Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews
  • Forum

In Person: The Allen Edmonds Neumora Double Monk

July 16, 2013 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.

Allen Edmonds Neumora in Black or Brown – $247.00 ($345)

Is it possible for a double monk strap to be conservative?

Even if it has a slight chisel toe to it?

The Neumora is a confident looking shoe which doesn’t boast. There’s no extra stitching or flashy details…other than the fact that it’s a monk strap. The cap toe is dead simple. No extra stitching or brogue details here. The buckles are small and keep the shine to a minimum. The one bit of flash is the slight, European-style rounded off chisel thanks to the 333 Last. It’s a divisive detail with some guys hating it, but it’s pretty subtle, and about as modern as Allen Edmonds gets.

AE neumora from aboveFar from a square toe. Not perfectly round, but instead, a slight chisel.

The Neumora’s proportions are decidedly balanced and subtle. Sober even. But they’re still a double monk strap. These shoes are the guy at the party who always has a couple drinks, but just a couple. He knows his limits and never wanders outside of them. And when needed, he’ll be happy to call a cab for someone else who’s gotten downright loopy.

They balance tradition and trend, and should look terrific with a grey suit, light blue shirt, and black leather strap watch in the fall. Feel free to skip the tie if you wish.

AE neumora antigravitySubstantial, but lightweight. Anti-gravity soles are a custom option.

Online reviews are all over the place on these things, but the main complaints fall into two categories:

  • The buckles used to sometimes tear clean off (an issue that has since been fixed)
  • Many have reported creasing of the leather both on the cap and behind the cap of the toe.

They fixed the buckle tearing issue by installing those elastic bands that flex and give a bit more. Pretty standard issue on other monks. On this particular pair the construction of the straps feel pretty solid. For the creasing, yep, I’m experiencing that too, but it’s something that I’ve had happen before on other shoes (Allen Edmonds lace ups, a pair of Billy Reid Monks I snagged on a mega discount, and even the Mercanti Fiorentini monks). Seems to be an issue that’s found on shoes with a slightly elongated profile, but so far it’s pretty light and it honestly doesn’t bug me much. It will bug some though.

Neumora PipesNew, and not broken in yet.

It’s a more narrow, slightly elongated last, so finding the right fit might be a small challenge for some. Consider sizing down a half size (10D fits me great and my usual 10.5D would have been to big), and know that they do offer multiple widths, even though it’s a closeout.

And speaking of that closeout status… The Neumora stumbled out of the gates when it came to customer feedback. It got hammered by plenty in the reviews early on, and you gotta think that might have led to the eventual reduction in price/attainment of closeout status. Would you draw a line between those two?

Meanwhile, can you draw another line between the fact that double monks appeal to the younger end of the Allen Edmonds customer base, and the usually large amount of negative reviews early on?

ecommmerce and youth

And if Allen Edmonds continues to make shoes that appeal to a younger, more web-savvy customer base, can we expect the cycle of younger leaning design + complaints = price reduction/discontinued style to continue?

Or is connecting all of those dots just too much of a reach? After all, those busted straps on the first run were a major issue. Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Neumora Locamotive

Filed Under: Shoes, Too Expensive Tagged With: Allen Edmonds, Allen Edmonds monk strap review, monk straps, Neumora double monk strap review, Neumora review

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or start a discussion on Dappered Threads, our forum!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Lots of Made in the USA stuff, BR’s Lulu Pants Alternative, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Lots of Made in the USA stuff, BR’s Lulu Pants Alternative, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Plus The Dappered Space jumps in… for your fresh air space.

Steal Alert: Ledbury SELECT Dress Shirts 50% off

Steal Alert: Ledbury SELECT Dress Shirts 50% off

Includes their flagship Fine Twill mid-spreads.

5 Suits that aren’t Navy or Charcoal (to welcome back dressing well)

5 Suits that aren’t Navy or Charcoal (to welcome back dressing well)

Look good, feel good. Ditch the sweatpants and un-slump your shoulders. (Checks wrist) it’s handsome o’clock.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Comments

  1. fash1on says

    July 16, 2013 at 4:58 AM

    joe, you are probably onto something with your triangle of discount madness. whenever i go to the AE shoebank, the only other people i see are retired aged plethoric men with very wide feet who i’m fairly sure are not the ones wearing shoes like the neumora, dalton, neumok, etc. they cater to two polar demographics, the younger scrutinizing the details while many of the older less so, maybe because they can’t see their feet.

  2. pierrot says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:27 AM

    can we get photos of the creasing? is creasing something that you expect only on lower quality shoes? i thought creasing was normal?

  3. Chris Phillips says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:29 AM

    I have AE single monks and I have a bit of creasing in the toes too. Not sure if that’s something that Ill try to return them for.

    Great photos in this post.

  4. rohmen says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:45 AM

    I’ve been fit by a sales person at Allen Edmonds multiple times, and I still experience creasing in almost all of my dress shoes (which at this point are all AEs, and yes I use shoe trees and condition the leather on a regular basis). I’ve found that creasing is just a fact of life for me, and I assume my foot isn’t all that out of the ordinary proportion-wise to other people out there.

    If a person wants absolutely no creasing, they better be willing to spring for a pair of cordovan shells.

  5. kryogenix says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:52 AM

    Excellent article and photos. I really like the look of this shoe. Thanks!

  6. mmac says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:30 AM

    the chisel toe is kind of a deal breaker, in my opinion. i like the shape of the first model of double monk they did better, the mora. if it was between this and meermin, i would probably take the shipping/sizing risk on and go for the meermin monks.

  7. Adam says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:30 AM

    Excellent post. I really like this shoe.

  8. Joe says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:42 AM

    Totally understand. Still haven’t gotten around to the meermin purchase yet but I will. I’m not a zero-tolerance chisel toe guy myself, and kinda like the look, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Allen Edmonds goes back to the original Mora ASAP. That one was built on a shorter last too, wasn’t it?

  9. theYeti says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Joe, you’re definitely onto something with the “not otherwise heard” aspect of web savvy feedback. Knowing one or two people who have had trouble with a product is one thing; going online and being able to see that it’s a trend is very different. The weight you assign to whatever characteristics you see t be trends is subjective of course, but the end result is a much more complete picture of how a product behaves.

  10. dj_ricecube says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:50 AM

    Got the brown burnished in the mail yesterday. Breaking them in at work as I type. Love the looks. Just after a few hours of wear today and I have no creasing on the left shoe but the right shoe is showing some creasing along the cap toe seam. Not a deal breaker for me though.

  11. jdw says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    I’ll throw my hat into the “I’ve got some creasing on a pair of AEs” ring. For me, it’s on the McTavishes, and it’s also near the toe. To avoid it, I’d probably have to be incredibly careful not to put my feet in odd positions whilst sitting, as I think I exacerbate the condition by my tendency to bounce my legs a bit on the balls of my feet when I get restless in my office chair. So, I deal with it. It’s not especially noticeable on the McTavishes, anyway, since they’re a distressed leather.

  12. mmac says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:58 AM

    Yeah, the Mora was on a bit shorter last, I can’t remember which one it was though.

    I tried these on at AE when they came out and mentioned the difference to the sales person. She sort of grumbled and reluctantly agreed with me, so I can see them going back too. They still make the original Mora for special runs, like the Ball & Buck edition, but it’s way overpriced:

    http://ballandbuck.com/products/allen-edmonds-x-ball-and-buck-double-monk-strap

  13. Leroy Hall says

    July 16, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    I like the look of this shoe too. But the style is dated. I wore similar shoes when I was a kid in the late 60’s to early 70’s. Maybe it is one of those styles that have come back into fashion? I am not sure, but I can see these being worn with a bell bottom pin striped double breasted suit.

  14. Marshall Lilly says

    July 16, 2013 at 8:36 AM

    I think I would wear these if I won a pair or were given them as a gift, but I wouldn’t purchase these on my own. I’d much rather go with a single monk, without the chisel toe. But in all honesty, these are much nicer than the vast majority of shoes I see on a given day at or commuting to work. DC is is a sea of square-toed shoes!

  15. Chris W says

    July 16, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    I bought both the brown and black when they first arrived, and so far I have not had any issues with the straps. I think I could have sized down a half, but the shoes still feel and look great.

  16. Greg_S says

    July 16, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    hrmmmm… the black is just a little too Plymouth Rock for my tastes.

  17. Bruschetta says

    July 16, 2013 at 9:28 AM

    Burn the witch!

  18. Dreadpiratehurley says

    July 16, 2013 at 9:32 AM

    If only they made matching hats. Le sigh.

  19. Dave Hahn says

    July 16, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    I don’t understand the obsession with creasing on shoes. They’re shoes. This is what happens to shoes, no? I’m always seeing negative points on shoe reviews for creasing and I’m just wondering is there some magical non-cordovan shoe you guys have been wearing that don’t crease? It just seems like complaining that something is breaking in.

  20. jamie says

    July 16, 2013 at 11:50 AM

    For those of you with the Brown – can you describe the color or post a pic? They look rather dark in the AE pics online… I think I want a little lighter brown monk. I’m considering these To Boot NY for $209 at the Nordstrom sale, but the toe is rather aggressive, and I prefer a cap toe…

  21. Jay says

    July 16, 2013 at 12:05 PM

    I didn’t really like the chisel toe on these shoes because all the pics I’ve seen make the shoe look pretty wide. Your top down view makes it look like a pretty narrow profile though (which if you’re going to go chisel toe, that’s the way to go).

    If I hadn’t just pulled the trigger on a pair of Meermin monk straps I’d reconsider these.

  22. Josh says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:11 PM

    Call me foolish, uneducated or downright ignorant– I haven’t owned a whole lot of really nice dress shoes in my short years. Still in my twenties. I have never owned a pair that didn’t crease. How would they not, as your foot flexes while walking? Or were you to crouch wearing them? I always assumed it to be an inevitable thing of leather shoes.

  23. Josh says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:14 PM

    I was wondering the same thing and hoping for a solid response. I was under the impression that leather creases, end of story. But I perhaps there is something I just don’t know.

  24. BF says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:24 PM

    FYI, compared to Magnanni or any decent Euro brand the “chiseled” toe on this shoe is VERY understated.
    If you’re ultra conservative like the older AE customer base, I can see you not liking it but everyone one else should proceed.
    They look fantastic, especially in the brown.

  25. BF says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:26 PM

    You are not alone.
    The US as a whole is a Tsunami of black square toed shoes.

  26. BF says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:31 PM

    OMG those are awesome….

  27. Officer Rex Bishop says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Just got mine in the mail. Haven’t had a chance to put them on and walk around but first impression is to agree with Joe, bring it down a half size. They look incredible but they may well be on their way back.

  28. Officer Rex Bishop says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:39 PM

    I would say the pic you posted is lighter than the AE Neumora. They’re more of a classic brown, not the modern lighter trend.

  29. mmac says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    haha easy buddy. it’s just an opinion; don’t have to get all worked up about it.

  30. Steve says

    July 16, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    Are people returning calfskin dress shoes because they’re creasing?? They’re supposed to crease. Unless you’ve been buying shell cordovan your whole life every leather shoe you own is going to crease some amount. You can reduce that with shoe trees, a good rotation, proper care, etc but leather shoes are going to crease.

  31. BF says

    July 16, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    Was not meant to come off as combative, just saying that toe is FAR from Chiseled…

  32. r2401 says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:25 PM

    It’s not creasing that’s the issue it’s where they crease. They crease before and after the cap toe line and sometimes at an odd angle. Not just on my shoes but on others i’ve seen. The vast majority of captoes I own the creasing occurs just before the line, which is acceptable. That’s one of the huge benefits of captoes, actually. I still like them but not as much as some cheaper yoox double monks i’ve bought.

  33. JoeV says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:37 PM

    5th ave vs Neumora Double Monk

  34. southy says

    July 17, 2013 at 5:04 AM

    That’s a pretty good question. There should be a bit of a difference, in theory, between a wrinkle (going to happen to all leather and often regarded as character) and a crease (harsh line across the shoe that threatens the structural integrity of the leather). Really cheap leather will crease, but I’m not sure how a well-constructed shoe with decent leather would unless you’ve got some sort of weird sizing issue.

  35. Joe says

    July 17, 2013 at 7:23 AM

    Right, I’m with you, but I think some of the complaints have been that the shoes crease on the cap itself, as well as behind the cap. Usually a sign that the last is a little long for the wearers foot, which might be a bit of a design “flaw” on the Neumora.

    Doesn’t bug me. Almost all my shoes crease/wrinkle/whatever. Unless they’re suede or somethin’.

  36. Josh says

    July 18, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    Ahh, semantics. I was using the two interchangeably. I see what you’re talking about now.

  37. DXLi says

    July 30, 2013 at 7:14 AM

    It’s a revival item. Style is cyclical, and many perishable styles come back into vogue after a few decades. Take boat shoes, for instance.

  38. fashionpolice says

    October 28, 2013 at 10:02 AM

    Love the way these look….but they squeak so bad when I walk that I can’t stand wearing them.

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
Continue the discussion at Dappered Threads.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

Connect with Dappered

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Crisp Spring Joggers, Extra 25% off Nordy Rack Clearance, & more
  • Lots of Made in the USA stuff, BR’s Lulu Pants Alternative, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • The Dappered Space: Most Wanted Affordable Home Style April 2021
  • 10 things a well dressed guy might worry others think about him
  • Steal Alert: The new Clarks Bushacre 3 for under $40
  • Style Scenario: Chinos Chukkas Polo – Black, gray, and brown

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

RSS Latest on Dappered Threads

  • underwear
  • Persol 714
  • Spier and Mackay Sweatshirts for 2021
  • Tuxedo
  • How do you dress when doing yard work?

Copyright © 2021 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.