Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

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

The Best Men’s Dress Shoes under $200 of 2016

May 23, 2016 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

The Best Looking Dress Shoes Under $200

Paying for quality is smart, but not everyone can (or wants to) spend over two hundred bucks on a pair of dress shoes. Sometimes you need something to get you from point A to point B, and only then when you reach point B does it actually become possible to drop a couple C-notes on lace-ups. Plus, an inexpensive pair of shoes means you’re not married to them for the next decade. Most of us will rent a few places before we ever consider buying a house, right?

No matter how loud the shoe snobs squawk about sole-blow-outs, plenty of us have never had major quality issues with cheaper shoes. It can be done, they can be worn, they can look good. That said, with costs of leather and labor going up, this is getting harder and harder every year we do this. But there’s still plenty of good looking, well wearing dress shoes on the market for under two hundred bucks. In no particular order, here are this year’s best…

 

Johnston & Murphy Melton Oxford in Italian Calfskin – $174.95

Johnston & Murphy Melton Oxford in Italian Calfskin | Dappered.com

The JM Melton is known as one of the better entry-level Goodyear Welted dress shoes. But up until recently, it was the leather that was really a main drawback. Smooth and shined up to the point of looking plasticky, the black and Bordeaux options didn’t do the classic shape, cap toe, and solid construction any favors. But now there’s this lighter tan Italian Calfskin, which actually has some depth and marbling to the leather. It’s a huge improvement. A conservative toe + overall silhouette won’t ruffle any feathers, but some more adventurous types might find em’ a tad boring. Made in India. Solid feeling and comfortable out of the box. Made in India.

 

JCP Stafford Logan Wingtip Blucher – $67.50 w/ BIGSAVE7 ($90)

JCP Stafford Logan Wingtip Blucher | Dappered.com

Still kickin’. Just make sure you get these, and not the new “Nolan” Oxford winger, which has inferior leather. Always on sale. Great leather for the price. Not a true oxford, and bluchers are more casual than Oxfords, and furthermore, a wingtip will make a shoe even more casual at that. So probably not suit worthy, but with a blazer and some chinos? Sure. Usually these things run between $50 – $60 depending on codes. At post time, they’re full price, and there’s a 25% off deal running. So, not the best price and worth waiting for them to drop. Full review here.

 

B.R. “Shaw” Italian Leather Lace-Up – $88.80 w/ BRTAKE40 ($148)

B.R. "Shaw" Italian Leather Lace-Up | Dappered.com

A basic blucher. Plain toe. No cap, no wing, notta. Italian leather is good, not great. Not as supple as their oft-mentioned briefcase. $148 asking price might be a bit much when compared to the competition (as seen below), but BR is always, ALWAYS on sale. And with 30% – 40% off? Then yes, a really nice value. All rubber sole is slim but still provides grip. Brown option is a perfect, middle-of-the road, do anything shade. A nice shoe for guys who don’t wear dress shoes that often. Sizing might run a half size small.

 

Massimo Matteo Made in Italy Oxford Wingtip – $159.99

Massimo Matteo Made in Italy Oxford Wingtip | Dappered.com

Massimo Matteo is to Zappos as Mercanti Fiorentini is to DSW. Both brands are made in Italy, both use surprisingly nice leather, both are almost certainly cemented instead of stitched, and both appear to be brands that are exclusive to their particular vendor. These true oxford wingtips are sleek and dressed up enough for a suit, thanks to the closed lacing. Available in tan (which really jumps against navy suit pants) or black. No wide sizes here. Just the standard D widths. Leather is nicely marbled and feels thicker compared to other mid-$100s shoes. Sole feels solid enough that they might even be stitched (probably not, but still). Toe shape is perfect. And since they’re sold by Zappos, shipping is fast and free. Sizing feels close to true. Maybe a little small since they’re on the trim side.

 

Mercanti Fiorentini Made in Italy Plain Toe Oxford – $139.95

Mercanti Fiorentini Made in Italy Plain Toe Oxford | Dappered.com

Speaking of Mercanti Fiorentini… these are basically a not-as-fortunate-man’s Allen Edmonds Carlyle. Dead simple. Lots of leather to look at that doesn’t have stitching or broguing. And what a shade of leather it is. A beautiful burgundy, which a lot of guys prefer over the lighter tan/cognac leathers lots of shoemakers seem to favor. BUT… be warned that in some light it leans pretty close to a wine shade of red. Not everyone’s tastes. But to others, they’ll stand out in a good way, and a deep burgundy can be worn with a darker grey suit (as long as it’s not almost black), and looks really good with navy, light grey, even a traditional seersucker. Surprisingly comfy out of the box for looking as trim as they do. I’ve got borderline wide feet and they still felt great. That leather is gonna wrinkle, but all leather does.

 

John W. Nordstrom “Sterza” Cap Toe Oxford – $116.98 ($195)

John W. Nordstrom "Sterza" Cap Toe Oxford | Dappered.com

Runs a little narrow and the toe does have a bit of a chisel to it, but these aren’t as extreme as, say, many a model that Magnnani makes. Made in Italy for Nordstrom, and since it is Nordstrom, they ship and return for free. Available in only the cognac, burnished toe finish seen above. UPDATE: Holy crud, those dropped like a rock overnight. These just went on sale for 40% off, and thus, sizes got scattered quick. But since it’s Nordstrom, shipping and returns are free. So, if they don’t have your size? Keep an eye on em’. Stock might come back in. 

 

Banana Republic Wyatt Single Monk – $88.80 w/ BRTAKE40 ($148)

Banana Republic Wyatt Single Monk | Dappered.com

Yes, monk straps count as dress shoes on this list. Single monks, especially, are dressy enough to wear with a suit and tie. And there’s hardly a better bang for the buck single monk on the market than Banana Republic’s Wyatt. Available in multiple shades, and the burgundy shown here is really impressive in person. BR makes a point to suggest sizing up, but for whatever reason, these monks at 10.5 D fit my usually 10.5 D feet just fine. Full review here.

 

Wall + Water Shoes on GILT – $150 – $200ish

Wall + Water Shoes on GILT | Dappered.com

Wall + Water is Gilt’s house brand of Italian made shoes. Since GILT is a flash sale site, you’d have to create an account and keep an eye out for a Wall + Water event, but they do run sales with some regularity. GILT was recently purchased by Sak’s, and in doing so, Sak’s changed what used to be an abhorrent return policy (used to be for store credit only). Shoes don’t always fit, so having a good return policy is key. It’s not awesome, since they’ll nail you with a steep $9.50 restocking fee, but at least you can get your cash back. Plus, you can also return stuff to Saks OFF 5TH locations if you have one near you. The materials and construction are above the price point that they usually ask for, but just know that since it’s a flash sale site, you’ve got those other hoops to jump through. Shown above is a pair of suede single monks that were purchased for a measly $119 a while back. Review of the brand can be found here.

 

Allen Edmonds for Brooks Bros. Suede Wingtips – $149.00 ($298)

Allen Edmonds for Brooks Bros. Suede Wingtips | Dappered.com

An oddity for sure at this price, and that price of $149 is only good through today. But it’s an (admittedly extreme) example of how Allen Edmonds can be had for much, much less via Brooks Brothers. You just have to wait for a big, site-wide sale or a clearance event like this. Not really all that dressy, but would look perfect with a summer suit at a warm weather wedding. Can also pull duty with dark denim when it cools off. Made in the USA. Goodyear welted. Unlined interior so there’s less stiffness/structure. Pretty sure these are the Neumok?

 

Franklin & Freeman Captoe – $69.00 | Wingtip – $69.00

Franklin & Freeman Shoes | Dappered.com

Part of Amazon’s new in-house fashion brands. Strangely enough, they’ve been yanked from Amazon in the last couple of days? Wondering if they’ll make a return? And if they do, they’re a $70 shoe that feels more like a… $100 – $120 shoe. I know, not a huge compliment, but for guys who are on a super tight budget, they’re worth a look. Especially with the easy shipping and returns that Amazon offers. More on the brands (which again, seem to have disappeared for now) can be found here.

 

To Boot New York “Rutgers” Blucher – $199.99 ($350)

To Boot New York "Rutgers" Blucher | Dappered.com

Despite often being priced above Allen Edmonds, TBNY shoes seem to be just a step below AEs. So that means when they dip under two hundred? As they often can when on sale? That means they’re at a plenty fair price. Just an open-lacing blucher/derby here, but still sleek enough to wear with suits. Oversized toe medallion adds interest. Made in Italy.

 

Florsheim Sabato Double Monk Strap – $125.00

Florsheim Sabato Double Monk Strap | Dappered.com

Many a man has purchased and worn to death a pair of Florsheims in his lifetime. To the average fella walking down the street, they’re decent quality. To those who spend more time than average on their style, they’re dependable. Not amazing. But Florsheim has been around for a while for a reason. Leather isn’t amazing, but the shape certainly works and they should hold up well enough. Toe looks less pointy/chiseled in person as it does online, but they are still pretty sleek and modern. From a distance, they look more expensive than they are. Up close? Maybe not. But they don’t look like junk either. Fit seems true. A 10.5 fit my feet like most 10.5 D shoes do.

 

Jack Erwin Joe Cap Toe Oxford – $195.00

Jack Erwin Joe Cap Toe Oxford | Dappered.com

A closed lacing, true oxford, with a sleek Blake-stitched welt and cut from full-grain calfskin. Designed in New York and made in Spain. Available in full grain Espresso (seen above) or black. Ships and returns for free. Review here. (Also, RIP Jack Erwin’s “Jake.”)

 

Nordstrom Calibrate Double Monk Straps – $130.00

Calibrate Cusano Double Monk Straps | Dappered.com

Introduced a few years back and Nordstrom has been making them in more leather shades and suedes since. Can easily be worn with a light grey suit to a spring or summer wedding, or with a navy suit and tieless while out for drinks. Nice silhouette. Leather is above average for the price. Has a bit of a chemical stink out of the box, but it fades quickly.

 

Charles Tyrwhitt “Baxter” Goodyear Welted Cap Toe – $199.99 ($219)

Charles Tyrwhitt "Baxter" Goodyear Welted Cap Toe | Dappered.com

Not a bad price for a sleek-looking, Goodyear Welted cap toe. Not from one of their super-high end lines, but should get the job done. Also available in wide sizes. Will take a while to get to you since all CT stuff is shipped from the UK. Also, original shipping charges don’t appear to be refundable in the case of a return, and shipping can be steep.

 

Kenneth Cole “Chief Council” Cap Toe – $99.99 ($148)

Kenneth Cole “Chief Council” Cap Toe | Dappered.com

Shape of the shoe is great (not all Kenneth Cole’s are square-toed Frankenstein shoes). It’s not long and pointy, and the toe is nicely rounded off. But a $90 shoe is still a $90 shoe, and at this price, you’re gonna have to make some compromises. The leather isn’t as shiny in person as it is online, but it does have some unnatural glare out of the box. Leather is nice and pliable though, and seems to be better than most shoes that’ll run a hundred bucks. Simple cap toe. The big drawback, which will be a deal breaker for many, is that the “Kenneth Cole” logo is embossed above the heel on the outside edge.98% of the viewing public would never notice. But still. Ships and returns free through Nordstrom. Also available in black for $100.

 

Allen Edmonds Factory 2nds (when on sale)

Allen Edmonds Factory 2nds | Dappered.com

Seems like they’ve raised the base price on their factory 2nds shoes, but still… if you wait for a big holiday weekend sale, you should be able to get a pair of 2nds quality Allen Edmonds shoes for around $200 or under. For example, the Shoebank has launched their Memorial Day sale early, and there are plenty of models under $200. Just one example is the dynamite Cornwallis medallion toe oxford shown above. Those are running $199 right now. Not sure how the Factory 2nds game works? Head here for the low down. (Meanwhile, if you don’t want to play the 2nds game, AE is offering their Cornwallis and Strand for 30% off, $275 instead of $395, for a limited time. Not under $200, but still.)

 

Nord. Rack Finds: AE Ft. Collins – $199.97 | Bruno Magli Catello – $199.97

nordy rack finds

Nordstrom Rack is sorta like Nordstrom’s own personal outlet. And it can be a great source for drastically discounted, high quality footwear. Not all brick and mortar Rack’s have awesome shoe selections, but many do, and are worth scouting from time to time. No Rack near you? Keep an eye on their website. Since it’s basically an outlet, size selection and brand availability can vary greatly week to week. But those two shoes shown above are good examples of what you can find. Also, unlike regular online Nordy purchases, there is a $5.95 pre-paid label fee for returns on Rack purchases (or, if you have a Rack near you, you can drop em’ off in store for free).

 

The Reminder: eBay can be a gold mine.

Allen Edmonds from Ebay | Dappered.com

Some guys swear by eBay for picking up high end, gently used shoes. Some haven’t had the best luck. Be smart, be careful, and know that sometimes the previous wearer has left their imprint on not just the exterior of the shoe with scuffs and wrinkles, but on the inside of the shoe as well. Footbeds can conform to the wearers foot over time, and if the seller and you don’t match up real well, they might feel funny or uncomfortable.

Remember, with reasonable care (get some shoe trees!) and rotation (if dress shoes are worn often), most less-expensive shoes can work just fine. For more on general shoe jargon, head here.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: best dress shoes under $200, Dress Shoes under $200, men's dress shoes under $200

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

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.

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

They’re calling it their Red Label line. So… why another line? And how?

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Idea starters including neck massages, pickleball, and a little Sherlock Holmes.

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

Why having Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT as stylists probably isn’t a great idea.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

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.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • MTO Suits, Goodyear Welted Boots, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • 10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Rugged Boots, Italian wool trousers, & More
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Italian Traveler Wool Blazers, Nordy’s NOT final sale section, & More
  • The Dappered Space: 5 Essential Home Decor Items for any grown-guy’s home
  • Style Scenario: It’s still winter. (Nothing over $100 edition)
  • The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

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

Copyright © 2023 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.