[Mike75]

Not quite painful, but certainly uncomfortable and uncomfortable enough that if they don't stretch out (like some people suggest) I'll likely end up never wearing them.

Its a fine line. If it were me, I'd probably try wearing them on the carpet for a few hours at a time to see if there is any improvement.

 

[CardsHockey]

Its a fine line. If it were me, I'd probably try wearing them on the carpet for a few hours at a time to see if there is any improvement.

I did that last night while watching a movie. I walked around some but admittedly sat most of the time as I figured my feet in them at all was better than nothing. The funny thing is the shoes feel better when standing as I must depress the foot bed, giving the top of my feet more room in the shoe. While I was sitting to watch the movie I could almost feel the pulse in my feet from the tops of them being constricted by the low volume of the shoe.

I'm wearing my McAllisters now and though these fit my great in 10D, there is no way I could ever lace them up to "close the gap." There isn't a huge gap, but it exists and the sales associate said it was fine as messing with the fit to close the gap would cause bad problems elsewhere. So, that is to say, I think I just need a higher volume loafer than what this shoe offers since a loafer obviously does not allow for any personal adjustment via laces.

 

[godan]

Good to know. This might be the solution I'm looking for with calf slip ons. Do you think it would be OK to do this with lined Suede loafers?.

I'm going to chicken out of this one. Real suede is not much in evidence around stock raising operations, and I just don't know.

 

[cellochris]

I'm going to chicken out of this one. Real suede is not much in evidence around stock raising operations, and I just don't know.

Fair enough!

 

[Mike75]

I did that last night while watching a movie. I walked around some but admittedly sat most of the time as I figured my feet in them at all was better than nothing. The funny thing is the shoes feel better when standing as I must depress the foot bed, giving the top of my feet more room in the shoe. While I was sitting to watch the movie I could almost feel the pulse in my feet from the tops of them being constricted by the low volume of the shoe.

I'm wearing my McAllisters now and though these fit my great in 10D, there is no way I could ever lace them up to "close the gap." There isn't a huge gap, but it exists and the sales associate said it was fine as messing with the fit to close the gap would cause bad problems elsewhere. So, that is to say, I think I just need a higher volume loafer than what this shoe offers since a loafer obviously does not allow for any personal adjustment via laces.

The fact that you can feel your pulse makes me think they are too small. That is the wrong side of tight.

 

[CardsHockey]

The fact that you can feel your pulse makes me think they are too small. That is the wrong side of tight.

Yeah, I've decided to return them and eat the $10 restocking fee. I'm not going to risk sizing up to a 10.5D and then maybe have to pay $20 in restocking fees for nothing! AE doesn't sell this shoe anymore and BB just took it off its website in the last couple days! I had thought about ordering a 1/2 size up from BB for the free shipping and returns..... I'll just wait on loafers until I have time to get to an AE to try them all on.

 

[cellochris]

Yeah, I've decided to return them and eat the $10 restocking fee. I'm not going to risk sizing up to a 10.5D and then maybe have to pay $20 in restocking fees for nothing! AE doesn't sell this shoe anymore and BB just took it off its website in the last couple days! I had thought about ordering a 1/2 size up from BB for the free shipping and returns..... I'll just wait on loafers until I have time to get to an AE to try them all on.

CardsHockey, I will be in AA this summer in July, this time with a car. I may be taking my friend to the AE in Troy, MI. PM me if you'd like to carpool. I have a friend who knows the store manager there as well.

Also, Van Boven shoes in AA is a reseller - you could ask them if they'd be willing to get a few pairs for you to try on.

 

[CardsHockey]

CardsHockey, I will be in AA this summer in July, this time with a car. I may be taking my friend to the AE in Troy, MI. PM me if you'd like to carpool. I have a friend who knows the store manager there as well.

Also, Van Boven shoes in AA is a reseller - you could ask them if they'd be willing to get a few pairs for you to try on.

Thanks for the offer. I'll actually be on vacation a large chunk of July so it likely won't work out. I do have friends that live ~10 miles from that Allen Edmonds so I will make my way over there eventually, just wasn't convenient for me to do it any time soon.

The problem with Van Boven is they always sell their shoes for more than I can get them direct from AE so I don't feel right having them go through the trouble of ordering in all the different loafers in various sizes if I don't actually intend to buy from them. I went to Van Boven last week and they only had 1 clearance style of AE loafer in stock, and for $100 more than I would have paid AE.

I hope you enjoy your time in AA and Michigan in general. Let me know if you need anything while you're here (if I'm around)!

 

[cellochris]

Thanks for the offer. I'll actually be on vacation a large chunk of July so it likely won't work out. I do have friends that live ~10 miles from that Allen Edmonds so I will make my way over there eventually, just wasn't convenient for me to do it any time soon.

The problem with Van Boven is they always sell their shoes for more than I can get them direct from AE so I don't feel right having them go through the trouble of ordering in all the different loafers in various sizes if I don't actually intend to buy from them. I went to Van Boven last week and they only had 1 clearance style of AE loafer in stock, and for $100 more than I would have paid AE.

I hope you enjoy your time in AA and Michigan in general. Let me know if you need anything while you're here (if I'm around)!

Very good, and understood RE: Van Boven.

Thanks, I get to AA every now and then to study with a professor at U-Mich. I'll let you know for sure the next time I'm in town after July and we can grab a drink at Ashley's!

 

[CardsHockey]

Resurrecting this sort of old thread.

I failed to take pictures last night for the following fit question, but I think I found AE loafers that work for me - Randolphs. However, the leather on the inside of my right foot slightly "flops" out that makes it looks slightly sloppy. My left foot doesn't do this. The leather on the inside of the right shoe does look less taut when not on my foot. However, when wearing them I can't discount the fact my foot is pushing out the leather...... I think it's fine but just checking to make sure as my wife immediately noticed it as she doesn't have a trained eye for these things. They are seconds though so perhaps this is the flaw?

 

[memphislawyer]

Thanks to all responses. To sum up my long post to encourage more replies, my posts comes down to the two below questions.

1. Should I be able to slip on penny loafers? There is no way I could at all slip these on. However, my left foot feels pretty good overall once I get it in, even though I could not slip that one on either.

2. Do leather shoes actually stretch over time? I've found conflicting answers online and, as noted above, our dear Andy says "no" and advises all shoes should be comfortable out of the box as there is no stretching.

My casual loafers, like some Johnson Murphys that I wear with jeans and they have the tassells and vibram soles, yes, I can slip my foot in. But some loafers, like my black AE that I wear with dress pants and sweaters in the winter to the office, no, I need a shoe horn. Each fits, but in a different way

Some leathers do stretch, some do not. And I have had dress shoes, oxfords, from AE that one pair stretched, one did not. Kinda hit or miss.

 

[CardsHockey]

My casual loafers, like some Johnson Murphys that I wear with jeans and they have the tassells and vibram soles, yes, I can slip my foot in. But some loafers, like my black AE that I wear with dress pants and sweaters in the winter to the office, no, I need a shoe horn. Each fits, but in a different way

Some leathers do stretch, some do not. And I have had dress shoes, oxfords, from AE that one pair stretched, one did not. Kinda hit or miss.

These still need a shoe horn to get on, but are comfortable once on. It's more of the inside right foot seeming to have leather that is not very taught, or at least not as taut as the left foot. Again, these are seconds so perhaps this is the issue? I was OK with 'em, even though I noticed this before my wife said anything. Perhaps I just need to continue to ignore her? They are probably OK and I know giving exact advice is tough without any pics!

 

[John inSC]

I have a couple pairs of AE loafers and they too wreak havoc on my toes/heels, but, only if I wear them sockless. I generally wear a 9.5 in lace-up shoes and with loafers I go with a 9 under the assumption I wont be wearing with socks. I'm finding loafers to be hell to fit correctly, both of which are a similar toe box shapes to yours. It took buying my first pair of decent loafers to realize my feet are slightly different sizes which makes my right pinky toe rub and blister, annoyingly the left foot fits perfect. The other pair of loafers fit great on the right foot but rub the heel badly on the left.

Given your issues with finding right right shoe, I may look at the last your Randolfs are made on, as it may work for me.

 

[Moonshae]

I have four pairs of loafers. Except for one pair, they were all quite snug when I received them; one pair such that I didn't think I would be able to keep them. That very snug pair is now the most comfortable fitting pair. In my experience with one brand of loafer (Jay Butler), they stretch quite a bit.

 

[CardsHockey]

I finally found the AE loafer and size that fits me - Randolph 9.5D. I ordered from the Shoe Bank and I am wondering whether the "bowing out" on the inside of my right foot is acceptable. The left foot is perfect, but the right foot is a bit off. I am OK with it in general but don't want to look like an idiot to more sophisticated observers - haha. However, my wife did notice it right away from 5-10 feet away with my pant legs pull up to show off the shoes.

Pics at this link.

The second pic shows how the leather on the inside of the right shoe sort of waves in and out without my foot inside the shoe, which is why it slightly flaps/bows out a bit on my foot. The left shoe does not look like this at all either on or off my foot - the leather on the inside of my foot is nice and straight.

Is this normal even for "firsts"? If not, is it acceptable given they are "seconds"? Thanks!

 

[amemovox]

My Shell Randolphs exhibit the same behavior. Shoe is comfortable - I plan not to stress about it.


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[Barrister & Solicitor]

I suspect the difference you're experiencing is because your 2 feet are not exactly the same and your right foot might be slightly narrower.