Advice for Next Dress Shoes

Big Bad Bagheera on 22/02/2017 - 12:24

I'm looking for a new pair of black leather dress shoes.

I have a wedding coming up in 2 weeks which I need them for.
I need a pair for the wedding but also want to get something which will get regular use.

I work in an office however it's pretty casual. Suits aren't worn to work only on special social outings, as such usually wear jeans/chinos with a pair of boots or sneakers.

I'm tossing up between a few options:

  • Buying a pair of black RM Williams. Currently own a brown pair and they're my most worn shoe. Would like a black pair anyway and I could get away with wearing them with a suit on the day of the wedding. It wouldn't look great but passable with the suit and I'd get the most wear out of them after.

  • Buying a pair of 'mid priced' dress shoes. something which won't break the bank but will be quality enough to last for years to come. eyeing of the below pair. Simple, non offensive look and from the limited reviews online they seem positive. They appear to be good year welted? i can see stitching on the sole, can some one confirm as it doesn't list it.
    http://www.asos.com/au/hudson-london/hudson-london-twain-lea…

  • Buying a pair of sub $100 dress shoes from David Jones or the like, wear them for the day and hope they last?

What would you do?

Poll Options

  • 8
    RM William's
  • 1
    Mid Priced Dress shoes
  • 1
    Cheap Dress Shoes
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • dollarmenu on 22/02/2017 - 13:03

    If you are willing to fork out money for the RM's then do it.

    I was in the same boat looking for boots to replace my work "david jones" ones which I wore out as well (only a year old).

    In the end I got RM's, they are worth the money and I can wear them both to work and out.

    Feels good to pay the price for good quality boots.

    • they look fine with a suit assuming you get black.
    • Big Bad Bagheera on 22/02/2017 - 14:46

      Yeah looking at black ones however still think regular dress shoes go with a suit better :/

  • Your Friend on 22/02/2017 - 13:12

    I'm also in the market for a pair of RM's, what would be the best (cheapest) way to obtain a pair?

    • dollarmenu on 22/02/2017 - 13:54
      • Nungar has craftsman for $400
      • RM outlets have seconds for around $200-$350 (Qld store)
      • DJs and the retail shop $545..
      • Big Bad Bagheera on 22/02/2017 - 14:45

        They've only recently upped it from 495 to 545 which is a shame, bought the GF a pair before Christmas for $495 + 20% discount.

        Most shopping centers (at-least in Melbourne, both westfield and others) have 'VIP' day or 'super saturday' couple times a year where most retailers offers a discount. In this case Chadstone RM William's had 20% of all shoes and picked up a pair for $396.

        My own pair I picked up from DJ's at a Father's Day Sale which also had 20% of all men's foot wear.

        Good luck!

        • dollarmenu on 22/02/2017 - 15:17

          Lucky you to got them on sale.. I purchased mine this month as my usual boots wore out.. sucks there no sales at this time of year lol.

  • antmcbane on 22/02/2017 - 14:15

    For dress shoes: Allan Edmonds - Park Avenues are the "classic" dress shoe. Can try on around in Aus from boutiques then order online from usa. Might be tough to get in 2 weeks but you can look at expected shipping times. For the less formal look the Fifth Avenues are nice and the Strand is extremely popular in walnut.

    Florsheim actually do some ok stuff too (they have a "premium line" that is all leather that you can usually get cheap through their store, DJ's etc).

    For boots: Red wings. Construction quality far above their peers with thick soles and goodyear welts.

    • Big Bad Bagheera on 22/02/2017 - 14:42

      Thanks for the suggestion, AE seems like a great brand and definitely the kind of shoe I'd like to invest in be it now or down the track.
      A quick google hasn't shown any Australian stockists, just a bunch of dated whirlpool forum posts with people saying you can only order online?

      • antmcbane on 22/02/2017 - 15:01

        Sorry I feel like I've given you crap advice now. When I got mine I tried them on at Peter Sheppard in Melbourne who it seems no longer range them.

        It is worth going to one of those proper boutiques and inspecting the quality of the other high end brands on offer though.

        Also, if you like the RM Williams shoes - there is no denying they are a quality built item. One of the big advantage they have over most of the "boot" brands is that they come ready to wear - large quantities of the boots you will get from other manufacturers will require weeks of wearing and mink oil treatment to soften the leather.

        • Big Bad Bagheera on 22/02/2017 - 15:54

          What I've found thus far is that a lot of boutique stores stock English brands but few do american ones.
          Regardless they are all severely overpriced locally with the recommendation being try them on in store and order online.

          Yes the RM's a definitively comfortable from the get go, I likened them to a "cloud of soft leather wrapped around your feet" to a friend of mine.

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