Allen Edmonds St. John’s Double Monk Strap – $395
What do you get when you cross a Strand, a double monk, and AE’s slick Cornwallis?
That’d be the brand new St. John’s.
Flashier than the relatively subdued Mora 2.0, the St. John’s is one of the newest models from Allen Edmonds. It’s a fashion forward double monk strap, with a pinked-edge perforated cap, a toe medallion, and slightly chiseled toes thanks to the Goodyear Welted 1943 last.
Praise be indeed.
Built on the same last as the newish Cornwallis oxford, conservative dress-shoe-pursuits might stay away from those slightly chiseled toes. But they ain’t squared off like the cheap, department store shoes that Dr. Frankenstein’s Monster would have favored if he would have lumbered into Kohl’s for new kicks around 1997. The lines are softened enough that from the wearer’s point of view (or an observer’s point of view) they look contemporary but not pointy or arrow-head like.
The fit, when compared to the more traditional, popular, 65 last (think Strand, Park Ave., etc) is maybe a little tighter through the front of the foot, but that’s without any break in time. For my normally 10.5 D feet, a 10.5 D in the St. John’s was a nice, secure fit. Not tight and pinching, and not sloppy. A good embrace. Nice and comfy straight from the box.
Chili calfskin = getting closer to true-ish red than their Merlot.
Buckles do have some shine to them, but they aren’t overly reflective. Plus, they’re on the smaller, slim side. Not a larger buckle like the single monk Warwick (which works there, since it’s just a single monk). Shoes here are shown in AE’s Chili calfskin. More of a true red than their Merlot shade, but still has plenty of brown to it. Easy to wear with navy or grey suits.
The toe medallion, compared to the Strand, is more aerodynamic. Think X-Wing, and less meandering octopus like the medallion on the Strand’s toes. That’s no knock on either medallion. Just an observation.
Built on the same last (1943) as the Cornwallis oxford.
Construction/attention to detail is classic AE. Nice stitching, substantial feeling but not heavy or weighty. Well done. One note on how the buckles are built: The front buckle (closest to the toe) is not elasticized. A less flexible, leather loop attaches that buckle to the upper. It’s still adjustable, but there’s just less wiggle to it. The buckle closer to your ankle does have stretchy, well anchored elastic.
Available in either black, walnut, or the chili shown in this post. Would love it if they eventually made this particular model in their true, burnished brown or their darker, deeper, richer merlot.
Enter here to win a pair of Allen Edmonds St. John’s Double Monks in your size and chosen shade of calfskin. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET 6/21/16. Thanks to Allen Edmonds for providing one of their newest models for a review and subsequent giveaway!
UPDATE: Congrats to T. Kida who won the St. John’s from Allen Edmonds!