When Worlds Collide: Shoes! Allen Edmonds and Cole Haan – pt. 2

If you ask my mom what pair of shoes I’ve wanted more than anything in the last year so, she’ll tell you it’s a pair brown lace-ups. I have been looking far and wide for the perfect pair. The one that speaks to me, whispers in my ear when I hold them up to my eyes, “Buy me, Gabe.” Alas, I had not found that pair until this past Saturday. I was in Nordstrom’s with my family visiting my sister (an intern who’s killing it in this summer), when I passed through the men’s shoe section. My eyes immediately focused in like a heat-seeking missile on these walnut brown cap-toe, perfed lace-ups. The detail was incredible and it was exactly what I was looking for. A brown that was versatile enough to wear with light and dark pants (chinos and jeans alike), yet also formal enough that I could wear them to events no problem. I looked inside the shoe and held my breath as I checked the price. $200, on sale. I let out a sigh and moved on. While an amazing shoe, it was currently too rich for my skinny wallet.

Enter my wonderful father. He looked at me and said, “I can tell you want them. If you’re serious, I’ll get them for you.” (He later said my eyes lit up like it was Christmas when I saw the shoes)

I looked at him in disbelief. I wasn’t sure if he had heard I said they were $200. I was beside myself and told him that we should take a walk first around the mall and we’ll see how I feel (mostly because I couldn’t believe what I was getting offered!). Long story short – you better believe I got those shoes.

I had to size down a half-size from what I normally wear (9.5 -> 9), but let me tell you – these fit like a glove. When I tried them on, I took two steps in them and said, “Ok. I’m good. Let’s get ‘em.” To which the salesperson replied, “Easiest sale I’ve made all day.” And it was an easy choice on my behalf. These leather upper/oak leather soled shoes are stiff as a board when you first try them on. But of course the beauty of said stiffness is that when you beat these shoes into the ground (as I intend to), the end result is feeling like you have a nicely shaped leather glove on your foot. I wore them yesterday to Brunch with my family and I’m wearing them today at work. I can already feel the sole adjusting the balls of my feet. That’s quality folks.

My favorite detail of these “Made in the U.S.A.”  shoes isn’t the remarkable perfed detailing or amazing quality of the leather. It’s the custom stacked leather heel that creates a slight gradient of browns. I was absolutely infatuated with this minute, but just as important, detailing.

And the absolute best thing about these? They will certainly last a lifetime (As the man, the myth, the legend Eli Getson pointed out). Allen Edmonds will re-craft any shoe they make, a testament to how well they’re made in the first place. So for a measly $30 bucks every few years, I will essentially have a brand new pair of Allen Edmonds. In a time of economic uncertainty (still), I consider these a most worthwhile investment.

Peek my brand-new, right-out-the-box picture on my tumblr.

All in all, it’s been a great shoe week.

Check out pt. 1 of my shoe reporting: Cole Haan Claremont Saddles.