Allen Edmonds Fairfax in Chili or Black Calf – $209.97 ($395)
Note: The Pair in this post is a well worn and well loved pair of chili calfskin Fairfax shoes that were purchased from a Nordstrom Rack in 2012.
This isn’t quite like hooking and dragging in a Coelacanth (take it away deadmau5!), but as far as the men’s shoe taxon goes, the Fairfax is one of the rare Lazarus models. It has, somehow, beaten extinction.
The Fairfax disappeared from the Allen Edmonds lineup three, if not four or more years ago? Something like that? And not really much of a whiff has been observed since. Where, precisely, did Nordstrom Rack get this batch? Not only in Chili, but Black as well? And with plenty of sizes? Somebody must have forgotten about a box way back in the store room.
They’re basically a whole-cut with the perforations of a wingtip. But only the perforations. And that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. There’s some flash there. Yet it seems like every time they show up on this website, whether it be when worn with a suit, or when demonstrating bar lacing, or in a list of styles of shoes to have on hand (or foot), they get asked about.
They’re unique. They’re sleek. And they’re one alternative to traditional, brown (or black) lace-ups.
And now they’re on Nordstrom Rack for $209.97. Originally sold for $395. Shipping is free, and returns are free if you can drop them off at a Nordstrom Rack brick and mortar. Otherwise, it’s $5.95 to send them back.