The Seven Shoe Wardrobe

[cody.wms]

Saw this on the Internut, and thought it was a good shoe guideline/primer. I think my set-up tends to be less formal once you get past my black captoes. For me, the chukkas, which were some desert sand Clarks, have been replaced by my Alden boots, and my next big shoe purchase will be these crepe-soled penny loafers.

What changes would you make to this set-up?

[AngryScientist]

adidas sambas. the perfect piece of footwear. equally at home on a light hiking trail, to the dive bar downtown, to the classy restaurant at night. these shoes just cant lose.

[Auk]

White canvas sneaks. . .whats the point. Zero (or damn near) arch support, they get dirty looking at them, and I just don't like em. :)

Add: Redwing boot of some variety, a nice set of Iron Rangers or 875's. Because, after all, sometimes you need to get some work done and that usually requires getting shit dirty and both of the above do quite well at pulling that off.

Delete: suede dress shoes. Just so limited in their use and with jeans. . .look like you're trying to prove something that you probably can't pull off anyway.

[christian]

The second two pairs of dress shoes should be cordovan and walnut colored. Cordo Alden Grant-last longwings and walnut AE Strands would be a good combo. Otherwise, I have no real complaints about that list. It's a bit 'obvious' I guess. Dirty bucks could stand in for chukkas, but I like my desert boots and Cordovan Shell Alden chukkas, so I'll stick with that.

And Sambas aren't appropriate for a nice restaurant.

[AngryScientist]

And Sambas aren't appropriate for a nice restaurant.

depends on the restaurant. my point being if you're traveling ultralight, and only bring one pair of shoes, you could do a lot worse than the sambas.

[roseyscot]

depends on the restaurant. my point being if you're traveling ultralight, and only bring one pair of shoes, you could do a lot worse than the sambas.

Ugh, sambas belong with umbro shorts, back in the early 90s.

How about these for simple: New Balance 565 - New Balance - US

[robin3mj]

White kicks= Rod Laver or Puma Clydes

[cody.wms]

I'm a huge fan of Vans Classics for sneakers. The simpler the better. Keds or some of the Seavees work for me too.

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[billrick]

I wouldn't change much at all. That is solid advice. Here is my list:

1. Allen Edmunds black captoes (currently shopping for Alden replacement)
2. Alden No. 8 PTB
3. Alden LHS black cordovan
4. Alden snuff suede chukkas (sockless, yeah baby)
5. Birkenstock Bostons
6. New Balance M991 gray
7. Okabashi Glides

I intend to collect every color of the Alden cordovan LHS. I am obsessed.

[cody.wms]

Ok, I'm going to pretend that all of my shoes are gone, and someone wants to buy me seven pairs of shoes, using their money. This also serves as where I'd like my shoe game to be at some point in the future. Since most of these are re-solable, you can get quite the life out of them. Also, this is based around my current set-up, where I wear a suit a handful of days a year.

1. Alden captoe Bal in Black

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2. Alden LWB - Black

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3. Alden LWB - Whiskey

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4. Alden Captoe Shell #8 boot

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5. Indy boot, Brown Chromexcel (in spite of brown chromexcel's shortcomings)

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6. Alden LHS cigar

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7. Misc. vans classics.

EDIT: Funnily enough, now that I look at it this is what I already have, mostly in cheaper shoes, with the exception of no loafer, and no captoe boot.

[caleb]

Not a bad list for going to work and kicking around the house, but a little short on footwear for doing stuff. Here are my additions:


a) Asics Kayanos

For running and staying skinny.





b) Asics DS-Trainer

For racing and going fast. Substitute flats if you're really light and have great biomechanics.





c) Red Wing Beckman 9011

Polish them and they can be worn to work most places with chinos. Will also keep you dry and upright when trudging through unshoveled sidewalks.





d) Le Chameau Chasseur

Good for hog barns, woodcock thickets, and dog walks in tall, wet grass. La Crosse makes a boot called the Alpha Burly that's pretty good too (for a fraction the price). The Le Chameaus are deerskin lined, though.





e) Russell Moccasin Company Woodcock TLC

Custom, all leather boot for walking in the woods. In a pinch, Red Wing 877s work, too.





f) Filson Highlanders - Insulated

For outdoor activities that require walking when there's snow on the ground.





g) La Crosse Iceman

Because you don't always have an icehouse.





h) White's Packers

Good ankle support, tall heels for lazy riding, and enough of a welt to keep spurs from slipping around. Leather soles if most of the day is in stirrups, smooth rubber if you're on your feet, lugged during calving season.



I could go on...

[AngryScientist]

those redwings are fantastic. i find myself in boots quite often for work. zappos is getting an order from me this weekend. thanks for the tip!

[christian]

Careful, they're like a B-width.

[AngryScientist]

Careful, they're like a B-width.

gotcha. i have a pair of other redwing boots i love, steel toe - hopefully these fit similarly.

[chasea]

Looking around my bedroom floor,
Black Cap-toes
Black Wingtips
Black Wingtips(long story)
Brown Wingtips
Black Frye Fultons
Brown RedWing 19-something-or-other
Black Keds
Grey Generic Surplus Workboot Sneakers
White Sidi Ergo 2s
Pewter Sidi Dominators

So, minus the cycling shoes and the extra set of black Wingtips, I'm in before the buzzer.

[72gmc]

I'd like to try some new makes but overall I do fine with one of each:

Brown oxfords
Black cap toes
Leather boots
Running shoes
Sneakers
Flip flops

Adidas Gazelles in blue/white are a smidge more versatile than Sambas. Rod Lavers are also great. Penny loafers have never worked for me.

[nomuse]

...New Balance 565

I don't necessarily agree with the scene, but it has given me pause to consider:

[chasea]

I don't necessarily agree with the scene, but it has given me pause to consider:

A buddy of mine knocked up his girlfriend. Went right out and bought a pair of New Balance sneakers; because he's a dad now, and what does he care?

[Ben]

A buddy of mine knocked up his girlfriend. Went right out and bought a pair of New Balance sneakers; because he's a dad now, and what does he care?

That's funny stuff.

Black cap toes
Brown perfs of some sort
Brown loafers
Sperrys - I don't think I've worn anything else this summer
Red Wings or the equivalent
White bucks, 'cause eff everybody
Another pair of brown loaders to lend to your buddy who was planning to wear Sambas to the nice restaurant

[maunahaole]

Ben, you get white bucks because you are a southern-kine gent, and ownership is mandatory for you.

oh....and to add....Puma Clydes MUST be navy blue suede with yellow stripe and turn your socks blue when it rains. Anything else is a pretender. Also send some love to classic Jack Purcells when going to white canvas. The stripe on the toe continues to be fresh.