Indy Boot or 500 Dollar Shoes

My wife and I have an ongoing debate about 500 dollars shoes (FHDS). Like anyone who hasn't been enlightened about awesome men's shoes, my wife thinks that spending 500 dollars on a pair of shoes is absolutely outrageous, preposterous, and ridiculous. What makes a pair of shoes worth 500 dollars? Great craftsmanship, great materials, love. I've never owned a pair of FHDS, but I know they're fantastic. There are plenty of people out in the menswear blogosphere that will attest the the greatness of Alden shoes (and other nice shoe makers, but where focusing on Alden here).

The Alden factory is located a scant 40 miles from my humble abode. I think it's a lowdown dirty shame that my wife is discouraging me from helping the local economy and a local business. This great country of ours is losing job after job to foreign markets. We've got to keep the jobs in America if this country is ever going to survive. The very fate of the nation rests in my hands. Maybe my wife is a Russian spy working for the Red Menace...

Okay, maybe I'm starting to take this a little too far.

Here is a post from The Silentist about this subject.
All pictures from Leather Soul.

Slippers

A man needs a good pair of slippers. How the hell else are you gonna walk around the house...in your socks! What the hell is wrong with you, MAN! What you need is a pair of full leather moccasin type slippers, like a real manly man. You can get a good pair from L.L. Bean or Minnetonka or you can go crazy and get a pair of Quoddys. And in the summer time you can grab a pair on espadrilles. If you're a fancy dandy kinda guy I'm sure you already have a pair of Stubbs and Wootten slippers.



Quoddy

 


Espadrilles

 


Stubbs and Wootten

 

Camp and Blucher Moc

Today's shoes are the Camp Moc and Blucher Moc. They are quite a few brands making these and it's not hard to find them made in the U.S.A. These are kinda like a go between of a moccasin and a boat shoe. Personally I'd go for the blucher moc, there a bit more manly. I had a pair of camp mocs a few years ago and I found them to be a bit dainty, it must be something about the bow with no eyelets.

Shown below are L.L. Bean, Minnetonka, and the very high-end Quoddy.


LL Bean Camp Moc



LL Bean Blucher Moc





Quoddy Blucher Moc




Minnetonka Camp Moc



Wallabes

I gotta tell ya, I'm fading a bit here. But I'm going to stay the course and keep posting for the Month of Shoes. Today's shoes are another Clark's Original, the Wallabee. I think it's funny that I live less than five minutes away from the Clark's USA headquarters in Newton Upper Falls, MA.

"Inspired by a moccasin that caught the attention of Lance Clark in the mid 1960's, the Clarks Wallabee is styled around Clarks' original nature form last. So, it's sublimely comfortable, fitting the contours of the foot exactly. But at first sight it's the Wallabee's distinctive design that people fall in love with. Simple and uncluttered, with its trademark crepe sole, it's an enduring icon in the Clarks Originals collection."

Here's an old Clark's Ad (obviously). I should have included this in the Desert Boot post.

White Bucks

The bucks are back this year if you hadn't noticed. The white buck isn't for people who are concerned with what other poeple think of them. It will take thick skin and an air of confidence to pull off these bad larrys. You'll also may have to wear light colored socks like green, light blue, or a bright argyle. However, the white buck can also be worn sans socks. Save the brown desert boots and Wallabees for your other seude shoes. And go ahead, get 'em dirty.

There are a few different price points. Bass $65, Florsheim $90, and Johnston + Murphy $130.

Adidas Samba

A great alternative to canvas sneakers. Always get black before you get white. Looks good with jeans or corduroys, and sometimes with broken in chinos but I think the darker shade pant you've got the better they look.

From Wiki:
"It has been among Adidas' most popular, best selling shoes in recent times, the second best sold Adidas shoe ever with over 35 million sold pairs worldwide, behind the legendary Adidas Stan Smith. It is produced in a variety of color schemes, yet the classic black with three white stripes is the most popular. The shoe features a tan gumsole that distinguishes it from other Adidas shoes. The shoe was first produced in 1950 to enable association football players to train on icy hard ground (hence the suction on the gumsole)."

Shoe Horn

You're gonna nead a shoe horn to help you put on all you great new shoes.

I saw these in Jack Spade (Boston) a few weeks ago and they look great, but I think Leffot has a much better price on 'em.

Picture and video from ACL, read the full story here.

L.L. Bean Boot

The L.L. Bean boot is THE classic wet weather footwear. They range from low to high and are available unlinned or with shearling or thisulate lining. I own a pair of the unlined gumshoes and I'm happy with them, although I do wish the heel was more comfortable. Getting the size right is kind of tricky. You must size down, way down. I wear a size 12 shoe and my gumshoes are a size 10; big difference.

Some other points about the Bean boot is they're quite affordable. They are also unique. And they are made in the USA.

Work Boot

You've gotta have a good leather work boot. I'm sorry, but you just do. So don't be a loser; get a pair.


Irish Setter

Thoroughgood



Wolverine 1000 Mile



Red Wing




Red Wing



Timberland




Dr. Martens



Canvas Sneakers

The canvas sneaker is another favorite of mine and there are many options, all of which are relativly inexpensive, classic, and simple. You really should have two pairs; one white and one color. And they are washable, so you can get the stink out...and that's a good thing. Let's cut to the chase.



Chuck Taylor All Star




Vans Authentic




Jack Purcell




Sperry Top-sider




Keds




Tretorn




Chuck Taylor CVO (I've never seen these before but I think I like them)




Seevees