Classic Brown Wingtips?

[dr.velociraptor]

Anyone have a recommendation for classic brown wing-tips? I don't want to break the bank, I'm not a shoe guy so nothing north of $250. Thanks!

 

[David Conwill]

I really like vintage Florsheims. Very well-built shoes that, even secondhand, can be refurbished and see many years of service.

If you're the right size, or just lucky, you might even find dead stock in your size.

 

[Foxer55]

Classic Florsheim wingtips. 225 bucks American.

http://www.florsheim.com/shop/style/17109-03.html

 

[DougC]

Those gunboats are great wearing. I have a pair in brown and black and have only changed the heels in three years of wearing them almost everyday.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

Classic Florsheim wingtips. 225 bucks American.

http://www.florsheim.com/shop/style/17109-03.html

Thanks, I just ordered them. I found a promo code NEXT20 (these never work, this one did) which took $45.00 right off the price, got them for $180.00 shipped.

I love how the vintage Florsheim Imperials look, but I just can't do the used footwear, I picture some dudes sweaty hoof in it and can't get over it. I just bought a used tweed jacket with leather elbow pads so I can do used, just can't do shoe used.

 

[Monte]

If a nice pair my size looks like they wore them three times to church on the bottom of the sole...I grab 'em and keep shoppin'.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Nothing wrong with gunboats from Florsheim, I have two pair and love them. There are also a few NOS/vintage and deadstock wingtip gunboats for sale on eBay and etsy, and priced fairly reasonable. I have a few pairs myself that I have attempted to find a good home for by way of the classifieds here! lol!

 

[Foxer55]

velociraptor,

Thanks, I just ordered them. I found a promo code NEXT20 (these never work, this one did) which took $45.00 right off the price, got them for $180.00 shipped.

Florsheim needs to advertise here.

I love how the vintage Florsheim Imperials look, but I just can't do the used footwear, I picture some dudes sweaty hoof in it and can't get over it. I just bought a used tweed jacket with leather elbow pads so I can do used, just can't do shoe used.

I sort of have the same feeling but like Monte says, if they look to be lightly used I might go for it. Of course, finding size 11-Wide is a bit of a challenge. Looking at some of the vintage stuff, they're all 8s, 9s, and so forth. Those guys must have been small back in the Era.

 

[DougC]

I'm with you on the pre-worn shoes; I don't bowl for a reason...

 

[dhermann1]

Just curious: I remember Florsheim when it was the number one brand, back in the 50s. Then it, along just about every US brand, went downhill drastically. Then I heard that new management at Florsheim had decided to reestablish the quality that it had formerly been famous for. I get the impression that this has happened. Is this true?

 

[feltfan]

Where is Florsheim making these shoes today?

 

[Tomasso]

I heard that new management at Florsheim had decided to reestablish the quality that it had formerly been famous for. I get the impression that this has happened. Is this true?

The current Florsheim brand is owned by the WEYCO Group which is controlled by members of the Florsheim family (5th generation if memory serves). They're based out of Wisconsin, where they have their distibrution center, but they are designers and marketers as their shoes are made by "third parties", most of which are based offshore. For instance the Kenmoors are made in India.....

 

[Isshinryu101]

Classic Florsheim wingtips. 225 bucks American.

http://www.florsheim.com/shop/style/17109-03.html

Please don't be fooled. For this price, there are MUCH superior UK makers who make superior footwear. Modern Florsheim is Chinese and Indian made garbage. Just because they LOOK like the good ones made decades ago in the U.S. they are NOT.

 

[Isshinryu101]

Then I heard that new management at Florsheim had decided to reestablish the quality that it had formerly been famous for. I get the impression that this has happened. Is this true?

NO, NO, NO!!!!! Chinese & Indian made garbage. Even the Ducky Browns are pretty terrible. Go UK now-a-days.

 

[feltfan]

Isshinryu101, which British shoe makers do you recommend in that price range?

I take it you think Allen Edmonds and some other actual American shoes are okay at the right price?

 

[Foxer55]

Isshynryu,

Please don't be fooled. For this price, there are MUCH superior UK makers who make superior footwear. Modern Florsheim is Chinese and Indian made garbage. Just because they LOOK like the good ones made decades ago in the U.S. they are NOT.

I would like to see the look of their Kenmore equivalents, both wingtip and smooth toe. The Florsheim design has classic lines in every way and the look cannot be improved upon because it is perfect in every way.

 

[dr.velociraptor]

Please don't be fooled. For this price, there are MUCH superior UK makers who make superior footwear. Modern Florsheim is Chinese and Indian made garbage. Just because they LOOK like the good ones made decades ago in the U.S. they are NOT.

Keep in mind I paid $180 for these, I know they're made in India, it is what it is, I would rather they were made in the USA but I don't need a $500.00 pair of shoes for every occasion.

If you can give me a link to handmade English shoes shipped for $180.00 I'll promptly return these and buy the shoes you recommend.

 

[jeep44]

I had that uneasyness about used shoes, but I've put together a fantastic set of dress shoes from my local Salvation Army. I'm very partial to Johnston and Murphy, having had a pair back in the '70s, but I get the impression that they are another company that has been hijacked and taken to China lately. I've picked up vintage US-made J&M wingtips in both brown and black,both barely worn, with the heel edges still sharp, for $10 each, along with Italian made G.H. Bass shoes, and even a mint pair of H & S Trask bison leather shoes,too-those for $10, too. I put a set of cedar shoe trees in them, give them a good shine, and wear them proudly. Fortunately for me, this local Salvation Army store takes in its donations from a wealthy area, with lots of former auto execs, so there is always lots of top quality old American brands to be found.

 

[Isshinryu101]

Isshynryu,
The Florsheim design has classic lines in every way and the look cannot be improved upon because it is perfect in every way.

HA! You should do their marketing for them, you sure as HECK are drinkin the cool-aid. Besides the longwing, which of these florsheim models are "classic" and "PERFECT". I stay as far from them as I can, but last I looked, the longwing was the only style they had left that was "classic".

And YES, for the gentleman that asked, AE is MUCH superior to these Florsheim offerings.

Look for Loake, Barker, Cheaney and Grenson on Ebay.

these companies all sell some wingtip shoes (both country shoes with the 2x thick sole and stormwelt of the longwing + more elegant single sole wingtips) that range from $200 to $260 USD retail. They are often available on ebay for under the $200 price tag (new in box).

OP: I reread your post from last night. AE sells a longwing that is 95% the same as the Florsheim, and is $350 new from them, but also often on ebay for under $300 (new) if you need a longwing. MUCH better to invest a few xtra dollars, as the Indian and mainland Chinese shoes will not wear well (IE: leather is cheap + construction is poor).

Anyone who knows me KNOWS I LOVE USA made shoes! I argue all the time with the EG & Lobb lovers that Vintage US shoes are just as good (and sometimes superior). This ENDS when a U.S. company outsources to 3rd world countries in order to maximize profits (at the expense of quality). Mr. Florsheim of the early to mid 1900's would roll over in his grave if he saw what is sold with a "Florsheim" tag attached!!!!!

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I can say in the past month, seeing perhaps 50 pairs of NOS/deadstock wingtips and spectators in a variety of sizes and colors, on eBay. Few of them had a price tag of over $200.00, most could have been purchased for less than $175.00. some Stuart McQuire, Bally, Grenson, Vintage "nailer" Florsheims, Foot Joys, (there are two brand new old stock Nettleton wingtips at the moment both at $99.00 a pair) and even some more exotic shoes all for less than the price of the new kenmore shoes, a few NOS vintage Bostonian even. Now I know I won't win any medals from Isshy for saying this, but, I think it would be a "hit and miss" venture to purchase some tumbled finish kenmores from Florsheim at the moment, you may find a pair that would be good, and you may find a pair that would not be so good. I would argue that the shoes are perhaps better than some of the other modern made popular brand shoes that are wingtips you are going to find in sears or a J.C. Pennys store, and Johnson and Murphy are all the same as the Florsheims are now.

If you look for some Mezlan brand shoes, you can get some decent shoes made in Spain that are actually gunboats, I have a pair myself, not wingtips but gunboats non the less. In all fairness, until anyone starts to investigate shoes, see how well they are made, and study them, you will buy what is popular or advertised and make out as best as you can. The Florsheim shoes are perhaps on the top of the list for outsourced shoes in my personal opinion for quality, as compared to china made junk. If I had no other choice, or if I wanted a pair I would risk buying them. But that is just me, and unlike many, I have so many shoes it would not destroy my day (or evening) if I planned to buy and wear them with a reason, (wedding, night out, dating, etc.) and they fell apart, I would simply toss them aside and grab another pair of shoes from the closet and it would not be so much of an issue.

I think for the most part, Isshy is trying to say, if you are going to desire a nice good quality pair of dress shoes, and that you are not prone to wearing a pair of Nike shoes with your attire, the money you spend is indeed an investment, and he knows as I do, money stopped growing on trees a long long time ago...so spend it wisely and be careful to not buy something that will not give you a good return on your investments.

Finally, as my Wife finds so many great deals (more than I do) I would love to point anyone onto a great bargain if anyone is looking, Isshy has some fantastic shoes for sale, and there are many great bargains all the time all over, used and new and dead stock. If you are looking for a pair of nice shoes, ask! Put it out that you are looking for something, and see what we can find for you, ask, please! Nothing better than to help someone really find a nice pair of shoes. You can see what I post and see what bargains we have found, the never worn nettleton shoes posted that have the weave aprons that are two toned/spectator style, brand new never worn and just as sweet as pie....$200.00 true vintage at it's finest. I have shoes I will be selling again soon, need to make room for a few other things coming into the home....but please just ask if anyone has seen a wingtip for sale, spectator, split toe, etc., and let's see what bargains we can come up for you!