****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is the second pair of Allen Edmond shoes that I've ordered (the other being the Park Avenue). They aren't cheap, but despite being on a teacher's budget I say they are a great value.I have a EEE to EEEE foot. Finding shoes that fit is not easy. I'm a teacher and on my feet most of the day. That combination had me buying Rockports for years, but I got tired of having to replace them every year or so and I wanted something more stylish.So, after reading all the reviews for just about every shoe in my size in a style I liked I decided to give these a try. I couldn't have made a better choice. Even the first time I wore them they were reasonably comfortable after a 10 hour day on my feet, and now after the third time they are definitely the most comfortable new pair of shoes I ever wore, and as they break in they are becoming more and more comfortable each time (once they are fully broken in, I suspect that they will be even more comfortable than the Rockports I've had in the past).Some reviews complain of them being large, I wear an 11 EEE or 11 EEEE depending upon the shoe, and I ordered an 11 EEE. They fit perfectly and I recommend everyone with wide feet give them a try.As for looks, the photos on Amazon don't give them justice. I ordered the cognac from another seller and had to return them because they sent me an 11E instead of 11EEE and I have the tan. Both colors looked absolutely incredible in person. I'd actually use the term "stunning." In the three times I've worn them so far, I've already had more compliments on my shoes than I recall having on any pair of shoes I've ever worn.If they last even half as long as I expect them to (based upon reviews I've read of Allen Edmonds) they will be a terrific bargain.I bought them in tan and I love them so much that I'll probably buy a pair in cognac and/or black to go with darker pants.I thought this is going to be wider in the toe box but it is actually narrower than bond street I have. Both 7.5 EEE.However even it is a bit cramped, the thick supple leather and the durable looking outsole is just way exceed my expectation due to the not so good bond street experience.After inspection. The top lift ( rubber part of heel ) is falling, not fully intact. I mean come on, a 10 dollar shoe shouldn't have this issue and to be honest. Bostonian, Florsheim, Rockport etc never have this issue, do you welt too much and forgot how to glue ?The shoes fit perfectly. I wear an 11D and the shoes are 11D. Ignore other warnings about the shoes running too large.I found the leather, just above the heel, to have a bit of puckering. I have emailed Allen Edmonds for their take on this. Maybe they are defective? I am not sure. At this point. it's an appearance issue. The shoes are extremely comfortable and took no time at all to break in. The leather has a satin finish as opposed to being shiny, which probably due to the type of leather used (calf skin) and is probably why the shoes are so comfortable..UPDATE: Whoops! I got ahead of myself! The review was for the AE McAllisters that I also purchased. The 10.5D were exchanged for an 11D. The shoes have no puckers and feel great.When I opened the box and felt how stiff the soles of these shoes were, I figured that they would be a long time in breaking in to the point of comfort. Amazingly, within a matter of hours, they were conforming to my feet to the point where I hardly noticed that they were there. The individual shoe bags are a nice touch to accompany these quality shoes. I considered purchasing shoes of lesser cost and quality but have no buyers remorse here and they're made here.The only thing that I'd point out is that they run large for their size versus other shoes and boots I own. I wear a size 12 1/2 boot and a size 12 running shoe; in these shoes, I wear size 11 1/2. I didn't knock any points off for the size difference since the first pair I bought were returnable for free through Amazon and the second pair, fitting as they do, live up to what I expected for the money.The leather is excellent, the stitching is perfect, and the overall look of the shoe is incredible. The contrast stitching on the black and brown pair isn't nearly as high as in the product picture; in natural lighting, the brown stitching only serves to accentuate the warm oak colored sole. They'll serve me well in all situations from casual to formal, and I'm excited to use them for years to come. I've gotten more compliments on these shoes than any other pair I've ever owned.On the other hand, be sure to order a full size down to ensure an appropriate fit. I normally wear a 9.5 in boots, sneakers, boat shoes, etc. but ordered an 8.5 on the recommendation of other reviewers. The 8.5 fits perfectly. In short, I would highly recommend this specific pair, as well as any Allen Edmonds product.Very well built and attractive design. Classic yet edgy. The pair I received has drying cracks in the leather. Since the shoe is new and has "waxy" look to the finish, this didn't seem right. I normally wear a 9 1/2 D dress shoe and a 10 in some styles. When trying the 9 1/2. Even thicker insoles and/or thick socks didn't help very much. This one fits me well as a 9D.I love this shoe! Allen Edmonds makes a quality shoe that will truly last for a very long time. They look sharp, are made of good quality materials and feel sturdy. My only gripe is they are larger than other shoes. I normally wear a size 11. In this particular shoe, a 10.5 would have been the better choice. The size issue is the only reason I gave 4 stars.This is the slightly dressed-down version of the McAllister formal wingtip. It's awesome and versatile. The brown welt and trim are just brown enough to be distinctive, but not so light as to be tacky or cheap-looking.This shoe is on the Allen Edmonds #5 last, the longest and narrowest of their lasts. If you don't know how that last fits (or if you don't even know what this means), you should try to make it into an AE store and try on one of the many shoes that use the same last (including most of the classics, Strand, Park Ave, etc.).
