$100 vs $500 Men's Dress Shoes - Hallmarks, Quality, Differences & Cost Per Wear Cheap vs Expensive
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- Learn all about the difference between $100, $200-400, and $500 Men's Dress Shoes. For a more comprehensive guide, click here: gentl.mn/100-vs-500-usd-dress...
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00:00 Introduction
Unfortunately, the price isn’t always a good indicator of shoe quality. Even lower-end or not well-known brands often have hugely different prices for the same quality of shoes.
QUALITY HALLMARKS OF SHOES:
$100 shoes
02:45 1. Faux Stitching. It's simply glued and it's there merely decorative to make it look like a more expensive shoe but it's all glue.
03:20 2. Soles. That is probably just a blake stitch or a blake rapid stitch. A composite material that is meant to look like leather.
03:40 3. Details. More often than not, the stitching that you see at the top of the shoe is just injection molded so it's not a real stitch and it's simply meant to be deceitful.
04:16 4. Inferior Leather. Stiffer leather that is sanded and pigmented with dye to hide all the flaws. It creases very easily when you walk in it and will age very poorly.
05:00 5. Unrefined lasts. They can be a little chunky, have kind of a boxy toe, and overall wide so they fit every kind of foot.
05:13 6. Padded Interior. Manufacturers put all kinds of foam inside to make it feel nice and soft to the foot. The foam wears out quite quickly.
05:42 7. Limited Colors. You get black, brown, or tan, and that's about it!
$200-$400 shoes
02:06 Blake construction and the blake rapid.
These are also sewn but less expensive than goodyear welted. The advantage of blake construction is that you get a thinner sole that is softer. The disadvantage is that when you're outside, and it's wet, and it rains a lot, your feet may get wet. Also, the lack of cork in a blake construction shoe makes it less comfortable when you stand a lot or walk a lot.
$500 shoes
01:16 1. Comfort. It may take a little longer to break-in the shoe, but they’re usually made of all leather which means you sweat less, and they have a cork insole which is soft and cushiony so even if you walk all day, it’s still comfortable.
01:34 2. Lasts for years.
01:39 3. Classic and timeless
01:52 4. Goodyear Welted or Norvegese Welt
06:02 5. Leather quality. It is dyed all the way through. It has open pores that are often uncorrected, and you simply get a beautiful leather that develops a patina over time which is exactly what you want because it looks classic and elegant and can be resold.
06:56 6. Heel caps & Toe caps. On a quality shoe, they’re usually made of thermoplastic leather. On a very inexpensive shoe, they are usually plastic.
07:03 Lasts. Generally, are just more elegant, refined, and timeless.
07:17 Colors. Have a much larger color range; blues, tans, greens, reds, orange, and anything else you can think of.
Even if you have the nicest suits, a beautiful tie, a good shirt, and nice cuff links, cheap shoes will overall bring your outfit down.
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When I was in hospital having physio on my broken leg, the physio commented how classy the shoes were on the guy in the next bed. He explained he had always had hand made shoes and went into detail about the difference, the quality, the longevity and the comfort of hand made shoes. How much better they were and how he had always looked after his feet.
I asked why he was attended physio and he replied, "my knees are knackered". Oh well!
Is that to do with the shoes though. I hurt my knees young and I'm waiting for that to catch up with me.
@@pianofry1138 I think the point of the story is that no matter how much expensive wear you have, it'll never make you indestructible, no matter how much you spend.
Maybe it's me but I never heard anyone more passionate about shoes. Thanks for the detailed info. I was looking for a good-decent brand for a father's day gift for my husband. You saved me from spending $500+ on some Ferragamos!
Just curious, I know it’s been a while since this post, but what did you buy the hubby?
And I thought $100 dollar shoes were expensive and he just ripped them apart
They are expensive. They are generally garbage and won’t last very long and will end up costing you more in the long run than a more expensive pair.
luke donohoe
"And I thought $100 dollar shoes were expensive and he just ripped them apart"
They are, I bought some leather shoes (uppers) for £15 ($20) , now that's cheap !!
I know right. I paid $40 for my loafers 😂
you can get goodyear welted shoes from spain for 150€ when on sale.
Look on eBay for quality shoes or visit your your local thrift store it may seem expensive but in the long run you will be glad you spend a little more
I've owned 4 different pairs of Allen Edmonds and can attest that out of all of my shoes in the price range, they are the most comfortable, durable, Goodyear welt with oaked leather soles, and easiest to break in. They also take on color and patina amazingly well. Nordstroms Rack often has them on sale far below MSRP. The classic styles like Oxford cap toes and wingtips are timeless and I always receive compliments on them. My current favorite is the AE Strands.
He speaks like bad quality shoes are my fault
it is if you buy them
If that’s all you can afford then what could you do but if you can treat your feet better then buy a pair. Sometimes folks spend hard earned money on things that maybe is not a good investment but good shoes are always a good investment as the development of bunions and other foot disorders are more expensive in the long run.
@@kennethflores93 there's always the used market.
@@Acemans absolutely, there’s a market for vintage Allen Edmonds and the Florsheims. And if you check out the Kirby Allison project for about $115, which is their presidential premier service, they resole using the renamed JR sole, recork and replace the gamming if necessary.
@@kennethflores93 yes Ive gotten plenty of Allen Edmonds from ebay although I've resolved mine with the local cobbler here. I like to support the local cobbler here.
Good discussion on $100 vs $500 dress shoes and great tips on what to look for when buying quality shoes thanks
Great information, have learned a lot watching your videos. I finished reading your 30 Men's Style Mistakes, next to read is Gentleman of the Golden Age. Thank you for all that you do.
Glad to hear you get value from our content!
Great video. You lay out the reasons to invest in higher quality shoes without pushing the fact. It is informative on a topic for which every gentleman should have a basic understanding of!
This is going to be a good watch. Thank you for the upload!
I've owned cars that cost what he pays for a pair of shoes
I've stolen cars worth more than the total of all the shoes he presented...
Seriously, I took the advice of the local "traditional" shoe repair person, as to the brand he now buys for himself now he has seen a lifetime of shoes being brought in for repair. Now I only buy shoes by "do your own flippin' research, mate!", for about $60 for a pair, and they have all the features of the $400 shoes praised here. So my enjoyment in my shoes, disappointingly for some, is entirely the result of accessing real knowledge and has nothing to do with the internet-web-thing. I'm not sure if shoes worth buying can be found for an ordinary price of less than $65, so selecting shoes on an ongoing basis but only buying during "special offers time" really serves me well.
Have I ever seriously considered paying $400, or the local equivalent, for one pair of shoes? No, I am not nearly that mad... Having examined shoes that expensive in the wardrobe of good friends I have no idea what my friends get out of their $400 and more that I don't get for my $60 or thereabouts. Shoes that will last longer than it will take me to become bored with them are all I need to buy. Why on Earth would I spend more?
@@towmlvb3423 You are supposed to wear the shoes to see how good they are, not "examined them." That's about as good as buying based on what you read off the Internet. If you are in USA or Western Europe $60 just doesn't go really far. Now if you are going on goodwill hunting or getting a good deal somehow, props to you, but that's not $60.
All my cars have been so...
I can get less by scrapping my truck 😂
Peasant!
cant stop watching your videos. always informative and well put together. thank you
You're welcome. Stay tuned for more to come and spread the word! :)
Very informative with a quality presentation! Thank you!!
Another fantastic video! Allen Edmonds fan here...thanks for sharing opinion on Paul Evans.
What is the smallest men's shoes you have? For a smaller person? Thanks
Can I just say what a aid to seek out
someone who really is aware of what theyre
speaking about on the internet. You positively know methods to carry a
difficulty to gentle and make it important. More people have to learn this and perceive this aspect of the story. I cant imagine youre no more widespread because you definitely have the gift.
Amazing detailed infromation. I'm hooked to your channel.
Wow, that was great information. Thank you!
Just wonderfully informative videos. Superlative information that truly helps. Also, not least, is the fine presentation performance. Thank you sir.
I so love your advice and tips and tricks.....
I previously bought some great german made leather shoes ( Derby and Oxford ) for quite cheap on ebay and later realized that they sold for over 100 Euro new. They needed resoling but after that, I got myself some real nice comfy pairs......my winter shoes with rubber soles and for summer with leather soles, because I really enjoyed the feel in walking with them!
And they are still with me and a trusted companion!
the way he speaks.....between whispering and talking normally.
Darren Kueh so?
@@Ferien7 it's a tad too sharp for my ears, especially when he says shoe, it sounds way too sharp compared to other words even in low volume but at the same time the way he pronounce his words require the volume to be above average which leads to the word shoe being so sharp that I eventually just mute it and read the captions
he did talk funny and unnatural
I really like the way he speaks! No slang, no bad words
HE is my vision of real good friend, he reflects the values of my family
@@michaelciccone2194 definitely
excellent details! thank you. I was really interested in construction, not just style.
great info. thanks for the time making this video
I loved the video, all the important points were covered. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for your support.
Great video on price points regarding various qualities of men's shoes. Thanks, Mate.
DT
I bought two identical pairs of black oxfords from Jones' in London about three years ago - goodyear welt, nice stitching and quality leather inside and out.
Managed to score a discount on them, but would have happily paid the original ticket price of £200+ per pair - still incredibly comfortable despite hundreds of wears, and three re-solings!
My grand-uncle was a shoemaker and I loved the visits to his shop. And he did woodpecked shoes although we lived at the western edge of germany, far from austria. But maybe he had roots in the austro-hungarian region I wasnt told about. There were many craftsmen in this branch of my family an in germany it is common they spend some time wandering from one town to another working and learning their craft at different places. In the end they often find their final home at a distant place from their home-town. Even today german carpenters still follow this tradition and travell the country in their traditional outfit, yet another kind of gentleman's etiquette.
Thanks for speaking about Paul Evans. I was going to try out one of their monks, will think twice now.
What a great video. well done . Thx for your expertise 🖒
You are an A☆☆☆ Speaker and very informative. Like your calm confident style♡♡ Thank you!!
Great information , thanks . Be curious about everything . The more You learn the more appreciate craftsmanship and cost .
you are really underrated. your videos are fantastic and informative. I would recommend you to any friend trying to look more stylish. Keep it up
Thank you. We do our best.
Many other men's fashion content creators I've seen are also pretentious and their videos go off topic often. Some are even openly misogynistic. I appreciate that your videos are always down to earth and focused, and that they never border on offensive. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Michael DeLaMarre misogynistic is a very over and misused word. Do you really know what that word means when you use it?
Agreed. Also, I just love watching him speak.
Great video! Very useful information.
those eyes really lock you in, stare straight into your soul. OK OK I WON'T BUY CHEAP SHOES AGAIN.
Thanks for the great tips!
I will go with Shoepassion!!
Thank you sir, I just used your advice and got some Bruno Magli shoes.
Thanks Raphael! Great vid!
Great video....Good content, very helpful, thank you.
I can relate and yet not totally. To compare: I've got ~€300 Floris van Bommel boots, they're Goodyear welted and after a lot of months the leather still didn't break and cause my heels to get hurt every single time I try to wear them (, yet the suffering can't be compared to the breaking of my boat shoes so I'll toughen up). The leather on the side however already shows signs of coming cracks, alas. I've got a pair of ~€150 brown brogues from A State of Art, these ones have a blue coloured thick soft rubber sole. Although it erodes quicker, these are still after 2 years, since day 1, my most comfy shoes I ever had and they still look as beautiful as then. It's all a bit relative. Great video btw!
Great advice. Thank you so much. M
Great video Sven, awesome tips, keep it up.
Thanks!
Thank you, sir your videos are extremely helpful.
Excellent video will follow you up sir!
I have no doubt that you are right about high end quality shoes. My favorite brand however is Clark's. They have many price levels but even the lowered priced ones do an excellent job.
Solid advice, Thanks
Thanks Raphael for all of your informative videos! I've been looking to spend around $250 on a new pair of dress shoes. I've come across Meermin and also Ace Marks. What are your thoughts on quality and value?
Great information.
Subscribed!!
Good video. Just got my first pair of Gordon & Bros boots. They are goodyear welted and are getting more an more comfy per day. And they were just above 100€ at amazon. Thx for your great videos! Hi from germany!
And every other fashion bloger is obsessed with Paul Evans :D Good job Raphael!
They do good marketing.
But our opinion cannot be bought and we believe there are better shoes out there in this price range.
I really appreciate that. I have bought a pair of chelseas from Berwick two months ago. They are around 200$, Goodyear Welted and leather looks fine for now.
DDzulian Paul Evans is good, just bought two pair.. Trying them out.. but my mainstay shoes are Mezlan and Magnanni.. Super Nice shoes
This is excellent information. Please consider doing a series for women. Most of our clothes are junk. Many of the quality brands went out of business. I’d love to see this kind of information on TH-cam.
Yes you are right back in the 70's women had great clothing now it seems it is all wear once or twice then throw away.
Allen edmonds Independence collection! I own a pair and absolutely love them! The sole does not look like it has much wear, did you just get them, or did you just have them resoled?
wow. amazing. never knew so much went into shoes
Very informative. Thank you for sharing.
You're welcome.
One of the most underrated and under-priced luxuries in life is a good shoe repair guy!
You can buy nice shoes and get them repaired / re-soled by a wonderful craftsman for a really good price.
My Gosh, This man is a genius!
This was an awesome tutorial guide.
All my dress n casual shoes are from Allan Edmonds. They're made just a few miles from home.
If you catch them on sale. Especially out of season you can get a tremendous value and have them twenty or more years.
Your suit in this video is just awesome. Colours and texture are beautiful. I have a pair of Barker Shoes (McClean model) and they are a pleasure to wear.
Thanks
Thank You. Very helpful. I am fairly knowledgeable in hiking and running shoes but clueless for dress shoes. Agree you generally get what you pay for in shoes. For sports shoes I go with name brand high end models and look for deals on previous year color/style.
Great video!
Great video, as usual. My preferred brands of shoe are Barker and Loake, I am British and I feel we have some of the best shoe makers in the world. I aspire to a pair of bespoke Lobb shoes but these will run me somewhere in the region of £4000! I would love to see a video about playing with the patina of a lighter shoe, I have toyed with the idea but I have never been brave enough to take the plunge on a pair of my Barkers.
Keep up the great work.
I sent a pair of tan Barkers to mbshoedoc for a patina job. They look great I was terrified to try it myself
I have a pair of Rockport dress shoes that I’ve worn for 10 years. Not an expensive brand but they’re damn comfortable and the leather has held up very nicely. But it’s probably time to upgrade
Awesome, thank you for making all these videos, they help me a lot.
Could you please make a video about vests - casual, formal ... ?
This might help you: www.gentlemansgazette.com/vest-waistcoat-guide/
He’s absolutely right. You get what you pay for and people recognize quality. They also recognize cheap.
I like your suit! Is it houndstooth pattern or just checkered?
Anyway, I have a hoondstooth patterned pair of dress pants and I was wondering how to associate it (what kind of shirt and jacket)
Excellent info! Thank you! Have you tried Undandy? What are your thoughts on their construction and quality?
I love the way he talks, it sounds like Anton Chigurh
Spot on
Raphael,
At 6:40 “This old brogue shoe that I got in 2003, it’s been resoled twice, it’s been on five continents and it’s still going strong.”
Ha! Nuff said! That was great!
Love the videos!
I just bought some handmade shoes from Bespoke Handmade Shoes and Boots. They were made in Pakistan so the price was relatively low, but the quality is unreal. Took them 12 days to make for me. They had me measure my feet multiple times to get the right fit. They even sent pics and vids to show me where they were in the process. These are $3000 shoes for a 10th the price. I was just blown away..
omg your outfit looks so elegant , love your tie
Thank you!
really helpful. thanks
i just got my fabi loafers. Really love them! May i ask you? Which brand do you recommend for double monk straps? Santoni? paul evans?
Just started watching this guy. Subscribed! Time to get some good 👞
:)
Picked up a pair of Aldens on e-bay. Soles were pretty solid and they're a great pair of shoes.
Bought a pair. 500 plus. The most comfortable shoe I've ever bought. As if they were made 4 me.. the shop was in Savile Row London.
My current $300 shoe is quite comfortable, the most comfortable I've ever owned. Is it worth me buying a $500 shoe if it will be more comfortable? What about $700? $1000? Who can put a price on comfort?!!
@@trevbarlow9719 it depends if your 300 dollar shoe is still usable or if you really wanna buy a 700 or 1000 dollar shoe but it really depends on you
Very helpful video. I’m a $200 shoes guy - Kenneth Cole NY, Florsheim, Hush Puppies, Dr. Marten’s, etc. I spend on Louis Vuitton leather goods but not so much on shoes. After watching your video I will spend more on higher quality shoes. I won’t go beyond $500.
I just bought a pair of British made Barker branded Oxford shoes called a Nelson and made with single piece upper from calf skin, they're very nicely made... I'm very please with them.
Thanks, great video, I leaned a lot about quality construction of a shoe!
You may have already, but a video about vintage shoes could be fun. Bates, Stuart maquire etc old v-cleats etc. Also, u used Florsheim as an example of lower quality shoe, but that wasn’t always so. Never top of the line but much much better than now. (I have a few old Imperials that are 30+ years old, re-soled ofc, but still going. Could be fun to talk about what some shoe makers were like back in the day. That said, I always learn something when I watch your vids and I definitely make better wardrobe and outfitting choices because of them. Thanks!
Always buy the best you can afford... I have many pairs of 20-25 y/o dress shoes, from Allen Edmunds, Nettleton and Johnston & Murphy brands, most purchased in the mid-90s... most have been rehabbed at least once, all have endured the 4 seasons of heat, cold, rain and snow and yet they still look brand new.... always put cedar-wood shoe trees in after wearing them and during inclement weather, I always carry a set of foldable rubber overshoes, so that I am not trashing them when out in the elements... they were classics then, still classic now....
Any thoughts on Shell Cordovan shoes? Is it something that will be a significant addition to my wardrobe?
If I got a dollar every time he says “nice patina over time” I could afford a 500$ pair of shoes.
Hey, I love how you went into details on certain brands. Do you have an opinion on the company Thursday Boots? I really like their chelsea boots and am considering purchasing them, but I'm in Canada so with exchange and shipping, the cost goes up a lot. Are they worth the money?
i love you videos,very useful ! i live in germany which shoe brand would you recommend me?
I always have been buying what I thought were decent shoes for around 150-200 euros.
And they had all the issues you described. Creases after a while. Discoloration. Seams or the sole might even start to wear out etc. Usually though they just became uncomfortable to wear. Never considered repairing them because they already looked so worn.
That's also why I never bought more expensive shoes because I always assumed they would have the same issues and lifetime. Might try it out on my next purchase.
Yes I'll be sticking with the $20 shoe thank you very much
Before you do, think about the cost per wear
I recommend Crockett & Jones, Church’s, Loake and Joseph Cheaney & Sons. Those are the ones I love.
Your videos are inspiring!
Started watching your videos recently, Mr. Schneider. Very informative! What is your personal opinion though, on a Lower range shoe brand, such as Clarks?
Waste of money.
"Corken sole" (title at 1:24)! Sounds like a specialty of the Swedish Chef. Bork, bork, bork!
I just bought my first pair of Allen Edmonds and compared to Chaps and other cheap brands you can easily tell the difference. One caveat is you can find Goodyear welted shoes for a lot less so it isn't indicative of a quality shoe. Dr. Martens MSRP for most shoes is under $150 U.S. and they are Goodyear Welted.
Also a rubber sole in and of itself is not always indicative of a cheap shoe. Many manufactures offer Vibram or Danite soles on their shoes. You need something for rain and snow, see LGA Wingtips from AE.
With a bit of work, it's plausible for someone on a budget to get quality made $200-$300 shoes. Allen Edmonds can be found for
In my country custom Blake skitch shoes cost only around $70 and bespoke Goodyear welted only cost around $350
Would it be possible for you to do a video for your “is it worth” series on Bottega veneta?
While I am one who always opts to save as much as I can on purchases, it does not apply to dress shoes. You really get what you pay for with dress shoes and it is a lesson my feet have learnt the hard way. The most expensive ones are also the most comfy and last the longest and in the long run end up being cheaper. I recommend shelling out a bit more to get proper, comfortable, long lasting dress shoes for sure.
Hi, very interesting video. Is Floris van Bommel a brand you would recommend. I personally love their shoes.
beautiful video :) interesting
When I want expert knowledge, from one of the most well known American Shoe Salesman, I go to see Al Bundy!
British made shoes > American
Try a pair of EG:s
Hi Rapharl what are your thoughts on stefano borella shoes?
Years back when I didn't know any better, I spent hundreds on Ferragamo loafers that had rubber soles, thinking they were high quality. The rubber literally crumbled a few years later. As mentioned, big brands aren't always better. Know what makes a quality shoe to make informed decisions.
I've had an $80 pair of Stacy Adams for about 12 years and still going strong. Just bought another pairs of SA. Comfort is subjective and more expensive doesn't mean more comfortable. I think if you spend $500 on your shoes you aren't going to look to keep them for forever. I understand what he means about the shoes and he is correct but most people just need dress shoes that are good enough
Comfort isn't really subjective though. Nice shoes are really more comfortable. I wonder if you have actually tried on $500 shoes - if you do you wouldn't be making this statement. Go to poorer countries and you can have bespoke shoes for $500 - the fit is important IMO.
Whether $500 are worth the extra comfort is another thing.
Dat Dinh Agree. Expensive doesn't mean comfort or quality. I've settled on two brands (because they have my size/14 US): Cobbler Union and Carmina. If anyone thinks there's not a difference in feel, look and style they haven't tried those shoes.
$500 shoes can(emphasis on can)be far more comfortable. Stacy Adam's are really comfortable and if you're buying new and only wearing for special occasions they aren't a terrible choice. Still Allen Edmonds are super easy to find on sites like eBay for $80 new returns and around $50 (and often under) for quality barely used pairs. They do mold to your foot more because of the leather used and the insole and that can make them more comfortable. Doesn't mean that memory foam isn't nicer for people who only use them occasionally and don't break shoes in.
Thanks for the info. Any thoughts on Paul Parkman?