Decent working shoes, trader - London
Hey all, I'm starting out trading fixed income at one of the fein-est (ahem) bulge brackets in London this summer, but much to my horror I've discovered that wearing the square toed (black leather) shoes I've been relying on so far is tantamount to habitually punching babies in the face, when you're working in the banking community. So, I need some new shoes.
My favourite suits are dark navy, so I'm looking for black leather here I guess, and from what I've read here generally oxford/cap-toe/wingtip are a sensible idea, though I'll consider anything stylish which isn't over the top for an analyst. Does anyone know where I might look in the UK (online ideally, maybe internationally if the delivery charges aren't too heinous) to get some nice black leather shoes which are suitable for an entry level trader? Obviously, I'm looking for the sensible price ranges for an analyst, I don't want to be spending £700 on shoes just yet. I'd probably be willing to go up to about £200 if necessary, though I'd prefer to keep it lower than that if I can still get something nice for less (but I don't want super cheap shitty shoes).
Thanks!
bruno magli, tod's, and when you're feeling rich, john lobb
and in before everyone else... i know, i know, allen edmonds park ave. god, we're such a bunch of tools
how to do make sure that it fits perfectly? last time i bought allen edmonds (fifth avenue), it bruised the skin on top my big toe. were the shoe too small?
church's should be about right for your price range. not sure if edmonds cost more in uk.
ferragamo
J&M, Cole Haan, Allen Edmonds
^THE best shoes money can buy
Is J&M Johnston & Murphy (http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/category.aspx?s=shoes)? Sorry, shoe noob.
Yeah, it seems like Allen Edmonds and Cole Haan seem to be the names which always come up on WSO. Just frustrating they're so expensive for someone just starting out!
Cole Haan is the way to go without breaking the bank. Extremely comfortable. Their parent company is Nike - so many of the insoles of the shoes use "Nike Air Technology".
Interesting, many thanks to all for your responses. Are Cole Haan generally available in the UK? I can't seem to find anywhere but Amazon that sells them, and Amazon has a fairly lacklustre selection. Likewise Allen Edmonds. Obviously Church are easier to get hold of but it seems like most of the nicer designs will set you back the equivalent of $400 easily. (Or maybe that's just what you have to pay for decent shoes and I'll have to learn to live with it.)
Do you genuinely think that this is an appropriate and sensible amount of money to be spending on a pair of shoes as a first year analyst? I'm currently in the student mindset, so it's hard to tell what's actually money well spent and what's going to be wasted until I'm a little more senior. Thanks for the helpful advice so far.
Just observe what junior people wear at the bank. You don't need to break the bank to "impress" people. As long as you are wearing something decent and look professional, you will be fine. I think it has more to do with grooming and making yourself looking presentable, rather than about expensive brands. Buy shoes that are comfortable and within your budget. One of my buddies is an Associate at Perella Weinberg and he still shops at Macy's.
Banking is a highly unstable job. Try to at least put away your bonus and don't blow off the money. You will be happier in the long run, saving up a sizable amount of money if your employment situation were to change in the future. Best of luck.
P.S. just checked out prices for John Lobb, actually made me laugh out loud
Same
They're some of the best made and nicest-looking shoes available. If you look at the high-end of anything you are likely to be astonished and not understand why the price is so high ($100,000 for a watch? $200 for a t-shirt? $5,000 for a suit?) I sincerely doubt anyone on this board should be considering JL (myself very much included) as it is absurdly expensive past the point of being worth it for almost anyone unless you really love shoes or have unreasonable amounts of money to burn.
If you want good English shoes, buy Crockett & Jones or one of the other makers like that. Definitely expensive but they look really nice. Allen Edmonds is probably all you need at a junior level, but I like the look of my C&Js significantly more than my AEs.
You should have in mind that expensive quality shoes last for many many many years, given that you care for them properly. The best looking pieces I have are my oldest pairs, and they are also the most comfortable ones.
Rule of thumb: Never buy anything with a sole that is glued to the uppers. Never buy anything "brand" (i.e. LV, Prada etc). Here are some suggestions on brands to look for:
Economy class: Loake Markowski Septieme Largeur
Bang for the buck: Crockett & Jones Carmina Alden Allen Edmonds Laszlo Vass
Luxury: Santoni Gaziano & Girling Edward Green John Lobb Corthay
If you're in the UK, check these two sites out. Don't be fooled by the terrible websites - they have good shoes and good prices that are definitely below 200 GBP
http://www.pediwear.co.uk/
http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/
Go to bicester village young man
I'm very proud of a great deal I got on Zegna shoes from there, but if you're a common size it may be difficult.
Church's and gucci horsebit loafs for the every day grind, they're just so comforable.
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