Respectable modern shoes that could pass...

[BigBrother]

I wanted to get a few pairs of affordable modern oxfords that could go with my vintage attire, nothing terribly fancy. Basically black and brown, probably cap toe, maybe some brogueing.

Imperative will be an all-leather sole (no rubber!) and nice would be a rubber or partial-rubber heel. This is all for the dancing I will do extensively in these .

Here are the brands and stores I have in mind (I need to try on in person before buying.):

Johnston & Murphy
Banana Republic
J Crew
Nordstrom
Men’s Wearhouse
Steve Madden
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bloomingdale’s
Stacy Adams
DSW
Allan Edmonds, Macy’s, and Nordstrom already checked out, wasn’t impressed.

Have I missed anything in your opinion? Thanks!!

 

[Turnip]

Maybe Lottusse, a Spanish brand that is widely available through Mr. Bezos all over Europe, so possibly also in US….
The pair below is double soled so maybe less good for dancing but they also got a good range of single leather soled.
The below pair has been 160,- bucks and is quite decent quality.

 

[BigBrother]

Thanks, but for me it would need to be something try-able in a store. I know it seems like I could just order online and return. But it really does take me awhile to find something that is a good fit and the correct style and the back and forth becomes really arduous.

 

[Turnip]

Understood.

Last time I ordered from amazon US it took four days to my door, just by the way.

 

[Harris HTM]

I would strongly recommend that whatever you get is goodyear welted and you use shoetrees. Avoid fashion brands and cemented construction.
Depending on where you are based and whether you can find these, and ofcourse depending on your budget, I would suggest the following brands. I own most of them and I tried to put them in price order (which also depends on the continent you live in).
Meermin
Carlos Santos
NPS / Solovair
Loake
Barker
Cheaney
Trickers
Carmina
Crockett & Jones
George Cleverley
Vass shoes
Alden

 

[ReynardTheFox]

I wanted to get a few pairs of affordable modern oxfords that could go with my vintage attire, nothing terribly fancy. Basically black and brown, probably cap toe, maybe some brogueing.

Imperative will be an all-leather sole (no rubber!) and nice would be a rubber or partial-rubber heel. This is all for the dancing I will do extensively in these .

Here are the brands and stores I have in mind (I need to try on in person before buying.):

Johnston & Murphy
Banana Republic
J Crew
Nordstrom
Men’s Wearhouse
Steve Madden
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bloomingdale’s
Stacy Adams
DSW
Allan Edmonds, Macy’s, and Nordstrom already checked out, wasn’t impressed.

Have I missed anything in your opinion? Thanks!!

samuel windsor do good stuff at a good price. theyve only ever been mail order/online and always decent about returns and things like that. Worth a gander

 

[GHT]

I wanted to get a few pairs of affordable modern oxfords that could go with my vintage attire, nothing terribly fancy. Basically black and brown, probably cap toe, maybe some brogueing.

Imperative will be an all-leather sole (no rubber!) and nice would be a rubber or partial-rubber heel. This is all for the dancing I will do extensively in these.

When I get to the dance school or ballroom I change out of street shoes into my dance shoes. The soles of which make for an easy glide across a ballroom floor.

 

[Edward]

I wanted to get a few pairs of affordable modern oxfords that could go with my vintage attire, nothing terribly fancy. Basically black and brown, probably cap toe, maybe some brogueing.

Imperative will be an all-leather sole (no rubber!) and nice would be a rubber or partial-rubber heel. This is all for the dancing I will do extensively in these .

Here are the brands and stores I have in mind (I need to try on in person before buying.):

Johnston & Murphy
Banana Republic
J Crew
Nordstrom
Men’s Wearhouse
Steve Madden
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bloomingdale’s
Stacy Adams
DSW
Allan Edmonds, Macy’s, and Nordstrom already checked out, wasn’t impressed.

Have I missed anything in your opinion? Thanks!!

Where are you based? I can think of some options, but they're all UK... no use to you if you want to buy in-store in the US, alas.

 

[Peacoat]

Where are you based? I can think of some options, but they're all UK... no use to you if you want to buy in-store in the US, alas.

Won't work for him as he is Southern California.

 

[Edward]

Won't work for him as he is Southern California.

Thanks - couldn't see any location data on there, but I figured from the listed brand-names US was a probability!

 

[Flanderian]

Among U.S. makes, Alden makes a high quality authentic traditional American oxford. They aren't recreations, they've never changed. Very solid, of quality materials, though not as finely finished as many European makes. But authentic period lasts. Costly.

http://www.aldenshoe.com/DrawProducts.aspx?CategoryID=2&PageID=8

Shoemart sells special makeups, and will have some quality 2nds.

https://www.theshoemart.com/alden-shoes/

Many British makers now tend to offer more fashionable shoes with elongated lasts. Two makers that still offer more traditional lasts are Trickers and Sanders and Sanders. Both good quality. Trickers a bit costly, Sanders something of a bargain. (I've got about 4 pair.)

https://www.trickers.com/uk/mens?cat=80

https://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/category/diplomats

 

[Edward]

Among U.S. makes, Alden makes a high quality authentic traditional American oxford. They aren't recreations, they've never changed. Very solid, of quality materials, though not as finely finished as many European makes. But authentic period lasts. Costly.

http://www.aldenshoe.com/DrawProducts.aspx?CategoryID=2&PageID=8

Shoemart sells special makeups, and will have some quality 2nds.

https://www.theshoemart.com/alden-shoes/

Many British makers now tend to offer more fashionable shoes with elongated lasts. Two makers that still offer more traditional lasts are Trickers and Sanders and Sanders. Both good quality. Trickers a bit costly, Sanders something of a bargain. (I've got about 4 pair.)

https://www.trickers.com/uk/mens?cat=80

https://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/category/diplomats

Sanders make an outstanding shoe. For my money, easily the equal in quality of anything by Trickers or Churchs, though if you're careful and look for one of the models built for military use in surplus stores, you can find a brand new pair of shoes of that quality for about a third the price of Trickers. Most military dress uniforms here in the UK haven't changed *hugely* since WW2, so...

https://www.silvermans.co.uk/collections/brand-sanders

Silvermans are by far not the cheapest, but gives you an idea of what's out there...

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Among U.S. makes, Alden makes a high quality authentic traditional American oxford. They aren't recreations, they've never changed. Very solid, of quality materials, though not as finely finished as many European makes. But authentic period lasts. Costly. http://www.aldenshoe.com/DrawProducts.aspx?CategoryID=2&PageID=8

Shoemart sells special makeups, and will have some quality 2nds.
https://www.theshoemart.com/alden-shoes/

+1 to the recommendation to searching through The Shoe Mart for seconds. As I recall you have to email a request to have website access to the 2nds. I have purchased a couple pairs this way. The 2nd shoes I easily accepted. One pair had a small leather blemish on the heel - like a scrape. Not deep and barely noticeable. The other pair, I could not identify the reason for making it a second. The leather shoes around $400 and Shell Cordovan around $500.00 are terrific buys for a shoe that will last decades.

I am not shilling any particular brand, but these are a great deal on a quality shoe.

Cheers, Eric -