[poetman]

Most of the shoes I see at Macys, Nordstrom, and similar stores--from Johnston Murphy to Bostonian, Florsheim, and Stacy Adams--all have the same type of label: "made in [foreign country]"; "leather upper"; "manmade balance". What then separates a $180 Johnston Murphy, a $110 Florsheim, and a $80 Stacy Adams, the name alone? How does one determine the best quality for the money?

 

[SG_67]

Construction too. I think some Florsheim shoes are still Goodyear welted, meaning they can be redrafted. Johnson & Murphy too.

There’s also something to be said for the materials used. Not everything produced overseas is crap.

I’m not saying that all Florsheim or all Johnson & Murphy are like that, but one should look beyond country of origin for a determination of quality and value.

 

[Dhaller]

Here's the thing about a lot of the department store shoes: there was a time when these were very fine brands, but at some point the companies changed hands. The original owners, often families, were shoe makers. The new owners are not.

You see this a lot nowadays with private equity groups which snap brands up. Mindblowing as it seems, there was a time (long ago) when even Stacy Adams - now absolute garbage - was a good shoe brand.

I think it's fair to say that the first step in finding a quality shoe is finding a shoe which is made by an "original owner" company, where they want to establish or preserve a reputation by making a good product. If you poke around these forums you'll find a lot of recommendations for Allen Edmonds (which I find to be a shoe well on the decline) and Alden (which is okay), but frankly, I think "American made" is barking up the wrong tree when it comes to dress shoes. There are far better British and European makes (like Carmina, which gets some good traffic around here).

I'll say too that you simply aren't going to find a good dress shoe for under $200, and north of $400 is more realistic if you're really wanting to "invest" in fine shoes. FWIW, shoes do last forever (I have shoes I've worn 30 years) if you take care of them; it pays to stick to classic styles.

DH

 

[SG_67]

I would add that the price points above reflect regular retail prices.

With some searching, one can find quality footwear discounted <$200.

 

[poetman]

I have a store credit to use, and I am wondering if putting toward a $180 JM Melton Oxford (calf leather /good year welt) is really going to be a better quality show than the $60 Kenneth Cole or Stacy Adams I’m looking at online?

 

[DWFII]

Not significantly. The whole point for those makers is to make a profit--Job One.

The whole point for you is to "save money."

 

[SG_67]

I have a store credit to use, and I am wondering if putting toward a $180 JM Melton Oxford (calf leather /good year welt) is really going to be a better quality show than the $60 Kenneth Cole or Stacy Adams I'm looking at online?

I'd argue that from a relative quality standpoint, your money is better spent with the J&M shoes than with Kenneth Cole.

 

[momsdoc]

I have a store credit to use, and I am wondering if putting toward a $180 JM Melton Oxford (calf leather /good year welt) is really going to be a better quality show than the $60 Kenneth Cole or Stacy Adams I'm looking at online?

I've had the J&M Melton. Along with being GYW it has a serviceable non corrected grain leather. A decent use of your money. The shape of the last is actually pretty good. If you had a choice, you could do better for $180, (Meermin cap toe on the Elton last for a sleeker look, or Hiro for a similar shape). But this is a credit you need to Use at J&am. You might want to consider going up a bit to the Aristocraft cap toe which I believe is called the Adler or something like that. Again you could do a lot better at that price point with Mallorca's shoes, Loak, Sanders and others, especially when discounted, but the Aristocraft line still contains some respectable products. Just a question of whether you want to spend a little more for a better J&M or put the extra money toward other shoes. No right or wrong answer.

 

[Mike Petrik]

poetman, you are getting good advice here. I know you are trying to marry your need for a pair of dress shoes with the fact that you have a department store credit, but I think you can make better use of that credit than toward a pair of shoes. SG-67 is right -- with a little shopping you can find a much better shoe for the price than at a department store. Maybe you need underwear and socks?

 

[poetman]

Thank you all for this helpful dialogue! I was trying to keep the thread more general, but since my method of payment matters, its better to make this specific. I have credits to Macys and Nordstrom Rack and would like to use them toward black oxfords. After doing some footwear research, it appears calf leather and goodyear welt are on higher quality shoes, and both can be found on a pair of Johnston Murphys Meltons at Macys. However, these shoes are double the price of other stylistically comparable shoes, so if the quality is not outstanding, then I don't want to blow my credit on them.

I am debating these

Macys
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...OOST SAVED SET&searchPass=matchNone&slotId=11

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...OOST SAVED SET&searchPass=matchNone&slotId=32

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...OOST SAVED SET&searchPass=matchNone&slotId=60

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...OOST SAVED SET&searchPass=matchNone&slotId=14

(I also am seeking a dark brown shoe, so I may grab this if you all think its worth the price)

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/...BOOST SAVED SET&searchPass=matchNone&slotId=1)

Nordstrom

https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/...madden-invest-cap-toe-oxford?color=BLACK LEAT

https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/1672969/to-boot-new-york-vanderbilt-oxford?color=BLACK

Thanks, everyone!

 

[SG_67]

You’re credit will go much further at Nordstrom Rack.

 

[poetman]

Could you elaborate?

You're credit will go much further at Nordstrom Rack.

 

[SG_67]

Could you elaborate?

The potential for getting a better deal on a higher quality shoe, all things considered, will be greater at the Rack than at Macy's.

 

[poetman]

What about the specific ones I linked? Would those be considered good quality?

 

[FLMike]

What about the specific ones I linked? Would those be considered good quality?

Unfortunately, no. The only one of those that could even be mistaken as a quality shoe is the J&M Melton. The others just scream, "cheap shoes", in my opinion.

 

[SG_67]

Too Boot NY aren’t terrible. Certainly overpriced at full retail but at the price point indicated, with a look.

Years ago I bought a pair of TBNY suede chukka boots on sale from Saks. I liked the color (snuff suede) and for the price I figured I’d give them a shot. They turned out to be exceptionally durable, even surviving two separate episodes where they were thoroughly soaked.

 

[poetman]

Are the JM Meltons superior quality to the others linked? If not, why? I thought their calf leather and good year welt would make them such.

If the JMs are NOT superior, then are the others all equally “cheap”, and I should get the least expensive pair I like?

 

[FLMike]

Are the JM Meltons superior quality to the others linked?

I would say yes.

 

[poetman]

I would say yes.

Do you think they're worth twice the price of the Steve Madden or Stacy Adams shoes?

 

[SG_67]

Questions such as worth and value are purely subjective.

Poetman,
You see like a nice guy but I really think you’re overthinking it. The J&M shoes are better made and will likely wear better and longer.

Whether they are worth twice what the others are is something you need to determine based on need and budget.