re really not that chisel-y.  The corners at the tips are rounded off nicely, and I think the only people that would ever notice would be guys who have a zero tolerance policy on any type of shoe toe that’s not traditional.  Y’know, like an Allen Edmonds style.  Which on some, can look stubby.  That said, to each his own.

  7. Joe says

    December 31, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    They’re gone now from online.  Maybe if you’ve got a DSW store near you?

  8. BenR says

    December 31, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    Well, like you say, I think it’s just a matter of taste. I probably wouldn’t look at a guy wearing them and think “Man, that guy looks a little too trendy,” but they’re just not my cuppa.

    P.S. Not sure why that link above got messed up, it’s supposed to be this: http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=210&p=6

  9. Ghazi says

    January 2, 2012 at 11:16 AM

    I love these but they’re sold out. Any alternatives?

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