The Well-Dressed Man

[nicole]

Yeah, this was an argument against all non-laced shoes, basically.

I don't just want them to fit, I want them to grip. I want them to be much tighter when I'm wearing them than would physically allow me to put them on or take them off. This is why I carry a shoehorn: I have shoes that I genuinely can't get on without it.

sigged

[JD]

Shoes without laces just feel weird and wrong to me, like they're slippers or something. (Boots without laces are a different matter. I wear engineer boots about 75% of the time.) Straps..eh, maybe, but they make the whole thing feel too Mary-Jane-ish for me.

Besides, you can personalize your shoes with the lacing - I am a devotee of Ian Fieggen's shoelace site, and I've had Over-Under on my Doc Martens, Straight Bar on my Chuck Taylors, Ladder on an old pair of hiking boots, Bow Tie on dress shoes, etc. and I've even experimented with a fancy Straight Bar/Over-Under combo when I've had the chance to play around with it, although you really need a lot of eyelets to make it work.

[JasonL]

Over Under 4 Ever.

[D.A. Ridgely]

How one's shoes are tied is the sort of detail that should be left to the valet to decide.

[Dangerman]

How did you feel when your valet went with velcro?

[Andrew]

How did you feel when your valet went with velcro?

He was delighted. Velcro shoes go perfectly with tall white socks.

[JD]

A while back at a vintage store I found what I believe is a WWI-era overcoat - wool, double-breasted, with a couple odd patches on the left sleeve, "U.S." stenciled inside and "AJW" and "Arthur" written inside in ink. And for only $40!

I took it to the dry cleaners, and they were a little leery of cleaning it, pointing out that it might be dry-rotted after about 100 years, but it came through just fine, although I think the buttons are going to have to be re-sewn, since the thread is questionable.

It is a very heavy but very warm coat, with a lot of nice touches. You can close it all the way up to your throat for warmth, and while it normally only buttons to about the waist, to let you walk or run freely, it does have a button all the way at the bottom if you want to close it as much as possible. The inside pocket is mounted very high, which makes it easier to get to, and the side pockets have button-able slits so you can get to your pants pockets. The only other thing I could wish for would be a breast pocket.

[Kolohe]

"U.S." stenciled inside and "AJW" and "Arthur" written inside in ink. And for only $40!

Fancy thrift shops distributing cheap jackets is no basis for a system of government, just so we're clear.

[Warren]

"U.S." stenciled inside and "AJW" and "Arthur" written inside in ink. And for only $40!

Fancy thrift shops distributing cheap jackets is no basis for a system of government, just so we're clear.

Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system!

[Andrew]

I finally broke down and ordered some new undershirts from Mr Davis. I've been wearing some tone v-necks for a while, but I've either put on upper body muscle (so I like to think) or they've shrunk in the wash, which makes them uncomfortably snug in the shoulders and arms. I've been putting off ordering new ones, though, because it seems like I just bought these and they're in good shape.

I checked the prior order and it was Jan 2015. So I'd say the durability is quite good if you need some undershirts.

[Painboy]

I'm looking for decent looking casual shoes that look relatively "professional." A little trendy even. Something you wear with jeans. Comfort is important of course.

Looked at some discount places but didn't see anything I liked. I don't really like anything that is tennis shoe or sneaker-like. Especially the stuff that is like a hybrid of those. I generally prefer leather but I'm open to other materials.

[Jadagul]

I'm not sure 100% what you're looking for exactly. On the pro-comfort side, you might want Rockports or something like that; they're basically dress shoes with a sneaker sole, and are super comfortable.

[Andrew]

I'm looking for decent looking casual shoes that look relatively "professional." A little trendy even. Something you wear with jeans. Comfort is important of course.

Looked at some discount places but didn't see anything I liked. I don't really like anything that is tennis shoe or sneaker-like. Especially the stuff that is like a hybrid of those. I generally prefer leather but I'm open to other materials.

How much are you looking to spend? I'm a fan of the bucks and saddle shoes from GH Bass. I have a navy pair that's lasted me years, and they're very comfortable (once I replaced the insole--the Bass ones wore out quickly).

They have a big sale right now, and you can sometimes score good deals on them from DSW.

[JasonL]

I had a pair of bass black/brown saddles I wore for years. Would also recommend. They seem better made than many dudeshoes at that price point. I’m wearing ECCOs these days which are great looking and comfortable but not cheap.

[Painboy]

I kind of like these. Anyone have any experience with these?
https://www.ghbass.com/product/pasadena ... ion=204091

I like these as well but I worry they might be too dressy for casual wear.
https://www.ghbass.com/product/flex+ste ... ion=547922

[JasonL]

Bucks are inherently fussier in appearance than leather. If you, like me, tend to do things that create scuff,buck gets bald in those spots and it looks bad. Also water bad.

The oxfords would work with denim and a button up shirt but not really with tee or polo. Brown more casual than black.

[JasonL]

How you feel about casual chukka?

https://www.ghbass.com/product/radley+c ... ion=202773

[Andrew]

I kind of like these. Anyone have any experience with these?
https://www.ghbass.com/product/pasadena ... ion=204091

I like these as well but I worry they might be too dressy for casual wear.
https://www.ghbass.com/product/flex+ste ... ion=547922

I have a pair of the Pasadena bucks in navy. I really like them, and I regret not getting more colors when I had the chance (there used to be a dark maroon that looked good). I only wear them to work, so scuffing hasn't been a huge issue (plus the navy hides it some, but that grey might not). They've gotten wet (but not soaked) and been fine. Those plus jeans work with many shirt types.

[Painboy]

How you feel about casual chukka?

https://www.ghbass.com/product/radley+c ... ion=202773

I'm still uncertain about brown shoes. It's silly I know, but black shoes generally go with everything and I worry about mixing and matching the wrong stuff when wearing brown shoes.

[Highway]

JasonL does the brown shoes with jeans thing. I think it's terrible, but will wear black shoes with jeans. But he's probably a better source for sartorial advice than my engineer self.

[Ellie]

How you feel about casual chukka?

https://www.ghbass.com/product/radley+c ... ion=202773

I'm still uncertain about brown shoes. It's silly I know, but black shoes generally go with everything and I worry about mixing and matching the wrong stuff when wearing brown shoes.

I feel like brown shoes go with everything while black shoes can easily look out of place! But I am neither well-dressed nor a man, so take that for exactly what it's worth.

[Painboy]

This one is kind of growing on me. Something about the patina.
https://www.ghbass.com/product/gordon+o ... ion=201316

These might be good as well.
https://www.ghbass.com/product/huxtable ... ion=204856

Of course neither are listed in my size. Is that something that will refresh or is that a signal their not making them anymore?

[JasonL]

If you are not married to a rubberized comfort sole, the me the bond saddles are the signature shoe bass makes. All the colors are nice. The gray even looks pretty tight. https://www.ghbass.com/product/bond+saddle.do

[lunchstealer]

If you are not married to a rubberized comfort sole, the me the bond saddles are the signature shoe bass makes. All the colors are nice. The gray even looks pretty tight. https://www.ghbass.com/product/bond+saddle.do

Also if you're not married to powered locomotion, Lexus makes a number of really sharp-looking horses.

[Painboy]

If you are not married to a rubberized comfort sole, the me the bond saddles are the signature shoe bass makes. All the colors are nice. The gray even looks pretty tight. https://www.ghbass.com/product/bond+saddle.do

It's super goofy but I have issues with the filigree(?) pattern on those. It just feels too dressy to me.