What are the Best Dress Shoes for Work?

With regard to style, fit, and longevity?

Wall Street Shoes for Work


Opinions on fashion on wall street oasis vary wildly, especially when it comes to fashion. Some prefer form others prefer function. An analyst may not realistically have the option to spring for eight hundred dollar gucci or twelve hundred dollar Lobbs. Consider that you may get unwanted recognition for over extending yourself on these types of purchases.


GameTheory - <span class=keyword_link><a href=/resources/careers/jobs/vice-president-vp>Private Equity Vice President</a></span>:
No analyst wears Lobbs, and if you did, you'd probably get made fun of for blowing your rent to spend 800+ on shoes.

However that doesn't mean that you should buy low quality goods either. With that in mind we will look at shoes that are highly rated in a moderate price range. These brands and styles come up consistently in conversations between users. These shoes are listed with style, pricing, and consumer ratings. Lastly, aspects like fit should be considered independently. Sticking with conservative styling is important. Therefore most of these will be cap toes, oxfords, and loafers. The brands are Johnson and Murphy, Allen Edmond's, and Cole Haan.


Cole Haan Shoes

  • Style: Men's Pinch Grand Penny Loafer
  • Price: 170.00
  • Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (74 reviews)
  • Complaints and considerations: Poor quality sole.

Cole Haan Pinch Grand Penny Loafer

Johnston and Murphy Shoes

  • Style: Melton Cap Toe
  • Price: 179.00
  • Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (412 reviews)
  • Complaints and considerations: Needs to be broken in. Slightly more difficult entry and exit.

Johnston Murphy Melton Cap Toe Oxfords

Allen Edmond's Shoes

  • Style: Cap Toe Oxfords
  • Price: 425.00
  • Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (1,039 reviews)
  • Complaints and considerations: Runs slightly larger but more narrow

Allen Edmonds Cap Toe Oxford Dress Shoes


Amberjack The Original

  • Style: Derby Plain Toe
  • Price: 189.00
  • Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (560 reviews)
  • Complaints and considerations: Shoes run big. Order 1/2 size smaller than normal

Amberjack Derby Plain Toe The Original


These are some basic suggestions of "entry level" shoes that will get you through the work day. They are budget friendly and reasonably fashionable.

Here are some more helpful tips buying shoes from top rated user @energyHOU, a sales and trading analyst.

  • Stick with functionality and versatility.
  • Avoid buying a shoe online if you don't know how it fits.
  • If possible stick with all leather construction this includes the upper, lining, and outsole.
  • Have the soles redone every two years or so

Read More About Shoes for Work on WSO

 

Lets be blunt. All the above are fine. If you want the best of anything you find a cobbler and get the shoes made to your feet. Anything off the rack, past a certain point, will just be you paying for a name.

AE's are great. Testoni is Italian and therefore narrow at times. Buy what you like and make sure you can get them re-crafted/re-soled.

 

At the analyst level I'd just get something from Johnston & Murphy or Cole Haan.

Allen Edmonds and Lobbs are nice but way too pricey. Contrary to popular belief, you can get a nice pair of shoes for well under $150.

 
adapt or die:
What are the best shoes? What kind of clown question is that?

Do you need a new official WSO ranking haha

The best shoes for deadlifting and squatting are wrestling shoes, Asics Cael 2.0's in black are my favorite

I wear Chuck Taylor's for squatting/deadlifting.

 

Allen Edmonds aren't that expensive on sale compared to $150 shoes and will last far longer. I would also add Crockett Jones to the names mentioned above - they have a store in NYC and depending where GBPUSD stands can be relatively affordable when buying online.

 

There would be infinite discussion over this topic.

As mentionned, Crockett&Jones are probably among the best, slightly less expensive than JM Weston or John Lobb, for the same quality or so. I would also recommend Peal & Co from Brooks Brothers (about 500 bucks for a pair, outstanding quality as well, since made by Crockett ...)

Allen Edmonds are nice as well - I own a pair of these - but I really regret the absence or rigid cap-toe, which means the shoe is going to lose its shape over time, therefore not giving it the same life expectancy as the above-mentionned brands.

If you want a less expensive but nonetheless very high quality pair, try the Shipton & Heneage website. Unfortunately, you can't try them in store, since you can only buy online, but the price is really worth it provided the quality.

 
Best Response

I rotate mostly between one pair of Crockett & Jones cap toes, one pair of Church's cap toes, and one pair of Allen Edmonds wingtips. Prefer the C&J the best, and the AE doesn't look quite as nice as the other two, but recommend them all very highly. I got them all 65-85% off retail, which is really the way to go. Instead of buying a $150 pair of Cole Haans, why not just wait for a closeout sale and get a much nicer pair for that same price.

Also - Ferragamo and Gucci shoes are fine but I'd never wear them personally, and I think they're a little too flashy in a weird way. They're definitely expensive shoes, but there are many, many other better and much more expensive shoes on the market. Because of this, it seems weird to me that people wear Gucci shoes with the bit on them, or with the green and red ribbon that shows off the brand. "Look at me, I can afford a mid-priced luxury shoe" seems like a weird message to want to send.

Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman, damn glad to meet you.
 

What an open ended question...

Because he is asking I am assuming that he's either in college or a recent grad. Someone who wants Ferregamos already knows that and doesn't need to ask on the internet.

I'm assuming you're younger and looking for value. If that's the case I'd recommend going to an outlet mall and getting some Johnston & Murphy's. This is what I do for my work shoes and I never regret it.

If value isn't a consideration then go ahead and go for the Park Avenues.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 

It depends on income, right?

Analyst - Allen Edmonds Associate - Churchs VP + - John Lobb

They all look veru conservative and are comfortable, but as you move up the ladder, the handmade shoes become more comfortable.

Brooks Brothers also makes very good shoes in a private label brand, believe it or not, but these are pricey ($400+)

 
thesquare:
It depends on income, right?

Analyst - Allen Edmonds Associate - Churchs VP + - John Lobb

They all look veru conservative and are comfortable, but as you move up the ladder, the handmade shoes become more comfortable.

Brooks Brothers also makes very good shoes in a private label brand, believe it or not, but these are pricey ($400+)

right on mark. stay away from the italian guido stuff.

 
thesquare:
It depends on income, right?

Analyst - Allen Edmonds Associate - Churchs VP + - John Lobb

They all look veru conservative and are comfortable, but as you move up the ladder, the handmade shoes become more comfortable.

Brooks Brothers also makes very good shoes in a private label brand, believe it or not, but these are pricey ($400+)

Cosign to this list.

Regardless, this shouldn't limit you, as Tramezza's are fine shoes as well. Edward Green can be purchased through Ralph Lauren's Purple Label line, and Brooks' Peal is Crocket & Jones. Try not to pay retail either (you really have to hunt to find Lobb's on sale though.)

 

In my last months in banking I comitted a sin against the fashion gods and bought a pair of Ecco shoes. They looked similar to this link, but with a square toe and a flatter finish: http://www2.ecco.com/ss2007/Products/Mens/Business.htm#articleid=33194&…

They weren't cheap, I think out the door they were $210. But they were very comfortable and I could walk in them for long distances and didn't have to worry about wearing them out.

---------------- Account Inactive
 

I bought some ecco shoes as well. I really like(d) them. I hesitate because they're actually about a size too small so I shouldnt be wearing them. Somehow they fit in the store and after pre-treating them w/ this protective spray they're too small. I have been trying to break them in since. I did think they were an amazing comfort in the store however!

Are ecco shoes not fashionable at all? I have been thinking about buying another pair (that fits this time).

 
jonnybravo22:
I bought some ecco shoes as well. I really like(d) them. I hesitate because they're actually about a size too small so I shouldnt be wearing them. Somehow they fit in the store and after pre-treating them w/ this protective spray they're too small. I have been trying to break them in since. I did think they were an amazing comfort in the store however!

Are ecco shoes not fashionable at all? I have been thinking about buying another pair (that fits this time).

I'm a big fan of Eccos (own 3 pairs)- you wore these particular ones to your bank?

 
ewout104:
americans have the worst taste in shoes (plastic shit etc), except T Bush........ when did you visit the cultural side of the pond?
i was at lse soph summer, but that isnt where i acquired my taste in fine attire and shoes. ive always been a fan of T&A and Lobb's; in my opinion they are standard issue.
 

sorry about the shoes, the thing is that I only see in Amsterdam Americans walking around all day in their trainers (ok you're a tourist and walk a lot blablabla yadadada and the plastic soles on 'dress' shoes..........!!!!!!!!!). Americans do know how to make great architecture tough.... everyone has their one speciality I guess

 
ExGSBanker:
Ferragamos and Guccis are shoes that every self respecting professional man should own.

I own 3-4 pairs of each and whenever i sit down with CEO/CFO's of companies in which I invest, the CEOs are invariably wearing one of the two.

Real men wear Ferragamos and Guccis

Usually when I sit down with my boy Tony Soprano and his associates, they're wearing Ferragamos and Guccis too. Real fratty. Not

 

As a First Year, should u go for quantity or quality or something middle of the road?

Zara have some stylish shoes that retail at $150 but are down to $60 now - quality quite likely garbage? But would 3 -4 pairs of Zara be good for everyday wear and tear? Then 1-2 gucci/ferragamos for client meetings. And possibly 1 pair of Lobbs?

How would you break it up, and how much would you cumulatively spend? Again, 1st year analyst, 1st year budget.

 
armchairnabokov:
you're seriously planning to buy lobb's on a first year analyst budget?

how much debt would you like to accumulate your first year?

no, im buying crocketts for $500, which is more than reasonable. i would like to buy lobbs. So shut the fuck up. stop trying to compensate for your own lack of sartorial elegance by bashing others. Ronald R should fuck off.

 

Come on, get real. No analyst wears Lobbs, and if you did, you'd probably get made fun of for blowing your rent to spend 800+ on shoes. There's probably only 2-3 models in the ready-wear line that I'd even consider wearing in a business environment anyway. Bottom line, don't attract attention to your feet, noone wants to be staring there in the first place. Simple black and dark brown captoes of good make/quality will be fine.

 

and you bashed me for my lack of elegance?

i agree with your statement about crocketts, i just can't imagine an analyst buying lobbs without having a serious credit card debt wish. nice shoes are clearly important and will last many years, but it seems ludicrous to blow nearly a month's rent on shoes given major future expenses like business school.

not to mention how ridiculous it will seem when you, an analyst, are wearing nicer shoes than the associates, md's and ceo's that you come into contact with. your financial ineptitude will be a shining beacon to your lack of rational sensibility and will likely hurt you in the long run.

 

Ferragamos are only "fratty" if you wear the loafers with the logo bit piece. However, I would definitely recommend their more traditional styled shoes (bluchers and cap toes) as they are very comfortable and will last you a long time. Furthermore, they are conservative in style but still very sharp looking. No one would ever confuse them for Kenneth Coles or some shit.

"To Know Me Is To Love Me"-Jebus Price

 
ExGSBanker:
IF you're going to be an idiot on a msg board Daniel T Bush, better suited not to use a potentially eponymous handle...

Who said my first name is Daniel? Maybe "Dan" is a nickname and Daniel is a further branch off that. Bitch ass.

 

Your sentence structure and punctuation also leave much to be desired, loser.

How does it feel knowing that many posters on this forum are bankers or have summer banking jobs lined up and that you will never have a shot?

 
Ronald R:
Your sentence structure and punctuation also leave much to be desired, loser.

How does it feel knowing that many posters on this forum are bankers or have summer banking jobs lined up and that you will never have a shot?

I'll stick a dildo straight up your ass. You don't know me, son. You don't know me. I'll kick the shit out of your 40" chest and 12" arms. Fucker.

 

Wait... this is an investment banking board. For investment bankers. Perhaps this is a good time for a reminder that the so-called "college fucks" are here because they want to be bankers and are hoping, by dint of charm, politeness, and hard work, to earn the guidance of the bankers on the board.

Moreover, being ex-Goldman doesn't automatically mean that the guy's so busy rolling in coke and hookers that he can't read about his own industry. (Even I'm ex-Goldman, if you count my summer analyst stint.) Some people view this as one of the few venues for venting open to them. Your tirades are beginning to display a serious lack of touch with reality. I'm sure everyone is welcome here, DB, even you... but basic courtesy, very very basic courtesy, is a requirement. The moderators DO whip out the banning stick from time to time, as you should well know.

 
Mis Ind:
Wait... this is an investment banking board. For investment bankers. Perhaps this is a good time for a reminder that the so-called "college fucks" are here because they want to be bankers and are hoping, by dint of charm, politeness, and hard work, to earn the guidance of the bankers on the board.

Moreover, being ex-Goldman doesn't automatically mean that the guy's so busy rolling in coke and hookers that he can't read about his own industry. (Even I'm ex-Goldman, if you count my summer analyst stint.) Some people view this as one of the few venues for venting open to them. Your tirades are beginning to display a serious lack of touch with reality. I'm sure everyone is welcome here, DB, even you... but basic courtesy, very very basic courtesy, is a requirement. The moderators DO whip out the banning stick from time to time, as you should well know.

Miss Ind, shut the fuck up. I was here long before you dragged your sorry ass around here. I'm the sheriff in this town. Fuck you. What investment banker, somebody who works 100+ hours/week, would come here to talk to college fucks. If it is as they say it is, you're barely squeezing in four hours of sleep a night. It would seem to me that real bankers would want to savor every sweet taste of relaxation they get. You tell me, bitch, what sick fuck would want to waste 1/2 hour of his/her precious time on a fucking board? Fucking A. Why would one come here for insight when 20 hours of your day are spent fucking toiling insight. It doesn't make any damn sense. You don't have to be a police detective to know that 90% of the board is populated with dumb fucks like myself. The other 10% are either losers with nothing else to do in their 1/2 hour of free time, or douchebags with nothing else to do in their 1/2 hour of free time. People on this board fuck the shit out of reality. Yeah 3.9. 3.9, 3.8 minimum is what you need. Oh Mis Ind tell me, tell me what I need. 3.9. Fuck that shit. I have many, many friends in qualitative majors with 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 GPAs at BB firms. Fucking bull shit. Who the fuck has time to post resume items on a message board? Please, for the sake of everything I will ever come to believe in, tell me where you work. Tell me, tell me so I won't have to submit my resume to you, just so you can go ahead and post what you think is not good enough. -fucking hyping everything on this board. This board does to the IBD what James Bond does to espionage.

 
Ronald R:
I have a 44 inch chest, and was a D I athlete, loser.

Also, your writing is absolutely atrocious. What third tier toilet admitted you with your horrible comma placement?

50" here with 20" arms, so fuck off. And the third tier i go to is a little place in new haven, ct called yale. Fuck face. i love shitting all over idiots. o, and about the comma placement, im writing to you. why am i even wasting my time writing to you? o, o well, fuck it. bitch.

 

Not a big fan of british fashion, though it is no doubt bankeresque (nor do I like french). I like zegna suits, Ferragamo ties and bruno magli shoes (i think they're very comfortable, but everyone's feet are different). You don't have to buy expensive clothes to be a banker so long as you look clean, it's simply a matter of personal taste. Half the analysts I know routinely spend money on much stupider things than good shoes (i.e. bottle service), and I know successful MDs who couldn't tell you what type of shoes they wear. In any event, to each their own, no need to judge others harshly (just makes one seem insecure)

 

Haha wow, this board is AWFUL.

Anyways trying to get back on the subject, I've heard from many people in the business that for those starting their first finance job it is much better to drop a huge wad of cash on a nice pair of shoes and get a midranged suit, rather than the other way around.

 
Schumacher:
Haha wow, this board is AWFUL.

Anyways trying to get back on the subject, I've heard from many people in the business that for those starting their first finance job it is much better to drop a huge wad of cash on a nice pair of shoes and get a midranged suit, rather than the other way around.

Probably right, considering that lots of people don't even have to wear suits everyday. But still, I wouldn't buy Lobb/EG. Beautiful shoes, no doubt, but too flashy for an analyst. I'd stick with Allen Edmonds (good value), C&J, Ferragamo and Santoni.

 

Bad operations security can get you killed in my line of work. Seems like Daniel T Bush should have chosen another screenname.

In other news. How can people spend $800 on shoes when you're just starting out in the business? I would think that you would just wear something high-quality but not over a few hundred dollars when you're very junior in an organization and work your way up so that your purchases scale to your earning ability. It is very bad form and indicative of fundamental insecurity if you have to emotionally armor yourself with expensive designer goods to be on par with other people.

To inject a little reality into this conversation, the only people who notice men's shoes are girls and gay men. I understand wanting to impress girls, but if you have game, all you need are decent shoes whereas if you have no game or are an arrogant-but-secretly-insecure asshole, then the best shoes in the world won't make a difference.

That said, I think it is important to dress well, take care of one's appearance and health, and to invest in quality clothing. However, that's just one piece of the puzzle. I find that it always pays to be polite, considerate, honorable and keep your word. You can't be a well-dressed asshole but if you're a well-dressed, polite, humble person who always keeps their word, then you attract people who want to work with you and that's a good thing in any industry.

 

...I'd suggest checking a fashion forum if you're curious as to what's in style. I hope you aren't asking this because you're concerned with fitting in with other bankers. That would be some hardcore gay shit.

Plus, everyone knows bankers rock Ice Creams.

 

i hear a lot of MD's wear custom Air Force 1's to work

------

"its the running joke now, we now have fair trade with china so they send us poisoned sea food and we send them fraudulent securities."

------ "its the running joke now, we now have fair trade with china so they send us poisoned sea food and we send them fraudulent securities."
 

Are you seriously asking what SHOES bankers DON'T wear to work...ok...what boxers do bankers wear- thats what I'm interested in. Oh...also- whats your favorite brand of condoms?

So what do you do? -I work for an investment banking firm. Oh okay; you are like my brother, he works for Edward Jones. -No, a college degree is required in my profession

Reality hits you hard, bro...
 

from what i understand, Allen Edmonds is a very solid choice for shoes.

suits, depends on your friend's price range. custom tailored is the best. I've heard good things about Indochino and am going to try it out soon.

 

Been a lot of fashion threads lately (I'm guilty too) but my response is the same. Allen Edmonds shoes, just got mine high quality and Brooks Brothers are the best off-rack suits you can buy if not tailoring.

Here to learn and hopefully pass on some knowledge as well. SB if I helped.
 
guerrillagrrl:
Thanks for the suggestions!

I can't say I follow men's fashions so this is greatly appreciated. Hope I can get him to post his story... success from a non-target on the West Coast to a BB on the East.

I'm sure others would love to hear it.

Here to learn and hopefully pass on some knowledge as well. SB if I helped.
 

To be honest, invest in suits that will last +2 years. The indochino, alton lane, etc suits are good starter suits, but from what I've seen, they wear down pretty quickly.

Obviously do not go and buy high-end luxury suits for every day work, but try to stay in the range of $600-800 for a fully tailored suit, not including tax. I see a lot of people wearing Hugo Boss modern fit suits that are priced around $650-700.

For shoes, stay with leather soles, and get them for under $150.

 
SanDiegoBolt:
To be honest, invest in suits that will last +2 years. The indochino, alton lane, etc suits are good starter suits, but from what I've seen, they wear down pretty quickly.

Obviously do not go and buy high-end luxury suits for every day work, but try to stay in the range of $600-800 for a fully tailored suit, not including tax. I see a lot of people wearing Hugo Boss modern fit suits that are priced around $650-700.

For shoes, stay with leather soles, and get them for under $150.

What do you recommend in the $150 range? I wanna get a pair for fall internship and recruiting season.
My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
 

I recently asked a question about dress shoes, as well. I got some good responses, and did some additional research. Generally, I'd stay away from "fashion brands" (e.g., Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada) as these shoes are expensive and often times have poor construction and use cheap leather.

That being said, here are some recommended brands by price level (sorry if I missed any).

$2-300: Allen Edmonds, Loake, Meermin

$4-600: Alden, C&J, Tricker's, Church, Carmina, Martegani

$1,000+: Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, John Lobb, Corthay, Alfred Sargent

 
chron3k:
I recently asked a question about dress shoes, as well. I got some good responses, and did some additional research. Generally, I'd stay away from "fashion brands" (e.g., Ferragamo, Gucci, Prada) as these shoes are expensive and often times have poor construction and use cheap leather.

That being said, here are some recommended brands by price level (sorry if I missed any).

$2-300: Allen Edmonds, Loake, Meermin

$4-600: Alden, C&J, Tricker's, Church, Carmina, Martegani

$1,000+: Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, John Lobb, Corthay, Alfred Sargent

lol @ stay away from Ferragamo. You have no idea what you are talking about.

 

The brands/comments stated are good choices, I have always had Loake's, Church's and Tricker's as everyday work shoes and they look like I just got them a month ago. Had them resoled several times and they are fantastic and easy to maintain.

I am saving up for a pair of custom-made John Lobb for special occasions and I have only heard good things about them as well.

 

[quote=chron3k]I'd strongly suggest spending the extra $70 and going with at least the Allen Edmonds.

Not sure why you'd drop $6-800+tailoring on a suit and wear

My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.
 

It depends on body type, but Uniqlo has some great suits in basic colors, sold in separates for liek $150 - $250. They are not extremely high quality, but mine lasted through my full analyst stint

 

Is he an analyst? If so, no one gives a shit how much his clothes cost.

Buy leather soled shoes, 1charcoal, 1 navy and 1 grey suit. Spend less on the clothes and more on the tailoring. Nordstrom rack is great for shoes if you are willing to go a few times (DSW too). Find non-iron dress shirts on sale for ~$40 a pop (less if you're diligent). Every shirt I buy is either white or has some white in it (blue stripe, blue check, pink check, etc.).

Stick solely with white shirts and both a blue & charcoal suit if he is short on cash. Get decent shoes ($100-$150 cole haans) and buy a decent collection of ties (~5-8) on sale. Vary the tie and you look different each day. Done.

 

About shoes: if he is looking for something quite cheap (around $150-250) he can go with Kurt Geiger. I have a pair an received good comments from my form italian associate so he should be fine. About dresses: I can reccomend Hugo Boss and Pal Zileri (Lab line).

I remember Nicholas Cage in The Family Man who was in love with an Ermenegildo Zegna dress so maybe that brand is fine too :).

Ties: I am in love with Ferragamo but also Marinella and Hermes are top-notch

Disclaimer: this is general. Not tailored to NYC

I'm grateful that I have two middle fingers, I only wish I had more.
 

Dude, no way you are burning through A&E's in a work environment. Go find a decent cobbler and you will be set. I've worked in an office environment since graduation and have Testoni's, Coach, A&E, etc all around 10 years old and still going strong.

Seriously, WTF are you doing to your shoes man.

 

Agree with ANT, what are you doing to your shoes?

Alden are pretty damn nice. I have a pair and should last me a long time.

If you're a real money maker check out John Lobb. Debatably the best shoes money can buy.

You just need to take care of your shoes I think.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
SECfinance:
Do you own shoe trees? Also you know you can get AEs resoled right?

This.

Use shoe trees to keep the shape and soak up the moisture, get them resoled if that's the main problem.

You're buying quality shoes. Pay the money to get them repaired if something major goes wrong. It'll cost more that a new pair of cheap shoes but cheaper than buying a brand new pair of quality shoes, and will still have plenty life.

 

You sound small time. If your name was on the building your shoes would never have to touch the concrete (someone would carry you from jet, helicopter, Maybach, etc. to your office) so it wouldn't matter. My A&Es and Maglis have lasted for awhile. You could also rock some Reebok pumps with tri-colored laces to and from the office (throw on the loafers, slip into your robe, and spark the pipe when you get in).

 
junkbondswap:
You sound small time. If your name was on the building your shoes would never have to touch the concrete (someone would carry you from jet, helicopter, Maybach, etc. to your office) so it wouldn't matter. My A&Es and Maglis have lasted for awhile. You could also rock some Reebok pumps with tri-colored laces to and from the office (throw on the loafers, slip into your robe, and spark the pipe when you get in).

How do you get building from door? Means he's in his own office.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

I've never put any effort into taking care of my shoes but I've found Churchs and Ferragamos hold up pretty well. So if you can't get around wearing through your shoes with proper maintenance/don't want to, I'd try these 2 before going higher.

At a certain point, it'd just be easier to just wear the standard AEs and replace them when they are too beat up for you.

 

I beat the fuck out of my shoes as well. The longest lasting pairs I've owned were Alden and Moreschi.

I had a bad experience with Ferragamos, so I'll never buy one of those again. They broke within a week.

 
BTbanker:
Why does it seem like I'm the only one who thinks 'gamos are ugly?

Oxford lace-ups: Church's English; Allen Edmonds Loafers: Gucci

I agree. I find them to be tall and bulky, and the bits too gaudy. I generally wear and recommend Allen Edmonds.

"That dude is so haole, he don't even have any breath left."
 

Agree with Trevelyan although Edward Greens look and bone better than Trickers. Avoid rubber soles for all seasons except harsh winters (assume you cross legs on the desk).

 

Depends on how much you want to spend. I personally think that it's not a big deal if an analyst spends a decent amount of money on shoes as long as the style is conservative and the shoes are from a reputable brand. This is because a high quality pair of dress shoes will last you a decade or more if you take good care of of the uppers and get them re-soled every couple of years. I much prefer this to buying a lower quality pair of shoes for $150 and having them wear out after a year or two.

That said, I really like the look of the Allen Edmonds Carlyle shoe. It's a versatile plain toe shoe that you can wear with a suit or with jeans.

If you're ok with spending more, look into the Crockett & Jones Handgrade line or the Alfred Sargent Handgrade line.

 

Monk straps are flashy, especially double monks. As an analyst, stay away from these.

According to the guy who runs Kent Wang, their Handgrade line of shoes is on par with John Lobb and Edward Green. I'd take that with a grain of salt after seeing the prices. Seems a little too good to be true, but the brand is respected by the guys over at StyleForum, so who knows.

Regardless, all the shoes in KW's Handgrade line are dandy as fuck and would draw attention to you. The most conservative-looking KW Handgrade shoe is the cap-toe brogue with the motif on the cap, but that still is a little too bling-bling IMO. Their Benchgrade cap-toe and plain-toe oxfords look nice, though, and should do the job.

 

No- Crockett & Jones Handgrade or Edward Green. I plug them a lot but they really are some of the best shoes you can buy while still being affordable for analysts and above (~$800-1500). It sounds steep, but if you can, save a little bit of your salary for a couple months. Buy them and never look back.

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he is always doing both.
 

Damn Allen Edmonds bumped their prices by $30 bucks. Their main line will run at $390 after tax. It's a good thing I own 7 pairs because I wouldn't pay $400 for them.

During sales you could find PAs, 5th Avenues, McAllisters down to $250 pretax so about $270. I expect now during their specials the PAs will run at over $300

I wouldn't recommend Gucci loafers for an analyst. That's a fraction of monthly's rent.

 

+1 on sticking with AE. It's a question of perception. Even if you can afford it, stick to something more conservative until you move up the ladder. You'll have plenty of time to wear Gucci, Church's, Lobb, etc. later in your career.

"Everybody needs money. That's why they call it money." - Mickey Bergman - Heist (2001)
 

Allen Edmonds for formal shoes: Fifth and Park Avenue, Strand, and Vernon are all nice. Some of their loafers are good too but the Italian brands are better if you feel like spending the money. Go for whatever you find comfortable and decent looking...if you want to go Lobb/Green, that's cool, but not necessary.

Get busy living
 

This is good advice. I personally would not buy anything less expensive than Allen Edmonds, and my experience owning pairs of both those and Aldens shows that Alden is absolutely worth the extra cost. Quality can't be compared. Don't buy cheap shoes. People look at your shoes, and cheap ones will wear hard and look terrible pretty quickly.

 

Best is a pretty loose question.

I have four pairs of Allen Edmonds, all which I bought as my first "proper" shoes. I do like the leather quality and construction, especially for the price. Mine have been beat to shit, and sans a resole plus some heel replacements, they have no ugly creases and very shine nicely. The lasts (Park Avenues) are ugly though. Really round and shapeless...perfectly fine if you like that ultra-conservative American look. It's the type of shoes you'd expect to see on a 60 year old lawyer.

The past years I've dabbled into European shoes like Edward Green, Vass, St. Crispins , etc. And they all look and feel fantastic. But are they 3-4 times better than the AE beaters(as the price would suggest)? No, I wouldn't say that.

BTW, I know that people love to shit on Johnston and Murphy, but I also have a pair of black oxfords from them. They look and feel IDENTICAL to my AE Park Avenues, and have aged just as nicely. IIRC they were 150 bucks cheaper than the Allen Edmonds...check them out. Loake is another decent brand that is cheaper than AE.

 

Allen Edmonds and Loake are both very good. Loake has different lines/qualities, so go with the ones that are 200$+... If they fit I don't think its necessary to go above allen edmonds. Aldens are nice but they are expensive nowadays (they used to be about the same price as AE I think...)

 

"Best" is rather broad...I can easily suggest some bespoke maker like Aubercy, George Cleverley, or Marquess, but then you're paying $6,000+ per pair and the process takes anywhere from 6 months to over a year.

What's your budget? I can recommend different brands at different price points.

Under $500: Allen Edmonds, Meermin, Enzo Bonafe, Carmina (you can buy directly through Carmina's website or through European dealers like Skoaktiebolaget. This is the way to go because the € is dogshit right now).

$500 to $1k: Alfred Sargent, Vass (might be hard to find these brands in the US, but there's at least one store in NYC that stocks them called No Man Walks Alone)

$1k+: Gaziano & Girling, St. Crispins, Riccardo Bestetti (The Armoury on Duane Street carries St. Crispins and you should be able to find the others at Leffot on Christopher Street)

 

Herring Shoes are probably the best value at any price point especially with the current exchange rate. I typically go with the Classic line and they are both less expensive than AE and better looking, with slightly better construction. Allen Edmonds are good quality but their lasts are a little clunky-looking. I like Aldens but for the price point I'd prefer Church's or Cheaneys or Herrings. Oh also Meermins are a steal but they don't have any lasts for wider feet like mine. If you have normal width feet they are definitely worth a look.

 
nutella:

Herring Shoes are probably the best value at any price point especially with the current exchange rate. I typically go with the Classic line and they are both less expensive than AE and better looking, with slightly better construction. Allen Edmonds are good quality but their lasts are a little clunky-looking. I like Aldens but for the price point I'd prefer Church's or Cheaneys or Herrings.
Oh also Meermins are a steal but they don't have any lasts for wider feet like mine. If you have normal width feet they
are definitely worth a look.

Herring Shoes look great. I think they're a bit more expensive than what I'd get Allen Edmonds for. But still theyre really nice. Maybe I'll get a pair now lol.

Any comment on the cheaper ones on their site? Like Loake for example?

 

Loake's 1880 line is great, but you are probably talking about the regular line, which I can't recommend since I haven't tried it. For most of the stuff on Herring's site, price is a very good proxy for quality. Anything cheaper than the Herring Classic line will have inferior leathers and arguably lower construction quality. The extra $40 is worth it in my view. The next step of about $120 up to the higher end stuff (Herring Premier, which is made by Cheaney) isn't worth it for me yet, nice though they are.

 

These are all great. Thank you for the feedback.

For an analyst/what's in right now, should I go for laces or buckle? Specifically I'm looking for a dark brown shoe, so whatever you think is best.

 

For the weekend, definitely invest in a pair of driving shoes from Tod's. Elegant, refined, and understated.

Personally, I've ignored the prevailing wisdom when it came to dress shoes and always sought the "forbidden" brands. The fact is, they're extremely high-quality, so they're durable and (most importantly), they're comfortable as fuck. I've had a pair of Ferragamos at the Analyst level in a BB and I've never gotten shit since I avoided the flashy "Gancio Bit" versions and stuck with the understated Moccasins.

I'm currently at a major VC with a major IBD / PE pedigree, and I cycle through my Tod's and (I shit you not) Louboutin loafers each week with impunity.

 

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