Need some wingtip spectator help folks...

[DanielJones]

Hi all!

I've been hunting around for a good pair of brown & white leather Wingtip spectators. I had seen one thread by Zohar showcasing his custom Allen Edmunds "Chestnut" Wingtips, although very nice, I think they may be out of my price range. I checked out the Allen Edmunds site and all they had were the black and white 'Broadstreet' variety. Same goes for Zappos and a few other sites. A couple of retro sites had Georgio Brutini Wingtips but I think they have a composite sole and would like to get leather soles on the shoes if I can. So I'm not too sure about those. Daddyos.com & Zootsuitstore.com.
I have very limited respurces in the San Luis Obispo, CA area. Most places don't cater to dressing up to the 9's in a college town. It's mostly the Gap, Mervyn's, Structures & the like.
Now that I've laid out what my searches have come up with, are there any suggestions from the experts on where to look? Are there any places in the Ventura/Camarillo area? Are there any other places on-line that don't show up in the usual search queries? They can be new old stock, or new manufacture, size 10D.
Thanks for any help you folks can offer.

Cheers!

Dan

[Vladimir Berkov]

I think the Allen Edmonds might be your best bet. I can't think of a quality shoemaker that does a brown/white spectator other than them.

[Nathan Flowers]

I can get Alden's in a spectator wingtip, for around $300. They are probably a better shoe than the Allen Edmonds that I paid $385 for, though the AE's are certainly not bad shoes.

[SHARPETOYS]

I have a pair of these and I like them very much. Botany 500?Ç¬Æ Leather Spectator Shoes. I know several men here also bought a pair or two also.

http://www.blair.com/webapp/wcs/stor...roductId=27273

[Veronica Parra]

How much are you willing to pay, Dan? Give me a sense of your price range.

-- Marc

[Matt Jones]

Dan,

These might be the ticket:

http://remixvintageshoes.com/index3.html

Leather sole & heel. Been eyeing them myself.

[Matt Jones]

I can get Alden's in a spectator wingtip, for around $300. They are probably a better shoe than the Allen Edmonds that I paid $385 for, though the AE's are certainly not bad shoes.

Wow, didn't know Alden still makes specs. I may be interested.

Is this a limited time deal, or would I be able to get a pair next Spring?

[Nathan Flowers]

There is a men's store on King Street in Charleston SC where they are still sold. I was wrong about the price, as they're actually $345. The thread, with a picture, is here:

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthrea...lden+spectator

[Nathan Flowers]

Dan,

These might be the ticket:

http://remixvintageshoes.com/index3.html

Leather sole & heel. Been eyeing them myself.

I have two pairs of the Blair cap-toe spectators, and they're not bad for the price, but they don't have the flash of wingtips. They are also not made for everyday wear. If you wore them once a week or so, they'd be good for maybe a year before the nylon lining begins to tear (mine tore up pretty quickly).



I personally don't like a leather heel, like those from Remix. I like a single leather sole, with a rubber heel, because leather heels cause me to slip too badly.


The reason you haven't found the brown/white Broadstreets on the Allen Edmonds site is because they had to be custom made. I don't know why they don't just make that a standard color combination. I get more compliments on those shoes than any other pair I own.

Here's the original thread regarding the Allen Edmonds custom spectators.

http://thefedoralounge.com/showthrea...light=chestnut

[DanielJones]

How much are you willing to pay, Dan? Give me a sense of your price range.

-- Marc

VP: For right now I'm looking in the $50 to $100 just because of cash flow. But later on I could go for the $100 to $300 range.
The style would be similar to the bluchers that L.B. Mayer (in the cream pinstripe suit) is wearing in the image below.


I came across these two today:
http://www.nathanshoes.com/giorbrutspec.html
http://www.daddyos.com/retro/gbshb.html
Has anybody tried these at all? They state a leather sole, I'm presuming that they have a rubber heel. If y'all have tried them, how do they fit? Is sizing as stated or to you have to go up or down a half size? I would love to hear anyones oppinion for or against, and the why.

I appreciate everyone's input thus far. Knowledge is a wonderful thing indeed. I hope to be able to reciprocate the deed.

Cheers!

Dan