Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

AE cordovan strands header

Win it: Allen Edmonds Shell Cordovan Strand Oxfords

By | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Here's why.

Reader Appreciation Week: Shell Cordovan Strands – $595

Consider this week five days of saying thank you. Without your readership, your emails, your terrific comments, and your willingness to spread the word, Dappered wouldn’t exist. The collection of good guys who frequent this corner of the internet is by far the greatest achievement of this website. And to say thank you, we’ve put together five, splurge-worthy giveaways that’ll hopefully express our gratitude. Welcome to Dappered’s Reader Appreciation Week. Good luck, and thanks a million.

Cordovan Leather was a space age material lonnng before there was a space age. Hyper-durable, wildly smooth, and visually deep, it takes six months to transform a horse hide to this finished leather. The material itself is a piece of natural art. The master of Cordovan is the Chicago based Horween Leather Company. Cut and sew Horween’s top of the line product into the flagship dress shoe of the American Shoemaker Allen Edmonds, and you get a stunner of a combination.

Cordovan Strands from Allen Edmonds

A classic dress shoe with just enough flash, the Allen Edmonds Strand (especially in cordovan) is the holy grail of men’s footwear to plenty. They’re a half brogue with plenty of perforations and pinked edges, but the non-porous, glass smooth nature of the Cordovan gets shown off on the panels that are left free of those details. Wingtips are great, but when you’ve got leather like this, it’s easy to over-clutter with all those edges, stitching, and lines.

The step-by-step Horween Cordovan process.

Built on the Goodyear Welted 5-65 last, Strands are slightly elongated, but nowhere close to the foot-spears some European (or European styled) shoe brands crank out. The toe is a perfectly rounded off point. No chisel, not stubby, just right. The silhouette isn’t elderly and it certainly isn’t trying too hard.

Cordovan leather close

Cordovan is as non-porous as leather gets. So a high shine sticks around.

The current shade of Cordovan is the epitome of versatile. Deep brown with some reddish tones, it hits the sweet spot for pairing with almost any color of suit or trousers. That Cordovan shine is going to grab some eyes, but the color isn’t trendy, and they’re deep enough to wear with darker shades (lighter brown shoes can clash with darker clothes).

Cordovan Sole

Word is Allen Edmonds is working on a new shade of Cordovan leather for a web-gem run starting sometime in September. Don’t worry, this current standard Brown Shell Cordovan isn’t going anywhere. The new shade will be an addition to their lineup. Expect an in-person review of that new shade in the coming months. But points to Allen Edmonds for trying something new, especially when this classic Brown Cordovan pair proves, without a doubt, they certainly don’t need to.

Enter here to win (update, entries are closed) a pair of Allen Edmonds Brown Shell Cordovan Strands in your size. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET 8/14/13. Thanks to Allen Edmonds for providing not just Strands, but Cordovan Strands for Reader Appreciation Week.

Update: Congrats to Brian S. of Denver who won the random drawing for the Cordovan Strands. Once again, can’t thank Allen Edmonds enough for providing a pair of their flagship shoe in Cordovan for reader appreciation week.

Comments

  5. Wow that is great looking and would really make my first new suit pop! Crossing my fingers

  6. The great thing about Allen Edmonds is that they charge for Horween Cordovan and a goodyear welt the same as some well-known European brands charge for leather and an unknown sole bond. The transparency on the lasts is also unheard of.
    It’s nice to know that Americans produce some of the best product at some of the best values.

  7. These will go perfect with my walnut Strands I picked up during the anniversary sale a few weeks ago!

  10. I think the winner should be required to post a pic of them wearing it. You know for closure for the rest who don’t win.

  14. Having a pair of shoes this nice absolutely demands they be taken care of properly. For me, it would mean taking them to my cobbler before the first wear to have sole savers put on.

  15. Awesome give away! I recently got a pair of Strands in walnut, but this Cordovan is even more beautiful.

  23. These look awesome. I just bought the walnut Strands. I tried them on at the store in the morning–they fit well. I tried them on again in the late afternoon–and, well, they didn’t fit so well. I’ve been told not to make this mistake. What do you guys think? Should I exchange for a larger size (currently 9D)? Or should I just wear them–break them in, so to speak? I’ve also been told that shoes like this should fit perfectly out of the box.

    Also, if you don’t mind answering this question: Do all shoe manufacturers share the same lasts? Or do different shoe manufacturers make different lasts? Thanks!

  28. Don’t get me wrong, those shoes are stunning, but good to keep in mind a Goodyear welt isn’t the end all, be all of welting. It’s been morphed into a marketing tool more than anything; plenty of bespoke, hand welted shoes that don’t carry the name brand of Goodyear, which is really just a machining process.

  30. I typically size down one-half size for my AE’s to fit perfect. What size do you normally wear in dress shoes? It could also be that your feet swelled throughout the day and there is certainly a bit of a break in period for the leather.

  33. Damn you, Dappered. 6 months ago, I would not have ever swooned for a pair of shoes, let alone ones so dressy. MUST.HAVE.

  36. Well this is very exciting. I am lucky enough to own a pair of Allen Edmonds and always get compliments on them. But this, this is something else. Good luck to everyone.

  37. I bought that allen edmonds manistee belt during the Nordstroms sale specifically for this!

  39. Hi, Jonathan! Thanks. This is the first dress shoes I’ve bought–at least for a number of years. I never had a need for them. I do think my feet swelled. I guess I just need to figure out whether I can break this in, or if they’re just too small…

  43. I don’t really get the preoccupation this site has with watches. This shoe porn, on the other hand, is something I can get behind.

  44. The 5 last of the strand is quite long and narrow. I tend to size down a half and go one width up (to an E). It obviously depends on where its tight, but that might help.

  47. Meh, nothing special here. No reason for all of you to enter.

    …

    Joe, these look incredible. My dog chewed up my calf strands a few years ago, but they were my second favorite shoes from AE after the McAllisters. They really nailed the proportions on this one.

  50. I cannot believe what a beautiful shoe that is. What boggles my mind is that you can no doubt buy haute couture men’s shoes for much, much more than $600. But why would you? Would they be cordovan leather? Made in the USA? With the perfect profile? C’est impossible!

    This is the perfect shoe.

  53. I think that might be a good option. I tried the E at the store, but I wasn’t exactly taken with how the extra bit of width looked. I suppose that’s better than discomfort, though. Thanks!

  56. I had the same problem when I first bought my Strands. Tried them on in the store, seemed a bit snug but figured they’d be ok after they broke in/stretched a bit. After getting them home, I realized that I wouldnt be able to make it through a day with them. My problem was that the nearest store was 1+ hour away from me, so it was a bit of a lengthy process to find the size that fit me just right. First just got 1 size up (length), which was still too narrow. So I ended up going back down to the original size, but up a width, which did the trick. They really dont change much once they break in, I’ve found. If they feel too snug now, I’d exchange them for a larger size.

  57. From an observer’s point of view, it’s impossible to tell if you’re wearing a D width or an E width. You’re the only one who will know or notice.

  61. I just bought my first pair of AE suede wingtip shoes. I think they will last quite a long time.

  62. Strand in calfskin…how does it get better than this. Strand in shell…it just did

  63. Have the walnut, which I love. But I also love the slight reddish tint to these – been wanting a shoe leaning towards this color, but most burgundy just come in too reddish. This one seems to toe the line quite superbly.

  68. That’s good to hear that you wore them around the house and that you were still able to return. I’ve thought of trying them out around the house, too, but I was worried I wouldn’t be able to return. Thanks!

  69. That’s a good point, my friend, although with clothes, as I often tell my wife, “It’s all about how I feel.” I’ll get a stain, and she’ll say, “No one can see that!”, and I’ll say, “But I can!”