Bostonian vs Bass vs Cole Haan vs Florsheim
Which of these are good brands that'll last a couple years? I do a considerable amount of walking every day and take the subway so I need something that'll handle the NYC pavement, i.e. NOT leather soles so please keep your Allen Edmonds, Edward Green, Ferragamo to yourself. No man should spend more on shoes than their wives.
What are the most durable dress shoes for the money?
The Cole Haans have a leather sole but they incorporate a think layer of leather in key areas which add to the durability of the shoe. However, you will probably have to be prepared to resole even the most durable dress shoe if you want it to last long-term. An option is to wear something else for the commute and change into your dress shoes when you get to work.
Hands down, Cole Haans. More comfortable, the leather keeps shape better, leather quality is better, etc. The Cole Haans are leather soled, but they have a thin layer of rubber on them in key sports of the bottom of the shoe, makes a big difference.
Most likely the most important thing to bear in mind is comfort as you’ll be wearing these shoes many hours for, hopefully, many years so choose something that feels good on your feet and take care of them. Regardless of what you choose, you will probably have to resole them over the years so be sure to take good care of them if you want them to last.
Everything I own is either J&M or Allen Edmonds at this point.
Never wear them on the street though. Change at the office. Good quality leather will last as long as you take care of it and you can always get them resoled. Buy a couple of good pair of shoes and take care of them.
Read More About Looking Your Best On WSO
- Affordable Clothing For First Year Analyst
- Black Or Brown Shoes With Navy Suits
- What Are The Best Dress Shoes For Work?
Preparing for Investment Banking Interviews?
The WSO investment banking interview course is designed by countless professionals with real world experience, tailored to people aspiring to break into the industry. This guide will help you learn how to answer these questions and many, many more.
I have a pair of similar wingtip Cole Haans and Florsheims.
Hands down, Cole Haans win. More comfortable (nike air sole), the leather keeps shape better, leather quality is better, etc etc.
The Cole Haans are leather soled, but they have a thin layer of rubber on them in key sports of the bottom of the shoe, makes a big difference
I need to get some more cole haan joints.
Dress shoes have leather soles on them. If you need something without a leather sole for your commute, walk to work in tennis shoes and then change. There are plenty of Cole Haans that work fine and last a while - I've had a pair of their loafers for six years now and they still work great, although I get pretty regularly polished and I've resoled them at least three times.
Also, Johnston and Murphy is not a great shoe, but is actually probably more what you're looking for. Not sure why you would put those together with Edward Green and Ferragamo.
Thanks. I meant to type Allen Edmonds, not J&M. I was actually googling for J&M shoes to see what options were available. I can't bring myself to wear sneakers on the way to work. Looks kinda ridiculous with business wear. I'd rather have cheapo rubber soled leather loafers for the morning trek.
If spending $150 on J&M Melton's amounts to spending more than you do on your wife, I feel for your wife.
I read Cole Haan is owned by Nike and their higher prices aren't because of better quality, but rather Nike just keeping profit margins high. They use the same leather and manufacturing plants in India and Mexico that Bostonian and Florsheim uses. Their lower grade stuff is made in China.
Disagree on J&M's... My first two pair lasted over 7 years (resoled twice). Everything I own is either J&M or Allen Edmonds at this point.
Never wear them on the street though. Change at the office. Spend it now or spend it later. Good quality leather with last as long as you take care of it and you can always get them resoled. I went through my fair share of Bostonian, etc. Buy a couple of good pair of shoes and take care of them.
^ just buy some cheap rubber soles to wear to work and change out?
or over shoes. Yup.
I don't ever see men walking in in crap shoes and then changing into nice ones at the office. Only chicks do this with flip-flops and high heels.
Isn't the whole point of a nice shoe that they ARE actually comfortable enough to walk around in?
bostonian is not bad
Overshoes actually don't seem like a bad idea. I'd never heard of them til now but seems fairly convenient though I don't know anything about the quality.
http://www.amazon.com/Totes-Geometric-Rubber-Overshoe-Loafer/sim/B002NW…
like hireup was saying, i thought the point of getting something like an AE was that it's comfortable to walk in. I can understand the overshoe/galosh for winter/rain, but even just to talk to work in?
CH
Cole Haans aren't cheap, but they're definitely not expensive. Honestly man, I would suck it up and buy Allen Edmonds. I've got a pair and they're great, and the general consensus is that they represent the absolute best value of price and quality/durability for someone who wants simple, standard, conservative, and well-made shoes. They've got thick leather soles that are conservative and look good so you won't wear through them and they've still last a while.
yeah i should buy them, the 300 or so for park aves is ridiculous though
Get them on sale, you may be able to find them closer to $200.
Florsheim vs. Allen Edmond (Originally Posted: 05/21/2013)
Florshein Edgar ($115) vs Allen Edmond Park Avenue ($345)
Which one is a better value? They look almost identical.
http://www.zappos.com/florsheim-edgar-black-leather?zfcTest=fcl%3A0
http://www.zappos.com/allen-edmonds-park-avenue-black-custom-calf?zfcTe…
Listen kid, whatever you DO NOT fuck this decision up. Seriously, it's 2am in my office right now, I'm waiting on a turn and I'm walking around just checking out everyone else's shoes. Some of my fellow analysts are the Florshein type and I instantly know they're probably not going to live happy or successful lives. It's just the reality of the situation; I thought it would be good to help keep this in perspective for you...
I'd just much rather spend the extra money on some tan To Boot NY or some brogues, monk straps, whatever: something with some personality. Black balmorals are black balmorals.
But I did just find these for 20% off; the sale ends in 7 hours. So I just might get the AEs...
You're in IB, right? Why are bankers wearing Florsheims? I'm getting these for my first internship...
Those are full priced. Neither is discounted.
You should be able to get Florsheim for under $100. I'd go AE if you want something that lasts and looks good. If you can hold off for a sale, try to.
Check out Cole Haan as a midpoint between the two. You should be able to find them around the $170 range and are much better quality, from what I have experienced, than Florsheim but definitely not as nice as my AEs.
Wait for Allen Edmond sales or scour eBay for deals on Park Aves.
I bought some AE Park avenues, they fit awesome. i paid around $200 for my pair at an outlet in the middle of nowhere.
Cole Haan's Shoes? (Originally Posted: 06/28/2015)
Considering buying this:
http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Haan-Lenox-Hill-Cap/dp/B00BECI59G
Dark Brown colour.
Price: $130.
They look decent. I can't comment on the quality but in my experience cole haan as been very hit or miss on build quality
I actually just got those exact shoes. Someone bought them for me and I was surprisingly impressed. They are definitely casual shoes (a la rubber sole), but the leather is very soft and the shoes are very comfortable. I actually have made a habit of wearing them to work on casual Fridays with khakis or whatnot. Not sure what you're looking at them for, but they serve my purpose very well; and to me they look pretty good on me (imo that is, lol).
For reference I usually wear AE, so that is the reference to the softer leather, etc.
I actually wear them for formal purposes to go with my navy suits but I could see them working out for casual purposes as well. I ended up picking them up for $100 and I m pretty happy about it. Can't really do much better in this price range.
Is the Cole Haan Air Carter a respectable show to wear for work? (Originally Posted: 06/10/2014)
I like cap toe Oxfords and they feel good when I tried them out. But I'm working in a business formal environment with a lot of traditional guys and I just don't want to bring attention to myself.
Why would cap toe oxfords be inappropriate for business formal dress? I don't know Cole Haan's specifically but unless they make them in patent leather or purple suede and you're thinking of buying those, you'll pretty much be wearing what everyone else is wearing.
I thought cap toe oxfords are pretty staple. Go for them!
I Googled the shoes and they aren't oxfords. They are a cap-toe derby. Really doesn't make a huge difference, though, and I think it looks fine for an interview.
To answer your question, no.
If by respectable you mean professional then yes. If you mean "does it look good" no
Cole Haan Caldwell cap toes - too shiny or cheap looking? (Originally Posted: 07/08/2009)
Hello all,
I recently bought cole haan caldwell cap toe dress shoes that were on sale at $99 from an original $155 at nordstrom.
I personally like them but I was researching online and on reviews a comment by someone said, 'they are too shiny for work.'
Below is the link, I got the ones in black. Do you guys think they look too shiny and/or cheap, or do they look fine? I will be a senior btw and of course want to look good when career fairs come around, without going over the top with the spending.
Thanks!!
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I3YMIyHzL.AA280.jpg
nobody will care
Theyre fine
You'r not at JPM are you? I know an MD there that got fired last year for having too shiny of shoes.
What kind of Cole Haan oxfords should I wear to work? (Originally Posted: 02/01/2014)
My dad told me to get any captoe oxford from Cole Haan while 3 of my buddies said to buy Madisons. What should I buy?
I've become a little disappointed with Cole Haan recently, I think a better, similar price range alternative is www.jackerwin.com (if they have your size in stock), or if you pay about $100 more, you can get custom shoes from www.mantorii.com (Haven't tried this, but I've heard great things about them). Allen Edmonds outlet sales are also a favorite of WSO.
If your heart is set on Cole Haan, Madisons.
Should I wear Cole Haan Air Grants for a SA internship? (Originally Posted: 01/25/2014)
They're the only nice shoes I have aside from my Sperrys. You think I would be fine if I just rocked my Cole Haans for 10 weeks?
Not for its entirety, hell no. Could probably frat it up for a few days a week but the other days definitely wear a good pair of black lace ups.
Air Grants? Stick with the original...
Definitely too casual, buy some cheap used Cole Haan cap toes on eBay.
Ex itaque tenetur animi animi dignissimos deleniti quas. Magni et autem eum doloribus expedita aut. Dolor iure atque ducimus veritatis. Ad corporis quos et assumenda. Dolor eligendi et incidunt temporibus ad. Sunt assumenda et ut.
Tenetur sapiente necessitatibus aliquid sapiente. Saepe ea qui dolorum optio dolorum vero. Nisi nobis voluptate blanditiis. Vel maiores sint odio dolorem quisquam repellendus aut quo.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Iusto eos excepturi nam omnis. Consectetur enim illum cum id doloremque dolore. Esse fuga quibusdam dolor et et non voluptates.
Sed deserunt ut et et voluptatem. Aperiam quas laborum alias quod consequatur.
Occaecati voluptas omnis libero dignissimos ipsa non voluptates. Hic error ut amet dolorum maiores qui. Omnis aut perspiciatis repellendus nemo. Earum quia inventore sit. Est voluptas molestiae quidem quia blanditiis accusamus minima. Quia corporis quidem ea eaque ea quia et. Earum et sit beatae.
Ullam sint libero illum nihil commodi voluptas porro. Dicta explicabo itaque et nihil sit culpa. Beatae vel sit officia voluptate.
Incidunt voluptatibus culpa sed ut cupiditate rem. Quia exercitationem est odio ipsa qui aut.
Autem dolore error sequi occaecati nesciunt quia. Rerum vitae modi qui doloribus. Illo minima minima cum eligendi voluptas impedit maiores facilis. Totam omnis omnis fugit sed temporibus accusamus. Consequatur a sed vel qui. Autem animi enim qui quis totam recusandae dolore saepe.
Suscipit porro eum nemo et ut. Sit fuga in a non nostrum dolores aliquam. Mollitia similique cum iure ut qui quia.
Illo et odio qui laudantium. Beatae aut accusamus et quo. Quibusdam deserunt eius quia culpa dolorem qui iusto. Facilis qui sint aut officiis officiis.