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How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford

August 2, 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.

Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister w/ Tap Sole – $237 ($395)

NOTE: Not sure how long the sale on these Merlot Mcallisters is supposed to last. Lots of sizes available at post time, but they could be a closeout. So if your size is gone, and you still want em’, consider the exact same pair, only minus the tap-sole. Those are going for even less(!)… and are currently listed at just $197.

Okay Mr. Well Dressed Man who is reading this. If you had to pick one pair of stylish shoes. Just one. To wear for the rest of your life with very few exceptions (exercising, black tie, etc.)… what would it be?

Look, there are no wrong answers. But here comes the case for Merlot McAllisters, especially with the grippy yet low profile combination tap sole.

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

Grip without the thick = AE’s combination tap sole.

They’re a true oxford, so sleek enough for suits. Yet they’re a wingtip, so you can dress them down with dark wash jeans. And that merlot shade is dark enough to be relatively conservative, yet the reddish hues are incredibly eye catching. They’re dressy, yet can be dressed down. They’re quiet, yet hard to ignore. And incredibly enough, they’re on clearance (with tons of sizes) for more than $150 off the regular price. Here’s a few examples of what to wear with them…

 

With a Navy Suit

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

  • Suit: Spier & Mackay Contemporary Fit – $350ish USD
  • Shirt: Nordstrom Smartcare Herringbone Trim Fit  – $45.90 ($69.50)
  • Tie: TheTieBar Sky Blue Classic Chambray – $19.00
  • Watch: Hamilton Chronograph (Sold out w/ silver indices? but more options here)

A classic combination. Merlot or Burgundy dress shoes with a navy suit don’t stand out quite as much as a pair of lighter brown shoes (due to less contrast)… but they’re still more interesting to the eye than dark brown shoes. Wingtips are more casual than a standard cap toe or even half-brogue, but since these are true oxfords, they’re sleek and more than suit-worthy.

 

With Jeans and a Sweater

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

  • Sweater: J. Crew Factory Slim Merino V-Neck (not in stock yet for fall)
  • Shirt: J. Crew Factory Light Blue OCBD – $35.50
  • Belt: Gap Basic Leather Belt – $39.95 (and often on sale)
  • Jeans: Banana Republic Traveler Jean – $82.60 w/ BREAK ($118)
  • Watch: Deep Blue Master 1k (300m) Diver – $199 on Grey Nato Strap – $17.49

And now to the casual end of the spectrum. Yes you can wear them with jeans. Maybe not with a t-shirt and jeans. But jeans none the less. Just put a little effort into the upper half. Not a bad smart casual, not too stuffy look for a date or laid back workplace. A good look for fall, winter, and early spring. And with that combination tap sole, you won’t be sliding all over the place if it happens to precipitate.

 

With Trousers or Chinos and a Blazer

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

  • Blazer: J. Crew Crosby Fit Legacy Blazer – $149.99 FINAL w/ NEWCLOTHES
  • Shirt: Nordstrom Smartcare Herringbone Trim Fit – $45.90 ($69.50)
  • Belt: Joseph Abboud (sold out)
  • Trousers: Lands’ End Year ’rounder Merino Wool in Light Charcoal – $89
  • Watch: Armogan Spirit of St. Louis – $225

A totally classic look that won’t look musty or dated depending on the blazer’s buttons (skip gold or brass), grooming (try some stubble) and your accessories (like a chronograph). And no, you don’t have to match your watch strap and belt to Merlot shoes. Just be in the general ballpark.

 

With Jeans and a Sportcoat

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

  • Sporcoat: Bonobos Unconstructed Italian Wool – $400 (used to go on sale)
  • Shirt: Brooks Brothers Brooks Cool OCBD – $49 ($92)
  • Belt: Gap Basic Leather Belt – $39.95 (and often on sale)
  • Jeans: Banana Republic Traveler Jean – $82.60 w/ BREAK ($118)
  • Watch: Hamilton Khaki Officer’s Chrono (discontinued)

A personal uniform for some of us. True oxfords in a not-so-normal shade, like Merlot, really help dress up jeans. OCBD or regular crisp dress shirt… doesn’t matter here. Just make sure your jeans are a dark wash with minimal to no distressing/fading.

 

With a Grey (even Charcoal) Suit & Light Blue Shirt

How to Wear it: The Allen Edmonds Merlot McAllister Wingtip Oxford | Dappered.com

  • Suit: Spier & Mackay Charcoal Solid Contemporary Fit – $350ish USD
  • Belt: Joseph Abboud (sold out)
  • Shirt: Ledbury Fine Twill Mid Spread – $145 (does go on sale… sometimes)
  • Watch: Hamilton Chronograph (sold out but more options here)

No, you don’t have to wear black shoes with a Charcoal suit. You can wear brown or burgundy. Just make sure they’re dark, and not something leaning more towards the walnut end of the spectrum. To make this combination works even better, skip the bright white dress shirt and favor something with less contrast. As shown above, a pale blue shirt, tieless, along with the burgundy shoes, really does a nice job of easing up on the formality the charcoal suit would normally exude.

And the list of possible outfits goes on and on. Again, if your size is gone, and you still want em’, consider the exact same pair, only minus the tap-sole, for $197.

Filed Under: Accessories, Clothing, Shoes, Watches Tagged With: Allen Edmonds, how to wear it, McAllister

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