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Affordable Men's Style

Allen Edmonds Rediscover America Sale – The Top 15

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Allen Edmonds Rediscover America Sale 9/30 – 10/15

What went into the rankings? It’s not as straightforward as the level of discount. Allen Edmonds puts their entire lineup on sale during the Rediscover America Sale, but some shoes get only 15% off, while others  get 30%. Just depends on which model. A deeper discount is obviously a strength, but overall style, desirability, versatility, etc… also come into play. Of the 154 styles, here’s one argument for the top 15 if they were to be put head to head… or foot to foot.

 

#1. Fifth Avenue – $239.00 ($345)

5th ave

Well balanced but still has a bit of flash. Now available in the new bourbon shade. If the Strand is a Ferrari, the 5th is an Aston Martin. Perforated cap toe but skips the rest of the broguing. Triple stitch across the vamp sweeps down the side in a perfect curve. True oxford closed lacing. And now a reasonable splurge at $239 at more than $100 off. Biggest possible markdown + can’t beat style + the new bourbon option if you so choose = #1 with a bullet. Wanna save four cents? Nordstrom just put the Fifth Ave. on sale as well for $238.96. Perhaps a price-match preemptive strike?

 

#2. Mora 2.0 – $293.25 ($345)

mora 2.0

Not much of a markdown here, and double monks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re brand new. Or, they’re the brand new re-issue of the rounded toe Allen Edmonds double monk from the past. The Neumora had a bit of a chisel to it, which sent some screaming for the hills (others of us, not at all).

 

#3. Strands (in Bourbon) – $293.25 ($345)

Bourbon Strand

All right, going color specific here. The discount isn’t all that great (15%) but if memory serves, this is one of if not the first time the new Bourbon shade is available with a price cut?

 

#4. McTavish Wingtip Oxfords – $239.00 ($295)

McTavish

One of the best looking dressed up casuals out there. Same last as the Park, 5th, and Strand so the shape is timeless. But the wax-infused leather gives it a more rough look. Can a shoe have well maintained stubble? Available in a very light tan “natural”shade, a dark brown cognac, and these in wax infused black with the toasted oak sole. Same deal here as with the Fifth Aves… Nordstrom has em’ for four cents less.

 

#5. Kenilworth Plain Toe Derby – $250.75 ($290)

kenilworth

Stunningly simple. Burnished toe on the brown and walnut. Also available in the new bourbon shade. Here’s the case for the completely plain, brown shoe.

 

#6. Franciscan Single Monk Strap – $259.00 ($345)

Franciscan

The Manziel of Monk straps. Polarizing. Flashy. For sale. A real solid markdown on these. Built on the 333 last, so it does have that chisel toe. Medallion and broguing. More over here.

 

#7. Hanover Wholecuts – $293.25 ($345)

Hanover

Yowza. But… they were just $250 during an Amazon sale. Wait… they’re still $254 through Amazon, as long as you’re looking for the Bourbon pair. For what it’s worth, they sure look like a $300 pair of shoes.

 

#8. Neumok – $199.00 ($275)

Neumoks

Most of us aren’t going to drop two hundred bucks on a pair of wildcards like the Neumok, but shoe hogs might be willing to splurge on a pair of “fun” shoes like these. Olive + tan suede shown above. A quiet casual option? They do have a distressed brown and snuff suede. Unlined construction. More on these over here.

 

#9. Dalton Wingtip Boot – $335.75 ($395)

Dalton in Bourbon

It’s hard to knock the Dalton, but they’re still awfully expensive. That, and not everyone loves the idea of a leather sole on a boot. You can opt for a V Tread Tap Sole, but that’s an extra fifty bucks. At least now they’re making these in Bourbon. Review over here.

 

#10. Fifth Street Dress Boots – $318.75 ($375)

fifth street boot

Pretty sure the first day you step into these and lace up the true-oxford fronts you get to say somewhere in the back of your head… “hey, I think I might have just made it… in a very small way at least”. Price is steep, even with almost $60 knocked off (= just 15% though). Not everyone likes the dress boot thing. But as far as dress boots go? These are about as sharp as it gets. Especially in black with a lighter grey flannel suit.

 

#11. Flatiron Derby – $293.25 ($345)

Flatiron derby

A bit of an odd duck. They put a medallion on a smooth upper… then when with open, derby-style lacing instead of the more dressed up looking oxford. Has that chisel toe due to the 333 last. Another one of those that it might pay off to wait for a while.

 

#12. Vernon Dress Oxfords – $293.25 ($345)

vernon

Odd duck… the sequel. Like the discontinued Fairfax, the Vernon runs on very modern details. Almost a wholecut. Very smooth. Still pretty steep at almost three hundred bucks.

 

#13. Park Avenue – $293.25 ($345)

park merlot

Like a traditional powerhouse unfairly down in the polls after they got trucked by another power (the 5th Ave.). Price is just still too steep for many. Especially when these were down to $230 over the summer during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and the Fifth Ave. is almost sixty bucks cheaper.

 

#14. Promontory Boots – $297.50 ($350)

Football leather boots

Now… hang on a second. This is like the mid-major who over achieves with two or three star recruits. And the black grain pair, with those brown laces? There’s something there. Imagine them with jeans. Perfect. But gut feeling is these might eventually end up on clearance or as a closeout style? Might pay off nicely to wait. Dainite rubber sole.

 

#15. Cordovan Dalton – $590.75 ($695)

cordovan dalton

The Stanford of the list. Has a reddish hue, powerful… expensive as all hell.

Which pairs would you have voted in your top 3? 5? Something from the sale not make the top 15 that would have made yours? Who’s too high or too low? Leave it all in the comments.

Comments

  1. I bought the walnut Strands during the recent Nordstrom anniversary sale. In most shoes, I’m size 9.5. For the Strand, size 9 felt a little tight, so I went size 9.5. When I tried them on at home, my wife said they looked clownishly long. I had to agree. I returned them.

    Next, I went to the AE store for a proper fitting. The AE guy told me my feet did not look wide, and that I was probably a 9 in the 5 last. Alas, I tried the Strands again, and they felt too tight in 9 and too clownish in 9.5. He warned against trying the next width. “It ruins the sleek look,” he said.

    The only AE shoes I like seem to be on the 5 last. I’m at a bit of a loss. Maybe I’m the rare guy who just can’t do AE…Any thoughts?

  3. I guess how tight are we talking? They will naturally stretch and relax a bit with use. They tend to feel a bit stiff/tight at first.

  4. I can’t do AE either. I need to size down to a C in order to prevent my heel from slipping but that makes the shoes too tight in the toe area for me. I’ve found that British brands tend to fit me much better. They have more room in the toe box while not being loose around the heels.

  6. I’m a 10 3E in the 5 last. Yeah, objectively they’re not as perfect in shape. If anyone ever noticed, they haven’t said anything. We are in the fortunate position of not having to wear uncomfortable shoes to dress well.

    Got a pair of boubon McAllisters on eBay the other day. That color is amazing. People, including myself, haven’t minded the width.

  7. I’ve found that if shoes don’t feel comfortable when you first put them on, there’s no point in hoping they’ll fit over time.

  8. Agreed. I have a pair of daltons and a pair of strands. Went for my regular 9D in the strands, but they felt a bit long. Kept them because they were cheap on amazon and I didn’t want to deal with a return… but I did get my daltons a half size down, and a half size wider. It’s just a narrow cut shoe.

  9. no, mike is saying that because they are leather shoes, there will be a bit of play as they are worn and stretch out.

  10. That’s probably what I’ll do–or I’ll just stay away from AE altogether. Maybe try Grenson.

  11. Yes, this is what the associate said to me. The AEs are made with high-quality leather, so they’re bound to feel “stiff” at first. To me, though, if they’re tight they’re tight.

  12. Have you had luck with any particular brand? I’ve been looking at Grenson. Any suggestions on fit for any of the brands?

  13. I’ve been craving some strands… should I jump? 15% isn’t that steep of a discount… what are the odds a bigger discount shows up in the next few months?

  14. The Nordstrom sales usually have them around $220-$230. However, if you’re okay with factory seconds, you can find Strands for $200 from the AE Shoe Bank during sales.

  16. Exactly. I’ve never found any of them to ‘stretch out’ over time. That’s why I said if it doesn’t feel right initially, it most likely never will.

  17. I would give them a bit of time to stretch out. I wear AEs and all of them are tight for the first few days. I’ve tried on E’s, but they tend to be way too loose on the heel for me

  18. Haven’t tried Grenson. I like Loake and Alfred Sargent. AS is going to be much more expensive than AE’s unless you can find them at a deep discount. The Loake 1880 line will be in the same price range and quality as AE so you might want to give that a shot.

  19. interesting. I’ve found that all of my leather shoes stretch over time. the one time i sized up a width on AE b/c I was concerned, they relaxed on me and now feel too big. bad move on my part.

  20. Nope I’ve constantly complained about my AEs and the inconsitent/terrible fit. Strand and Fifth ave fit like crap yet strawfut fits my heel perfect, while being a size up. Of everything I have, AE’s are the worst fit for my narrower feet except the strawfut which is perfect and what I based my purchases on. Have players as well and they cause less heel rub than the size C’s but are a D width.
    Very very annoying.

  21. 10.5 3E in the 5 last here. The shape is not as good, but it’s still better than 99% of what other people are wearing. Sure, sometimes I wish I could wear shoes that aren’t massive widths, but such is my life.

    Incidentally, a 10.5 3E on the 5 last fits better in the toe than the same size on the 1 last, which is a bit tight in the toes at first wear. I suspect this is due to the elongation of the 5 last, stretching the toe box farther forward, and allowing for additional width.

  22. Perhaps it depends where you need it to stretch out. If it’s the top of your foot, your foot might win out. My issue is always around my toes so it just squishes them together and never stretches out.

  23. Damn. Drooling over those black Hanovers (about to buy a tux & want the wholecuts to complete it), but not sure I can swing it. If they were down to 250 like the bourbon, I’d be all over it.

  27. Very nice. The code does stack, so I got em for $232 shipped. Only downside is they didn’t have the Bourbon available, but more than happy with walnut.

    Thx!

  28. They havent seemed to stretch all that much for me. If they are a hair snug, it’d probably be fine. But if they are significantly snug, I don’t think the stretch factor will make much of a difference. I’ve always worn 9.5/10’s in “regular” dress shoes, but ended up finding that 8.5 E’s fit me best in the Strands. My salesperson advised me against sizing up in length, and rather go a width wider. It made all the difference.

  30. Didn’t AE make the Krause boots for Wolverine?

    I seem to remember people at SF going crazy when a large number of them showed up as seconds in J’ville a few months ago.

  31. I don’t know. That would explain the similarity. Also, the Krause DO NOT fit like the 1Ks. Maybe it’s an AE last? I tried a half-size up and down from my 1K size, which is perfect, and neither felt right. Had to return the Krause and it hurt because they look so good.

  33. I just browsed the list of comments and I don’t think anyone’s said it yet, so let me be the first…

    The “Rediscover America Sale” beginning on the first day of a government shutdown… Not quite as ironic as Google’s celebration of Yosemite National Park’s Anniversary (which was of course closed today), but still ironic as hell.

  34. My understanding is that the “calf” part is just extra description, but the colors are the same.

  41. Thanks guys. Placed my order for the walnut Strands. Don’t think it gets much better than $220 for firsts. They should go nicely with my recent walnut shell Dalton purchase. I might have to grab a pair of the blue Neumoks…and then I will be done for the year (and broke).

  42. No. I read (maybe on this website?) a comment by someone who said he had fifteen pairs of AEs when I was thinking of buying my first pair. I thought to myself “man, who needs that many dress shoes?” …and now less than three years later I have 5 pairs, including 3 pairs of Strand in brown colors.

  43. Thank you, sir. This is an interesting perspective. 🙂 I think she was also reacting to all the broguing. I might try something more subtle, and with a darker brown. That might do the trick.

  44. Why the focus on exclusively Walnut (here, bourbon) Strands? Just got black pair and love them but never hear about Strands in black.