How to Buy Your First Dress Shoes in 2024 (Complete Guide) 

Happy New Year Everyone. I sincerely wish you all a wonderful day, week, month, and year as we begin 2024. 2023 may have been rough, though the sun will continue to rise for all of us in 2024 and ahead. \\\ 🌍 Companies Mentioned \\\ C.N.E.S. - www.cnes.co/products/harrison-w-oxfords?variant=42506580885694 Bridlen - bridlen.com/?ktk=d1Zkc05OLWM2NTUyNDYyMzJm BLKBRD - www.blkbrdshoemaker.com/?ktk=d1Zkc05OLTRmNGIyYmYwZTE0 Skolyx - www.skolyx.se/en/oxfords/494-skolyx-dark-brown-plain-cap-toe-oxford.html Meermin - meermin.com/?ktk=d1Zkc05OLTk0N2E2MzM3ZWUy Beckett Simonon - www.beckettsimonon.com/products/dean-oxford?rfsn=7785546.5a1e2d& Thursday Boot Co. - thursdayboots.com/products/mens-dress-shoe-executive-tan-chestnut

This channel is one hundered percent going to explode in populiraty. The only thing it needs is for you to keep making videos. DO not let low view counts stop you, and im sure you wont because you wouldnt make videos this good unless you enjoyed the process.

Your videos have f*cking great overall quality. Can’t believe you have less than 2k subs, it doesn’t make sense. Now I have a question for you, where did you hide your mic?

Becket Simonon have a several month waiting list. Wasn't very impressed with Thursday boots. Allen Edmonds seemed to have nicer leather.

Best video beginning of 2024. The competition is over after less than a day. Who knew.

i want to give you an honest opinion - i don't think the shorts are working

This information is gold @ (14:03)!

The suited up Iron Snail? I'm in! Thanks, algorithm!

Wow what a video! Love the content, humor and editing. This is some seriously quality stuff right here.

For anyone in the Philippines, for sourcing shoes, certain brands from malls are good but even better is to go directly to Marikina Shoe Stores... But if you really cant go, I recommend Bristol (Online or Mall), Marquina (Online or In-Shop), Hushpuppies (Online or Mall), Balthazar (Online), or Blackwing (Online or In-shop) for quality stitch construction and leather all under 150 dollars. (All are local Marikina rooted brands except for HP) Another time tested brand that is also mid ranged price is Gibi, they dont offer stitched construction and leather is ambiguously 'genuine leather' but for some reason their products last usually almost a decade and possibly even more. I think their tanning process is still actually good and that is why their shoes last relatively long still. MARQUINA does custom Oxfords

I don't even NEED D.B.C.T.O.I.C.W.X.Y&Z. shoes in the slightest, but watched this video, and subscribed because it was informative, and fun. Good job !

i totally agree about blake stitching it is absolutely nothing wrong with it and they can also be resoled albeit not as many times as a goodyear welted shoe. also i love that you have the deadly premonition theme in the video.

Cobbler Union is another good one if you live in the USA

Two brands I've had really good luck with in about the $300 range are Justin Fitzpatrick and Septième Largeur, both of which make their shoes in Spain. Justin is based in the US, so if you're American, he's a great option.

I own loafers, boots and oxfords from Meermin. And these 3 pairs were not stiff at all. Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪

Great video! I own an inordinate number of shoes from bridlen, and their value for money is exceptional. But I believe their Blake line uppers are cut from leather produced by tanneries within India, unlike their GYW lines where the uppers are from more reputed international tanneries.

Nice humor and good advice. Happy new year, Chris!

awesome video. Thank you for holding our hands as we step into nice dress shoes.

Your channel is amazing. Great takes that are well thought through.

I have a pair of black oxfords from Meermin that look awesome and fit pretty good, a pair of Durant oxford in borbeaux that are super comfortable from Beckett S. I also own two pairs of shoes from Thursday's but they are not as comfortable as advertise, they are both chisel-toe. Recently order another pair from Beckett S. - brown cap toe oxfords. Your recommendations are excellent. After buying shoes from these companies, there is no way I will be buying from department stores. I am a dock supervisor for auto and industrial part delivery company far from top management and headquarter office environment but need and like good budget-friendly shoe options. Keep these videos coming. I enjoy your kind of humor and good information you provide.

Just discovered the channel. Love it!!!!

Happy New Year buddy! Glad you got these other side-hustles going! New York style! I'm actually putting out a blog article on budget style. You are right: people shouldn't listen to the echo chamber that is the Internet as much to make decisions. Especially when on a tigher budget. Because according to many, you should only get a bespoke suit. Which is absolutely silly. You can look fantastic and professional with a suit from Macy's when done right. And I did a blog article on that. It's just a suit for use during more formal photography gigs. I don't want to put a more expensive suit through the wringer.... Even my even-cheaper Alfani suit, which I bought for use for photography gigs, looks great on me. And I've had it for 3 years.... I feel the cheapness but it looks professional. I agree 100% with your shoe selection. I own a few Meermins and they are absolutely fantastic. I haven't noticed break-in issues. And I've had zero issues with customer service too. Also, you CAN get Blake-stitched shoes resoled. Multiple times. But you can't resole them as many times as a Goodyear--stitched shoe. But then again, the resoling is going to cost as much as the shoe.... Probably. I also want to try Bridlen. Saw a trunk show they were at in NYC and the price and styles are NICE. I think the last GREAT pair of Allen Edmonds I bought were back in the early 90s. After that, totally over-priced (even on sale) for the quality you get. But they are a marketing machine and they get into people's heads who don't know better. I gave them one last chance a few months ago and it was just..... Bad. No. Horrible. Glad you touched on shoe care. I have a few pairs of Clark's shoes (which are leftovers from my financially broke period) but love them (super comfortable and stylish) and keep them in great shape. Conditioner and sometimes polish. I get SO MANY compliments on them. People never think I spent only $60 on them.... Sorry for the long post. Budget style is a subject near and dear to my heart. Great video and best wishes!

Just leaving my comment here hoping it helps with the algorithm and more people find your channel. You are absolutely amazing. Thank you

This is edutainment😂😍. Absolutely love this. Sub for life!

Love it!

I like your style man appreciate all the advice! Thank can see you blowing up. Peace and blessings, and bread

Thanks for making the point about blake-stitched shoes. I’ve been buying and wearing nice, well-made shoes for over 20 years. As someone who lives in miserably hot and humid weather six months per year, I have always loved blake-stitched shoes-especially for loafers. Most of my loafers are blake-stitched. Of my two pairs of summer boots, one is blake and the other is blake-rapid. They may not be “waterproof,” but it’s not like they fill up with rain. And seriously, who’s going to search for a puddle to tromp in with loafers? Great videos, btw, and great energy. Keep it up!!!

I disagree with having multiple Blake shoes over one Goodyear. I've never had a Blake shoe I found comfortable. I know they may look the same but if my feet hurt everyday I don't care about a little extra cost.

Mephisto is a good option, the Marlon or the Melchior in their GY welted category, for those for whom most dress shoes are too narrow around the toes. They're more comfortable to wear the whole day, plus they have a cushioning system.

awesome video, very educative, you are good doing what you do. great job!

This was very helpful. Going into a new industry and was totally lost. Thanks so much!

Thank you.

This channel is 🔥

😂😂😂 that intro 🔥

Support from Philippines ❤

All chance you will make a bridlen shoe review? It’s recommended by a few other channels as top quality but no one has made a video on them

Your video is great education for someone about to buy their first dress shoe.A few things to add. 1. Don't buy shoes that aren't returnable, exchangable. CNES are great shoes but yhou can't return. Just because shoes are the right size doesn't mean they fit. 2. I'd avoid blake stitched shoes if I only owned a single pair. GY welted are more comfortable due to the cork layer. Blake Stitched should be less expensive than GY but isnt worth the trade off in this use case.

I think he’s a little harsh on department stores. I’ll admit the staff aren’t as knowledgeable as specialty stores or a manufacturer’s customer service. However, good quality department stores carry well reputable brands and have good sales. I found a pair of Crocket & Jones chelsea boots for $430 USD at a department store in Nagoya Japan.

what is your opinion about firms like etiql, Haws & Curtis or Charles Tyrwhitt?

черпаем вдохновение для наших работ 🪡🧵👠на Вашем замечательном канале 🌿 с уважением, от коллег по обувному ремеслу 🔨✂ ✨ we draw inspiration for our work 🪡🧵👠on your wonderful channel 🌿 respect from collegues shoemakers 🔨✂

2:53 are these beckett Simonon cohen loafers? Did you take this photo?

Any shoes recommendations for Las Vegas

Dang now I feel dumb for purchasing Stacy Adams from jc penny’s 😢

Guys, which brands got the best arch support?

Bridlen or TLB Mallorca? I want to enjoy wearing this shoe.

hey you funny crazy Motherf++++, All your content is amazing! I wish you great success 2024 and will def. follow your journey. 👞👞👞👞👞👞

Is the Bridlen one now $251.00? From $111.00 to $251.00 in 6 months?

fun vid! hurts to see the hare on AE’s though. I have wide feet and my 4 pair are the most comfortable among my Blkbrd, Thursday, TLB, CNES, and Loake. Never paid more than $300 for my AE’s.. just gotta wait for the sale or consider factory 2nd’s which I’ve been lucky with. Also B.S. has a 3 month wait and still no wide sizes. Anyone considering their first pair(s) of nice oxfords or loafers should not pass on AE’s! especially if you’re in the States!

One big disagreement I have is on the style of shoe to get. I think derbies or monk straps are far more versatile than oxfords, as I don't think oxfords (specially in a smooth grain calfskin) go well with anything other than full suits. My recomendation for a first shoe would be a dark brown calfskin plain toe derby, and then a black cap toe oxford as a second shoe if requiring something more formal, or a medium brown penny loafer if requiring something more casual.

Thursday boots is not good quality?

To say leather quality of beckett simonon and Thursday is better than Allen Edmonds is insane lack of knowledge I’ve taken both to different cobblers and they all come to the same conclusion AE uses a higher quality leather.

Your production quality is top notch but all the forced comedic bursts don't blend well with formal menswear in my opinion. I've subbed since your first video and will continue supporting but that's just my take.

I love your channel, but I have to say three things: 1) Leather outersoles are vastly overrated and unsuitable for most people. They really are only good if you spend your entire day indoors (and they will still make you sound like the patriarchy on two legs, which is no good in todays female HR governed corporate world). Rubbersoles are much better in most cases. You do mention the issue, but I think it should be straight up advice! 2) Please stop being so USA centric. This is the internet, we are global. Americans can have shipping from anywhere without much punishment, so who cares about shipping to them? And many who would watch and follow a channel like yours are from Europe. Europeans like us can NOT just order from Singapore or India or Britain, as customs and taxes will add about 100% to prize. We can only buy from companies that have shipping from inside EU. 2) A Don doesn't wear shorts. You should know that.