I think I'm finally going to have to break down and buy a pair of dress shoes. The only time I ever need them is for weddings and funerals and lately there have been a few of those things I've needed to attend. I have a pair of Bass walking/dress shoes that have been brought back to "okay" with some polish, but I don't know how much longer that will work.

So I'm open to suggestion for something comfortable, not necessarily trendy, but also not terribly out of style, and...of course...cheap, since I'll wear them maybe three times a year. It would be nice if it could go with a suit or just a jacket and tie or even just a sport shirt and slacks. I'm guessing black is the safest, although my other pair is cordovan and seemed to go with pretty much anything. Oxford or slip-on? Tassle, box-toe, bike-toe, wing-tip?

Do they even still make those pseudo-dress comfortable walking shoes?

I still have the black dress shoes I was issued in the Air Force in 1973 & wear those when a coat of polish on my Harley-Davidson boots wont do.

Get a pair of comfortable, simple black shoes & you can't go wrong.

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[www.zappos.com]

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!#$@@$#!

proofraed by OwEn the c@t.



Nobody remembers their first download, but everyone remembers their 1st LP.

I was actually going to bring up military dress shoes. I have a pair from a navy base I got when I was with the Sea Scouts. Dang comfortable, and they have a rubber oil-resistant sole, so when the weather is crappy, I have no trouble with traction. Before them, I wore my dad's Air Force dress officer's shoes.

I always thought that the StereoTypes of men having no fashion sense was a lie, I was wrong.
You guys scare me.

BGnR
1973?!?!
Holy Crap!

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"Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!"
"If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster."
"Near the day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky."
"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."

Do military surplus stores carry the dress shoes? They sound excellent. If not, perhaps my contacts at Wright-Patterson or Youngstown can hook me up.

yeah, military surplus would be one way to go. They often get blems or contract over runs as well. Check online as well.

The "last" that they use (mold for the shoe as it is being built) is a very comfortable shape sompared to many. lots of dress shoes are narrower in the toe, and these aren't. They are square or boxy, but they don't taper a whole lot either. Should be in the $30-$40 range. I don't know if there is a difference between the different services in the shoes, but I know that the navy ones did/do come with the oil resistant rubber soles.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2007 04:18PM by Racer X.

So you won't have many wedding/funerals to attend, therefore it won't matter if your feet are in agony during those events?

Yes, Fritz's suggestion is comfortable...
, but that's if you'd like to be tipped like a Friday's waiter from 1987 at the wedding.

The good part of the suggestion, though, is Zappos. Excellent e-tailer. Easy, free returns within a YEAR.

Check into shoes by Clark's... good style, good comfort, good luck.

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"I always thought that the StereoTypes of men having no fashion sense was a lie, I was wrong. "

I'm married to my sense of fashion. She lets me know when I am OK to go out in public (or more emphatically when I am NOT OK to go out in public).

Thanks, all. I'm familar with Zappos and have even bought from them in the past. Great service, indeed. However, I'm finding the same shoes at Famous Footwear for even less money and I can return them to the nearest FF brick & mortar which is very handy. I can't bring myself to go with the black sneakers though, Fritz, although I am sure they would be comfortable.

And no jimbrady, I don't want to be in agony, but I can't justify $100+ shoes which I'm sure would have been suggested if I had just asked for recommendations for good, comfortable dress shoes.

Looks like there are some Dockers out there in the $50 range, which should serve my purposes just fine.

The Dockers Gordon looks a lot like the military shoe FWIW. A little more classic look than the others. The Bishop would be my #2 choice.

I do go the black "sneaker"route when I photograph weddings, and have never had anyone even mention them, except one groom said "your shoes look far more comfortable than mine!" I have seen other wedding photographers and videographers wear then too. But they must look new, and be in good shape. That's just me though.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2007 05:00PM by Racer X.

wurm- all three of those are good choices. While I respect Fritz's right to his opinion, black athletic shoes are NOT dress shoes.

You might want to check and see if you have a DSW near you. They have a huge selection and cover all price points so you can test a ton of shoes without having to drive from store to store.

[www.dswshoes.com]

DM

Buy a sailboat.

You get to wear docksiders with a tux with minimal headshaking and rolling eyes.

Racer X- I agree that those make great working shoes-they are entirely appropriate for the tasks you mentioned. That said, if you were an invited guest at the wedding, they'd be a no-no.

DM

well, yeah. Actually mine are very similar, but they are black walking shoes. They feel like those reeboks, but they do look one step dressier. No logos at all.

Spend some money and buy Bally.

Spend a bit of money and get Eccos. Very comfortable, look fine. I have both casual and dress styles. Best I've ever worn.

You can browse several styles here:
[www.zappos.com]

Just be careful not to go over a 3 1/2" heel or you'll risk being
branded a @#$%&. Or maybe you'd like that....

prof

Quote
Seacrest
Spend some money and buy Bally.

You can get a new 80GB iPod Video for less than many Bally dress shoes cost. I think the Dockers shoes will look fine for the few times a year you will be wearing them.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Wow, no wonder you are married. Common sense when it comes to shoes, and you like thongs!

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Racer X
Wow, no wonder you are married. Common sense when it comes to shoes, and you like thongs!

Problem is, he wears the thongs, wife wears the "Comfortable Shoes", and of course the plaid flannel shirts!

BGnR

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"Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!"
"If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster."
"Near the day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky."
"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."

i bought rockports at nordstrom for $60 not long ago, sorta casual/dressy -- very comfy

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Quote
BigGuynRusty

Quote
Racer X
Wow, no wonder you are married. Common sense when it comes to shoes, and you like thongs!

Problem is, he wears the thongs, wife wears the "Comfortable Shoes", and of course the plaid flannel shirts!

BGnR

You think Ferragamos are comfortable? And "flannel" what is this flannel you speak of?

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Oh baby, rgG in high heels and a thong.

Quote
prof
Just be careful not to go over a 3 1/2" heel or you'll risk being
branded a @#$%&. Or maybe you'd like that....

prof

LOL!

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try on some Clarks - they are the most comfortable dress shoe i have owned.

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