Ok, after having worked in a BB bank for about a month I'm now confident that all the talk on here about having to drop $1000 on a suit and $500 on shoes is not true...people don't really care what you wear as long as you are neat and presentable, and there are some people who don't even meet that standard. Anyways, I have discovered that dress shoes (at least mine) are real uncomfortable when you have to wear them all day, every day, so I'm wondering what people think are the most comfortable reasonably-priced dress shoes? By reasonably-priced I mean from about $80-150 a pair, maybe slightly more. Someone at work suggested Alfani's and said they were the most comfortable shoes he's even worn so I'll probably check those out (they are cheap, too), but I figure we can compile a decent list on here as well.
Luke
I don't work at a BB, but that doesn't really apply to my comments:
$1000 for a suit is definitely on the inexpensive to cheap side of things. An average Brioni/Kiton/Oxxford suit can go for well over $4000.
Clearly you've never worn expensive dress shoes because they are really comfortable. When you're paying $500+ for a pair of shoes, you're paying for the softest, most flexible leather and the most seamless construction, all leading to a very nice, comfortable fit. I have a pair of Santonis and they're great.
To answer your question, though, you can get a lot of great shoes for cheap prices on eBay, Nordstrom's Rack, or sales at places like Barney's/Saks/Neiman. I'm talking getting a pair of $400 Canali or Ralph Lauren shoes for $200 or less. Last week I was at a high-end Canadian dept. store that was having a sale and saw a pair of $450 Canalis for $185.
That's probably a better bet than going to Bostonian or Ecco or Kenneth Cole or whatever.
Check out Gordan Rush or Kenneth Coles. I found some at Nordstroms for around $120 on sale and have been wearing them for a year day in day out....Looking for comfort and style, stay the course with those brands for your buck.
Ecco shoes are very comfortable and durable.
Spending more than $200 seems a little crazy to me --- but then again I am a tightwad :o)
It is not necessary to pay more than $150 or $200 for a pair of shoes. Hell, you don't even needs suits that cost more than a few hundred bucks. If you have the money to spare then yes, buy expensive clothes, but do it because you like the clothing and not because you think it is required or because anyone cares.
brisbane: $1000 for a suit is not on the inexpensive to cheap side of things. $1000 is pricey, $4000 is reserved for the rich. Then there are the super rich who can spend tens of thousands.
Yes, In a lot of professions $1,000 is a lot to pay for a suit. However, for all the people who are actually bankers and got paid what we did this year, your seniors will look at you like a dumbass if you wear cheaper stuff than that. $1,000 gets you a full priced Brooks suit and thats as low as you should go. Shoes, it's all about preference. Personally I like Bruno Maglis and Ferragamo, but as long as they fit well and are comfortable get what you like. Get stuff at an outlet if you like, but make sure it was decent in the first place.
get shoes from macy's. that's more than good enough.
suits- best way to go is custom made - for up to $1000 you can get one done. you will need to wait about a month for that. otherwise get a designer suit from macy's again and go get it fitted at men's wearhouse.
a high quality and professional looking pair of J&Ms can be had for $160...
^^ This is why its good to be from a foreign country....custom made suits tailored to perfection by good designers, amazing fabrics...and all that for like 500 bucks....
Rockport's "Dressports" are by far the most comfortable shoes. They are the lightest shoes I have ever worn. Seriously, they weigh less than a blackberry...
Really though, see if you can find Dressports by Rockport. I think Zappos.com has them.
I can vouch for these as well.
Ya, Rockports are the best if you want comfort.
cole haan's aren't overly expensive and they are quality
Edward Green
Very interested in Edward Green's. At what point in your career did you buy them? Also, I know this post is 12 years old, so if someone can comment on EG shoes - thank you! Also, I am starting as 1st year analyst this year and considering getting the Allen Edmunds Cordovan oxfords; the sales rep said they last 35 years. This seems ambitious, but if they could last me 10 years I would be more than happy. With that being said, I am looking for a dark brown Oxfords as an every day shoe - for dark grey and navy suits - and I do not mind paying extra for quality that will last 10 years. Thanks everyone!
Let me just say that a nice pair of dress shoes can go a long way. I'm talking spending 300+. Beyond just being much more comfortable and lasting a long time, they also look nicer (for the most part). Cheaper dress shoes (ie. Kenneth Cole) tend to look very bulky, particularly when it comes to the sole.
That being said, it really isn't THAT important. Just don't go in wearing some patent leather Jordan IX's and you should be ok.
Amazon just started a shoe site called endless.com. I bought a pair of Mezlans there a few weeks ago that were $250 at Nordstroms for a little over $100.
I just picked up a pair of Mezlans as well. Any idea why they're so cheap on the site?
Allen Edmonds makes fantastic shoes. They'll re-sole them and re-build them for a nominal fee once they wear out, too. Classic and conservative.
The AE store on Madison Ave. has some discontinued models on sale. You can pick up some discontinued AE "Niles" for 230 or so, and "Park Avenues" for a bit over 300, less on sale. They're both captoe oxfords.
Ecco and Kenneth Cole are absolute crap. AE's will pretty much last forerver if you take care of them and have them re-furbished when needed.
let me add confirmation to how shitty kenneth cole's are. they didn't even last me one year.
Purchasing Expensive clothing serves multiple purposes:
1) Allows you to express your individuality and separate yourself from others. 2) Increases general comfort levels while working for extended periods of time. 3) Increases self confidence and levels of recognition by peers. 4) Makes others respect you b/c in a world where men regularly don't know to match their belt to their shoes, a well folded handkerchief can go a long way to ensuring your remembrance.
Clothing is an investment - The higher the quality, the greater the potential return. You never know who you may run into on the street or get pulled into a meeting with.
Every little bit counts.
GateBreaker
Ok, the first sentence says it all - you have been at a BB for a month. When you figure out how things wreally work, you will see that coughing up for a good suit and shoes is worth it. Most of the guys who will be deciding your bonus (i.e. your group head, by pushing for you at the compensation meeting, or not) will form their impression based on what your reviewers say AND whether you look like a banker. They probably don't even know your name, so that's where you can make a difference by being that kid who "looks like a real ibanker" and that "geek that works for me".
Don't go overboard, but if you wanna be a banker:
good luck!
"Living the dream 24/7 on http://theallnighter.blogspot.com"
what about bags? I need a nice black leather bag to carry stuff in and match my suit / biz/cas getup. Any suggestions? Shoes seem to get all the attention around here.
Don't mean to threadjack, if I get no reponses here I'll start a new thread.
Btw, I like Kenneth Coles.
Their styling is ok, but I second the guy who said the quality is total crap. Not only was the leather so stiff that it cut the back of my ankles, but the shoe started to come apart after a about a year.
ok, it all makes sense now. at first i thought i had sensitive ankles or something. i wore kenneth coles in college because they were inexpensive and i wouldn't really worry about them getting banged around too much. they look ok, but it's true that they're not that comfortable (in fact, i find them to be way too stiff and chunky, and they don't offer enough width sizes to have a good fit)
more seriously, though, for a real pair of dress shoes (at a reasonable price), i highly recommend the captoes by allen edmonds and alden. you can get a very attractive and comfortable pair for $400 or less and it will be suitable for just about every formal event or interview. plus, both companies offer the shoes in multiple lengths, widths, and lasts, and if you get the right size for yourself, they'll fit almost like a sock. not literally, but that's how comfortable they feel.
Cole Haan makes nice and reasonable dress shoes, and they have a partnership with nike to make some dress shoes with invisible nike insoles= super comfortable and only like $150
Just my $0.02: $150 buys you a rubber-soled, corrected-grain steerhide shoe that will label you as ignorant, apathetic, slobbish, or just plain poor to anyone with an eye for quality. While I'm currently in Big 4 where sloppy dressers abound, the few iBanker's I've met have generally had such eye for quality - and your shoes are among the first things they'll notice about you.
My advice (which I follow) would be to buy at least two pairs (never wear the same pair on consecutive days) of REAL dress shoes - having leather soles and uncorrected grain calfskin. Decent shoes cost $300-500 a pair, but you can often find good sales. A few brands to consider are Ferragamo, Allen Edmonds, and Churchs. There may be a break-in period, but after that the shoes will mold to your feet, which will result in the most comfortable, best-looking shoes you've ever had. (oh, and get some shoe trees to keep the shoes in good form)
I work at a BB and have worn sneakers to work. Still got top bucket. Nice clothes compensate for poor performance.
A good number of my bosses wear suits from men's wharehouse.
Shaving and looking presentable is important. Very few bankers have facial hair or long hair.
The most comfortable dress shoes ive ever worn were a pair of florsheims. I believe the model was called Riva. A pair runs you about $100. They are ridiculously comfortable...they feel as if you are wearing slippers.
I can say that this shoe is more comfortable when compared to other expensive dress shoes ive had which include ferragamos, guccis, canalis, bruno maglis, etc.
i wear rockports all the time. good shoes. i also like gucci's.
Although I don't work in NY (I currently work in the Middle East in the i-banking industry) and have to agree with some of the forum members that the way you dress is important in an industry which places a lot of emphasis on "packaging". Everyone may have a different price point but better quality suits (MTM from a tailor on or off Savile Row in London is often a better proposition than RTW Armani, Brioni, etc.) and in particular shoes (think Edward Green, JM Weston, G&G, etc.) are "expensive". Regardless of what everyone says, our clients (and bosses) do give sufficient importance to our appearance and I, for one, believe that one should think quality rather than quantity when it comes to building a basic wardrobe.
The Rockports are a good choice, and if you need to walk some distance in your shoes, a very good choice.
Even better are the Allen Edmonds wingtips can be had with a Vibram lug sole for year-round wear.
@Gatebreaker: Increases general comfort levels while working for extended periods of time.
A mark of distinction.
Some slobs are too uncomfortable or self conscious to stay properly dressed; or are too worried about spilling something while 'in costume' and as soon as the client meeting is over, dress down.
You need to be presentable in any job. But you don't need to be extravagant as an analyst. Packaging is not so important when you're in the office 95% of the time.
I recently bought a black pair of Brunomagli's at Nordstrom on sale for $240, marked down from $350. By far the most comfortable dress shoes I have owned. I also own a brown pair of Allen Edmunds, which ran me about $220. Both get complimented often, and both have felt great from the first time I tried them on.
I think the key is to keep them well polished, and conditioned. Use a shoe tree, and always put them on using a shoe horn. This will ensure your shoe investment is one that provides the same great returns for your to come!
Generally, as you get better quality shoes (from J&M-> Allen Edmonds-> Edward Green, Alden -> John Lobb, Crockett and jones), generally, the comfort level really rises. El.Toro is dead on- shiny shoes and a pair of shoes trees will keep your shoes looking great for a long time.
Aldens captoes are awesome. Like $300 for non-cordovan ones but a great investment. My father has had a pair for over 20 years, resoled them 4 times and still loves them. Bad shoes will wear out but great shoes can be worn forever.
Do people care if you wear dress shoes that aren't lace-ups? My bank is biz-casual, if that makes a difference. Found a pair of Calvin Klein's that I like on sale for
Personally I wear dress loafers to work most of the time. I love Reaction by Kenneth Cole. The Reaction line is the 'sport' line that has ultra confortable soles and still look very presentable. As far as ultra-dressy shoes, I just look for shoes with a leather sole, not wooden ones. Many of the italian made shoes with leather soles retail for 350+ so I generally wait until they go on sale for 200 dollar range.
what kind of shoes should a rising sophomore wear for a summer internship at a business casual firm (BlackRock)? How much should I spend and how many pairs should I buy if the internship is supposed to continue till the fall semester?
Most of the brands listed in this thread do not make dress shoes.
Conservative shoes with excellent construction can be had at around ~$300 from Allen Edmonds, Alden, and Crockett & Jones (my personal favorite).
I just picked up a pair of CJ Handgrades online that I CANNOT wait to get in.
+23423 Allen Edmonds and Alden (and for John Lobb et al. if you can afford it).
I agree Rockports are comfortable shoes, but they are also some of the ugliest dress shoes ever made
Salvatore Ferragamo 'Rugby' Oxford
http://shopping.aol.com/clothing-accessories/mens-clothing/mens-shoes/m…
After reading this entertaining post that has been asleep for quite awhile I got quite the chuckle. I'm willing to bet more than half of the people posting are either wannabees, or people that have not really entered into the real working world yet. I'm curious how many of you are still employed. Dress for success/Dress to impress has it's limits. The key to financial stability is living within your means. If your buying $500 shoes and 2K suits while your making 200K a year, you're an idiot. I deal with people everyday that earn 200K+ a year and try to make it look like they own the world. The reality is that 99% of them are in debt over their head and can't afford to pay attention. The other reality is: Most of the people you see don't really earn anywhere near what they claim. It's sad, but it's true.
anybody think this allen edmonds shoe would be okay for biz casual days during summer? would they go with navy pants and a brown belt if it was business casual, or just with tan/brown pants?
http://www.zappos.com/allen-edmonds-verona-dark-brown-calf
I really need a pair of brown shoes. But since I only wear a suit for meeting with customers, these brown shoes would be exclusively for business casual and even possibly something to dress up jeans on Fridays. I have a really comfortable pair of black Bruno Maglis that I wear with my suits.
...
the most comfortable dress shoes for ~ $100 (Originally Posted: 11/23/2009)
Any tips?
Cole Haan air dress shoes? They're $130-$160 but you can consider it a gift to yourself this Christmas...
Rockport, not the best looking but by far the most comfortable.
http://www.zappos.com/florsheim-como-imperial-black-cabaret You can get these cheaper elsewhere, but they are so comfortable...
Johnston and Murphy Melton - retail for about $165 but can be had on DSW for around $120 with coupons. Tough to break in at first but after a couple of weeks they're very comfortable. They look much better than Bostonians or Florsheims. http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?productRef=SEARCH&cate…
Also a J&M fan. They have outlets all over, you can get some good deals.
J&M Melton looks quite good to me.
Are Rockports not suitable for a banking/consulting office i.e. are they too casual? Or is it simply that people don't think they are fashionable enough?
Black cap toes from Rockport, Bostonian, Florsheim, J&M are all fine for interviews. But I think the J&M Meltons are well worth the extra $40 or so. The construction looks of higher quality - nice clean lines and stitching, and the leather has a nice shine to it. I think they are the best you can get for ~$100 before stepping into the more expensive territory of ~$300 J&M's and Allen Edmonds.
http://dealspl.us/dsw-coupons - DSW lets you use up to 3 coupons at a time so you can get around $15 off and free shipping at the right time. You can find your size first by going to a J&M store in Manhattan.
.
Almost forgot - you can't go wrong with some white Aldo loafers. Always a stylish and comfy choice for $100: http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/men/shoes/dress-loafers/76461823-cheatum/70
[quote=banker88]Almost forgot - you can't go wrong with some white Aldo loafers. Always a stylish and comfy choice for $100: http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/men/shoes/dress-loafers/76461823-cheatum/70…]
are these seriously considered fashionable in IB or was this sarcastic? they seem way too loud.
Paying $100 for shoes is throwing money down the drain. Pony up $250 for a pair of Alden's, rotate shoes each day, use trees and get them resoled and they will last 5-10 years.
Goto Century 21 or another outlet store. I used to get Bruno Magli's for about $125 at Century 21.
oh shit, that was sarcasm? I already ordered the shoes!
thank god
Is it really reasonable to keep same dress shoes for 10 years??
I always thought you keep them for at most 2-3 years. Then, keeping the purchase around 100 dollars made the most sense to me, although I think I can go up to $130 or so to get nicer looking ones.
Yes, good shoes will last you ten years, provided you are reasonably good about caring for them (ie, no jumping in to puddles), rotate them (wear them at most every other day) and have the soles replaced once or twice.
The most comfortable shoes are those that fit you well.
If you buy something around $100, it is not going to last more than a year or two.
If you're at the intern / analyst level and tight on money, a pair of shoes around $100 will be just fine and they will last you 1-2 years. I wouldn't "invest" in shoes to last 10 years at this point.
Never buy cheap shoes. You will be wearing them a lot and if you choose to go towards the lower end (not John Lobb, Ferrigamo, etc) get the best looking ones that are comfortable. Avoid "ugly american looking shoes" and get ones that at least look expensive/made well. your feet will thank you
how about these? http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7541986/c/60.html
Nice quality, good, clean lines and subtle hardware. Might even turn a few heads thinking you dropped the coin on Gucci/SF. Be prepared to dispute that fact. Slips ons might seem less dressy (they might be) but still look good
Just picked up a nice pair of allen edmonds park avenue on ebay for around this price!
Banana Republic surprisingly has some decent dress shoes that are good quality and look more expensive than they are. They have sales all the time.
anyone have any recommendation for affordable lighter brown shoes (cognac colored)?
Most comfy dress shoes possible? (Originally Posted: 04/14/2010)
Anyone have suggestions of shoes or at least good brands known for comfy dress shoes? I was thinking of trying out geox or ecco.
Honestly, a pair of quality, broken in leather dress shoes that fit you will beat the hell out of any of that fancy new age shit.
I've tried Johnston and Murphy; though not as nice as some other brands, they're very comfortable
i thnk the best value is at payless. I wear them everyday! you get great value too. now don't we all love the return on capital
cole haan with the nike air...
I can attest to Cole Haan's Nike Air gel insole shoes... Hella comfortable while still looking (fairly) sharp
ecco
Bruno Mag's cap toes...feels like you are walking on the backs of 2 Taiwanese pros. I have a pair of $300 AE shoes that feel like I stuffed my foot into a can of baked beans. JMs are comfortable. Whatever you do, have some self respect and wear leather bottomed shoes.
My J&M's are very comfortable, when you put your foot in some of them you'll notice they have a padding in the sole, I think the guy said it was some kind of sheeps wool pading.
I have really bad knees from high school sports so these things have really helped me out. Go check em out.
Which type of J&M's do you wear? Model name?
I have a pair of Geox dress shoes. They are extremely comfortable, and worth the price.
Rockports are very comfortable. It's a grandpa brand but I have a pair of their cap toe oxfords and they look like any other basic pair of the same type. The insides actually have cushioning around the ankle which I'm fairly sure most of the ones mentioned don't.
Just go to a nice/nice-ish department store and see which shoes have padded tongues, good insoles and padding around the ankles.
Ferragamo's Tramezza line is quite comfortable once broken in.
2nd ecco - quality that will last and very comfortable
Allen Edmond. You will have to break them in though. I think they are the best quality for price. If you want something off the shelf but not as stylish go with Mephisto, comfort can't be beat IMO.
Kenneth cole driving shoes are great for 100 bucks or so.
AE park avenue
Tods driving shoes, most shoes are pretty comfortable once worn a few times
is AE American Eagles? They sell $300 shoes?
AE = Allen Edmond
Regards
Out of the box; Cole Haan Nike Air are it no question and I'm wearing a pair now. That said, I think their appearance is lacking.
However, over the long haul, it's tough to go wrong with a pair of Ferragamo or Gucci as once they break in, they are comfortable as shit and look damn good. Some may say the downside is price, but I have had a pair of Ferragamo black leather loafers for 10 years that have been resoled three times and they still look great.
Prada sport rubber sole dress shoes!
Fratelli Rossetti are also confortable (although not as much as the ones from prada sport)
+1 for the fratellis
Ferragamo loafers, get the ones with the heavy rubber sole. I was reluctant to at first because I figured that I should by leather soled shoes but this guy in Italy talked me into them and now I swear by them. The first day I had them I wore them out of the store and talked around Florence for a few hours. They are by far the best shoes I have ever bought. I like their driving shoe as well, but it has a light sole and simply does not get the job done as well.
Rubber Soled Ferragamo Loafers, you will never buy another shoe again.
Leather soles are a no go, in my opinion
@Felix Rohatyn - Have you weared rubber sole shoes? Have you looked at rubber sole dress shoes? They look just like leather sole shoes, but more confortable...
I have worn rubber soled shoes, yes -- I have a pair of rubber-soled Chelsea boots. I agree that rubber soles look similar, but they are not the same. To the trained eye, they are immediately identifiable and not as aesthetically pleasing as leather soled shoes.
Indeed, you trade in some level of traction with leather soled shoes, however, I would argue that a properly broken-in leather soled shoe is as comfortable, if not more comfortable than rubber soled shoes (I find rubber clunky and unforgiving to the forefoot). Also, if you are seeking traction during inclimate weather, you can wear rubber boots to work or those rubber things that slip over your shoes.
Furthermore, a leather soled shoe is undeniably more formal than a rubber soled shoe, and if you retain the view that rubber is superior from a comfort perspective, one would argue that you trade in some level of comfort for formality/proper dress (e.g., tie over no-tie, french cuff shirt over tee shirts, collar stays over button down collar and so on).
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