Trending Content - Fashion for Business Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
August 31, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
Cole Haan, Brooks Brothers
Park Avenues are the standard.
I'm wearing Rockports right now. Ridiculously comfortable, and the sole is thin enough it can pass for leather at first glance. A cap toe version of: http://www.zappos.com/rockport-business-lite-wingtip-black
[quote=West Coast rainmaker]Park Avenues are the standard.
I'm wearing Rockports right now. Ridiculously comfortable, and the sole is thin enough it can pass for leather at first glance. A cap toe version of: http://www.zappos.com/rockport-business-lite-wingtip-black[/quote]
Rockports are excellent for shitty weather days. I rocked mine a few times on recent snowy/rainy days so the salt doesn't destroy my more expensive shoes.
Yep. I'm in the midwest, so leather soled shoes are not going to work for half the year. I could wear boots over them, but it's not worth the hassle to me. Then again, my office doesn't really dress up at all. I could wear sneakers/boots/whatever.
I've always enjoyed Johnston & Murphy and Cole Haan shoes
I second the recommendation for Allen Edmonds Park Avenues. Classic, quintessential oxford for wearing to work with a suit.
As for more casual/cheaper leather shoes, I like Aldo, but their stuff is hit or miss. Some of it is good, but a lot of it is too fashion forward for the average person.
Cheaper: Johnston and Murphy, Cole Haan
More Expensive: Allen Edmonds
Expensive: Alden, Brooks Brothers (Peal and Co.)
Allen Edmonds...they are durable and can be sent back to get resoled. You can get them on amazon when they have their shoe sales if you want to save a bit too.
Well, it normally depends on where you are and all but I believe you already have all the names you need for a good quality show, and as SEC puts it Cheaper: Johnston and Murphy, Cole Haan
More Expensive: Allen Edmonds
Expensive: Alden, Brooks Brothers (Peal and Co.)
My personal favorites would be Cole Haans
Expensive: Alden (ultimate paramount of gentlemen's shoes) Moderate : Church's Cheap : Florsheim, G.H. Bass & Co.
this list may be incomplete but it can't be wrong
John Lobbs are awesome but a pair will run about $1,500. Vass is another extraordinary company. Supposedly you can get great deals on them in Budapest.
I recommend AEs. Wait for a sale and pay~$250 for their PAs, 5th Aves, etc. Their sales are usually on American holidays... expect one on July 4th weekend. When it rains I wear $150 Johnston & Murphys.
If you are looking for a fashionable modern looking shoe, do not get allen edmonds. As durable and well constructed as their shoes are, they are uber conservative and a bit too clunky looking for my own personal taste. (Yes even the Park Aves)
Try Testoni, Church's, or C&Js. These shoes are all sleeker and of high quality.
If money is a concern, try bexley or afinepairofshoes. These are quality European shoes that are very budget friendly (Will run you about $150 a pair)
Cole Haans and Rockports should be reserved for rainy days.
Allen Edmonds is good way to go if you want a conservative look. I like to wear Allen Edmonds at the office and their loafers look good when going out to dinner or something. If im going to a bar or doing something that may scuff the leather I will throw on a pair of Cole Haans
Thanks for the input everyone!! I got more clue. I am going to try couple of brands this weekend.
Does anyone have Loake? the price range is about the same as AE around $350 ish, any comments?
I have a pair of Loake, a black cap toe. The only Loakes worth buying are the 1880 line...goodyear welted, full grain calf. Similar quality to AE. Everything else is not as good. I haven't found mine quite as comfortable as my AEs, but they are still good shoes, comfortable to walk in, and a little sleeker than AE.
My Loake Dorchester in 10.5F, which should be a comparable to an AE 11D, is a little bit wider than I expected.
Buy A&E off Ebay or on sale. They are great. Whatever you do make sure the shoes can be resoled and you will be fine.
Won't you get knockoffs or the one's that GILT.com would have?
Go for English brand baroques (wingtips). Paul Smith, Churchs, Crockett & Jones. Looks good in the office or with a tux. Leather soles are a must for business attire. Rubber soles are for the warehouse.
Loake is a nice mid range British option.
Do you mean to say brogues?
Also, brogues with a tux? Stop.
I can't see people knocking off A&E's online. Besides, you can tell if they are real pretty easy. I bought a pair of strands for like 200 before and you can find them used for ~$50-80 bucks. People just throw stuff away nowadays.
You can also usually get AEs cheaper than retail on StyleForum.
Would assume they are either used or probably the same issue though, right?
In molestias voluptates veniam voluptas necessitatibus repudiandae sed. Et omnis dolores quam a tenetur debitis. Exercitationem repudiandae itaque labore voluptate. Exercitationem consequatur in a. Dolores et repellendus necessitatibus. Et rerum repudiandae blanditiis veritatis.
Ut nulla sit necessitatibus distinctio ea corporis. Culpa ducimus provident alias sint.
Adipisci tenetur ducimus velit. Cum eaque aut eos ut velit quas voluptas.
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...
Ut voluptas et voluptatibus ad accusantium. Ratione aut aut sint velit accusantium. Maiores possimus optio doloribus mollitia possimus iste eveniet. Neque doloremque facilis sed ipsa.
Sapiente rerum rerum illum eaque dolores enim sapiente fugit. Id et iusto pariatur ipsum. Consequatur vitae officiis similique sed libero animi reiciendis quas. Vitae error modi voluptatem ex odio nulla. Aut officiis velit est unde a beatae dolores maiores. Excepturi nesciunt nostrum vel qui.
Aut facilis atque vel harum soluta harum ipsam. Et id quibusdam voluptatem sit quis est. Aliquam sit veniam sint molestias aut enim repellendus. At officia ut aliquid exercitationem et ut voluptate. Non numquam quo voluptatem animi saepe dignissimos.
Voluptatem cum nesciunt dolor eligendi ea. Velit est ut laboriosam nobis omnis deserunt. Voluptatem eveniet itaque corrupti provident quo culpa voluptas et. Non exercitationem reprehenderit perferendis nostrum dolorem ut quo rem. Veniam dolor qui voluptatem voluptatem illo ea.