[John Anderson]

My favorite men's dress shoe has always been the Florsheim Imperial/Oxford Kenmoor. I'm sure you know why. The shoe's Goodyear welt construction soles and double reinforced stitching give a distinctive, ironclad feel.

Problem is, I wear a 10.5 length, wide (E) size. A few years ago Florsheim stopped manufacturing wide (E) for this particular shoe.

It doesn't help to use a double wide (EE) shoe. They feel like balloons. As for normal width (D), if I remember correctly, they feel okay at first, but will severely abrade the sides of my feet and heels after a few days wear.

I've had no satisfaction finding a substitute for the Florsheim Imperial Kenmoor. Even more expensive brands such as Allen Edmonds (which cost $375 vs. $240 for the Kenmoor) don't gratify me. I really need a dress shoe that duplicates the strong, heavy feel of the Kenmoor.

Any suggestions? Does anyone know of an ideal substitute for the Florsheim Imperial/Oxford Kenmoor, something manufactured similarly?

I've considered is buying a normal width (D) Florsheim Imperial/Oxford Kenmoor, then having a cobbler stretch the width. But I fear this might destroy the shoe. I'm not sure.

 

[ran23]

I' wearing 9.5 E most times. Can't fit my 9.5 M anymore. I do have a few 10-M in rotation. Have you tried 11-D?

 

[smmrfld]

Alden gunboats.

 

[blue suede shoes]

About twenty years ago, the Allen Edmonds MacNeil was a thick, heavy shoe, just like the Florsheim Imperial Kenmoor. For at least the past ten years, AE has made the shoe flimsier each year. You may be able to find some of the older stock for sale on ebay. Other than those, your best bet is the Alden wing tips, as suggested above. The Shoemart has a good selection.

 

[Peak and Pine]

Not buying the premise.
With the particular shoe the gentleman likes, a lot apparently, the manufacturer no longer makes a 10 E, but does make a double E. He says the double E feels like wearing a balloon. ??? Since he and I are very close in shoe size, I wear a 10.5 triple E and have worn that size in an E and a EE with no ill effects though perhaps a slight tweak with a stretcher in certain cases, I don't very much think that there is a lot of difference between a single E and a double E to make you search for an entirely different shoe and give up on the one you seem to love. I've experienced no instance where going from an E to a EE makes it feel like you're wearing a balloon. Goodness. (And if it does, so what.)

 

[John Anderson]

Not buying the premise.
With the particular shoe the gentleman likes, a lot apparently, the manufacturer no longer makes a 10 E, but does make a double E. He says the double E feels like wearing a balloon. ??? Since he and I are very close in shoe size, I wear a 10.5 triple E and have worn that size in an E and a EE with no ill effects though perhaps a slight tweak with a stretcher in certain cases, I don't very much think that there is a lot of difference between a single E and a double E to make you search for an entirely different shoe and give up on the one you seem to love. I've experienced no instance where going from an E to a EE makes it feel like you're wearing a balloon. Goodness. (And if it does, so what.)

You make a good point, but there's one catch.. You're talking about the difference between an E and an EE. Beware that Florsheim, when I last purchased from them, offered sizes D (medium), E (wide), and EEE (extra wide). In my case, we're talking about the difference between a Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford E and an EEE.

Since 2018 or 2019, Florsheim has eliminated its E width. Now customers are obligated to pick between D (medium) and EEE (their current version of "wide").

Curiously, what brand of dress shoe were you wearing when you noticed no real difference between E and EE?

Four years ago I did order the Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford size 10.5, EEE. During two days usage, the shoe felt a tad too loose, up and down my foot. It was almost a squishy feel. Too much open space between my feet and the leather. This sensation was all the more remarkable because the Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford is renown for its hard, ironclad feel. But that stiff, hard sensation was absent because, inside the shoe, my feet were literally sliding a little too much toward the left or right, compressing and stretching the leather.

I complained to Florsheim and they let me exchange my EEE for a pair of E widths. That solved the problem.

 

[John Anderson]

Alden gunboats.

I just checked out the Alden line. They do indeed appear to be manufactured like the classic Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford line. Very impressive looking photos; heavy stitching, solid heels and soles. But Alden's a $600 to $800 priced shoe, whereas the Florsheim Kenmoor is roughly $240.

 

[John Anderson]

I' wearing 9.5 E most times. Can't fit my 9.5 M anymore. I do have a few 10-M in rotation. Have you tried 11-D?

I'm thinking seriously about ordering the Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford sized 11 (one size above my 10.5 fit), with D width. But I have a few reservations.

Let's assume the D width is okay for my foot, given that I'm compensating by wearing a slightly bigger-than-normal length (11 vs 10.5). I'm wondering if that will lead to any problems, in terms of how the shoe feels.

Does anyone have any insight into this question?

One thing I'm worried about is that when I walk, especially if I'm climbing stairs, that tiny extra shoe length might create a tendency to misstep and stumble, or pitch forward.

I may post this question as a separate thread. If so I'll cross-link the two threads.

 

[fishertw]

I just checked out the Alden line. They do indeed appear to be manufactured like the classic Florsheim Kenmoor Imperial Oxford line. Very impressive looking photos; heavy stitching, solid heels and soles. But Alden's a $600 to $800 priced shoe, whereas the Florsheim Kenmoor is roughly $240.

You might try the Shoe Mart Alden seconds offerings. I have two pair of other styles from there, never been a problem and about 30% discounted.