Worth it? $90 VS $900 Dress Shoes || Men's Fashion Review || Gent's Lounge 2018

Today we are talking about how to find your "perfect shoe"
The shoes featured in this video:
Blake Mckay: bit.ly/2qmBbBR
Taft: bit.ly/2Dj7NVT
Santoni: bit.ly/2RuALox
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-GL
blogger dress shoes try on haul

[@void21021]

The most I’ve ever spent on a pair of dress shoes was ~$800...imho, they’re worth every penny. They’re a pair of Allen Edmonds Strand Cap-Toe in shell cordovan. I’ve had them for 5 years. They’ve been resoled twice (if that’s any indication as to how often I wear them) but the uppers look brand new! It was a lot of money to shell out up front, but I haven’t had to replace them. Reconstructing the shoe (new insoles & outsoles) costs $120. I highly recommend AE! Thumbs up for Cole Haan driving mocs, Bass Weejuns, and Thursday Boots for the more casual, less expensive route! Cheers, gents.

[@gentslounge]

Awesome suggestions! -G

[@gfbl]

Ive had cole haan monkstraps unglue on me while at work.theu had stiching sinply for appearances.would never recommend again

[@davids2206]

Sweet spot between $350-$450 honestly (Allen Edmonds, carmina, etc)

[@gentslounge]

Agreed, for those brands. If they went direct to consumer they could charge about $100-$150 less. Even at the price they are at they are still worth the price for the amount of wear you'll get out of them. -G

[@frankmai1824]

@@gentslounge check out cobbler union

[@gentslounge]

I have!

[@vindicator75]

Too expensive, I do Meermin which are run by the Carmina sons I think

[@jeremyemilio9378]

@John Pratt quality is quality,dosent matter where its from. Given the right circumstances,whos to say chinese shoe makers cant make shoes as good as the english or maybe even better?

[@jeffanco9367]

Congratulations on your marriage! I’m glad to hear you say Santoni are high quality shoes. I grabbed a pair of bit loafers on eBay for $40. They are buttery soft too.

[@AsAnAtheistFilms]

Thanks for staying a bit unbiased. Some people really loose sight of the dollar to quality ratio. I've bought cheap and expensive shoes and I am with you that the $200-$300 is the sweet spot for shoes (better if you get those shoes on sale).

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

Yay! You guys finally made it to 100K!!! Congrats!!!

[@joelpoi4664]

Congrats on your marriage George!! Loving the new hair!! Also well done for finally hitting 100k!!!

[@EscobarStyle]

Before I watch the vid, ONE HUNDRED K fellas!!!! Boom 💥 CONGRATS. Ok back to the video 😎

[@gentslounge]

Thank you! WE MADE IT!

[@EscobarStyle]

Gent's Lounge yessir!! Just finished the vid. So in my opinion right now what works for ME are Ace Marks. Quality, price and style with fit is perfect. 2nd would be Johnston & Murphy (an oldie but respectable) which comfort and price point are great for me. I still don’t own a Taft shoe.

[@gentslounge]

Those are both great options! Ace Marks sits in that price/quality sweet spot. -G

[@qarhsi]

Congrats on 100k. finally! You guys deserve a lot more support and be up there with the big guys! Also, wishing you a happy married life! Decent video btw!

[@raymondf3670]

Cool video .....and congratulations on your wedding ... And happy to see a new video

[@AverageNiceGuy]

Nicely done. Thank you 😎 I learned lessons from sub $100 loafers that don't start great, then fail within a few weeks. Just changed to $995 Santoni loafers, and $650 Santoni's that I Ebayed for $50... I'm loving the quality and Craftsmanship... 😎

[@klcrist]

George - Congratulations on your wedding and marriage. Best wishes for a long and happy life together. Great video, and recommendations on shoes and their quality vs price.

[@Harry-ic8ih]

John Lobb is my go to shoe company

[@Teddy_Gautier]

This video should have a lot more views. This is great information. I been binge-watching your videos btw lol

[@gentslounge]

Thanks Teddy!

[@douglassmith2941]

I just bought my first pair of really pricey dress shoes from Too Boot New York at Nordstroms, the quality was spot on, great fit too. The price tag was about 260 and these were on sale. I agree George, 200 to 300 is the sweet spot for a good quality dress shoe.

[@treygregory5360]

Congrats on the 100 K followers!

[@gentslounge]

Thanks John!

[@tusarahmed4694]

Congratulation for your married life.

[@shandeedwasfy5728]

Great video i love it i have a question please,can a santoni shoe or boot lasts a lifetime with proper care?

[@bTome9123]

I'm a huge fan of the AE Normandy, but the TAFT Rome in oxblood looks really good. Thanks for the topic and looking forward to the wisky video.

[@gentslounge]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIHQnGeqa8eWmpI&lc=UgzYXnzbLWPdF_kiHwR4AaABAg here it is!

[@edf2953]

I love the Allen Edmond Normandy. I am surprised at how are comfortable the Normandy Boots are. I can wear them all day and feels like my feet are in butter.....

[@leebog1914]

Beckett Simonon shoe are of great quality made to order direct to consumer. I also like Cole Hann and and mix in a few from the DSW like the one you displayed. Additionally, if you know how to polish a shoe (Thanks Marine Corps) you can make the $100 pair look like a $200+ pairs.

[@kermit1]

I would love to see a video like this for Chelsea boots since they all look very similar but have different price points.

[@gentslounge]

Check out the video before two before this one!

[@lakendallmadlock8645]

Hey gents Lounge I just inquired about my first custom made suit. And as I was choosing the fabric and I chose the birdseye navy fabric. I was wondering was that a good choice or do I possibly need to change it

[@terencehuang4409]

Could you guys please do a video about dyeing hair? I’m tempted to dye/bleach but I’m kinda scared. Any tips?

[@caleballen8862]

Congrats dude on the wedding. I like my launch Thursday dress shoes for $80. Not the best quality by any stretch but great value at that price point.

[@gentslounge]

And that's what matters!

[@omarjimenez8895]

On the lower to mid end I actually think Kenneth Cole makes some pretty decent shoes. When I've gone shoe shopping and tried on a couple pairs blindly and find some I like, a lot of the times I turn them over and they turn out to be Kenneth Cole shoes

[@lakendallmadlock8645]

Gents lounge... do you or can you wear a button down collar with a tie and a vest?

[@redx603]

I have around 12 pair of GYW and Blake Stitch (7AE, 1AM, 1PE, 2TB, 1JM) shoes/boot and 5 pair of cheap shoes and from my experience, I think staying around $200 is best (factory seconds that are on sale are highly preferred along with special campaign like AM does) If you have a good rotation and wear them appropriately most real welted shoes will last for a long time. The cheap has its place when it's raining, slush, hiking etc and there are some strange ones... my $10 driving moc from Sam's Club has the best purchase of all as no matter what I do with it doesn't die... I put some burgundy AE polish and it looks like a 300 loafer. lol

[@vindicator75]

Is Meermin better than Taft or better bang for buck?

[@BeardedApe]

Great Comparison Video 👊🇺🇲

[@otavioaugusto9385]

One hundred k!! 👏👏👏

[@gaderwren6897]

Ace Marks and Beckett Simonon are the way to go... $150 - $250. Full grain leather uppers and leather lining with Blake Stitched soles.

[@wandjulli1]

There are some Santoni Shoes for 170€ around on sites like Yoox. Are they worth it?

[@hondagame7069]

for work i recommend ae when they go on sale. for date night i recommend high end designer shoes.

[@mohamedkaram1268]

Finally 100K 🔥

[@gentslounge]

Thanks for sticking around! -G

[@yobolion20]

Crockett and Jones or Cheaney offer the best value Goodyear welted shoes.

[@stedye]

Yobo Lion I have a pair of Crockett & Jones on order. How do Cheaney compare to C & J ?

[@juanjosefermin3682]

Congratulations!!!

[@gentslounge]

Thank you!

[@apqbmsu]

Thanks for making all these videos. In regards to this specific one, I respectfully disagree. IMO there are only three options (budget, mid-tier, and high end). For the budget its Allen Edmonds Factory (2nds), for mid-tier its Allen Edmonds, and for the high its Alden. Those are it, that simple. Here is why; the first thing you want in any dress shoe is a goodyear welt. Assuming you take care of the leather (shoe cream, shoe trees, ect) these shoes will last you the rest of your life. Once the sole wears thin send it back to AE or Alden and the pros will get it looking almost new. Additionally they have different widths (dont assume you're a "D" width) and stores all over the country (AE has a ton, only a few Alden). Yes, I am aware some of these start-up brands have a goodyear welt, however they aren't established like AE and Alden. I know both companies will be around for a very long time. AE has some great sales. I would strongly suggest the Park Avenue. Alden never has any sales. Which is good since you don't ever have to worry about overpaying. The costs is around $549 for the Aldens . A few months ago AE Park Avenue Factory 2nds were going for $212.50. So you have options. Both Alden and Allen Edmonds are great U.S companies that I feel very strongly about. They're established, come in different widths, customer service is second to none, and the re-crafting process to me makes it a no-brainer. Thanks for your time!

[@bernardtan1]

Do you guys consider Rockport Shoes okey ?

[@liangchen8177]

I'd say get an Allen Edmonds iconic style for 250 during their annual sale.

[@220jmfv]

What is your opinion on patina? Is it worth the extra money?

[@gentslounge]

It's purely style. It has nothing to do with the quality of the shoe. If you like the look, it's worth the money.

[@nickb2883]

I have 25 pairs of Santoni shoes, imo they are amazing in terms of quality and comfort but I would never pay full retail for any pair of shoes, imo its best to buy the best quality you can buy on discount. In Italy the Santoni shoes only cost $ 200,00 - $ 300,00 in the outlets instead of the normal $700 + prices.

[@stedye]

Nick De Bruin where do you get Santoni shoes at discount pricing? Reply appreciated.

[@markoseries]

@@stedye try looking online at stores like 6PM. I just picked up a pair of loafers for $220.

[@vincie2100]

Congratulations

[@MultiMrMiles]

crocket and jones, trickers, andrea ventura....400-500 is imo max: topnotch shoes with a legacy, really

[@gfbl]

Carmina and vass also

[@ZipEmUp48]

I think my sweet spot is $250-$450. I love Allen Edmonds. Yeah, they're a classic style company, but if you're more flashy with color, you can always put in different color laces. (I think red laces on a saddle tan wingtip shoe looks killer.) At the same time, you could go with some double monks... They're always a great option. Plus AE has a resole program where you can ship your worn shoes out for a low cost and they'll completely refurbish them. Great customer service.

[@gentslounge]

AE great! I find their toe boxes to be a little too rounded for my taste sometimes. I think the wider you pants the more rounded toe starts to look more like it fits.

[@gentslounge]

Your*

[@ZipEmUp48]

Gent's Lounge I can get behind that! Not to mention, for guys who have a wider foot, that can look even worse.

[@gentslounge]

true.

[@johnflynn4923]

Happy married life. I would say the extra money is worth it, if you buy Santoni, Scafora or Bemer it's like buying a Patek or Breguet, you're not buying it just for yourself but also the following generation. These are classical heirloom pieces and not fashion statements.

[@anagzz9602]

Cole hann are my favorite, great video man!

[@joelpoi4664]

what do you guys think of the brand Clarks??

[@gentslounge]

Love their desert boots!

[@leebog1914]

I got some good Clarks in my shoe collection. Trust me some of those are not inexpensive $150+

[@STEViEZHUU]

Vass has so much better value than santoni! Santoni is more of a designer brand, while Vass shoes are hand welted shoes made from a small factory in budapest, and they cost about the same as well. Other higher price, but also high value shoe brands include Gaziano Girling (deco range), Enzo Bonafe, Edward Green, and many more. Santoni is one of the brands with qualities that doesn't quite match the price.

[@Andrade_USA]

Allen Edmonds

[@urbanjungle9600]

John Lobb, George Cleverley or Churchs - end of story.

[@gentslounge]

Great shoes! But also a very specific looking shoe. Quality and price don't mean much if you don't like that style of shoe! Everyone gets a hard on for goodyear welts, I think they tend to make the shoe look big and bulky most of the time.... Yes there are people who keep it slim and sleek but most of the time those shoes are very expensive. -G

[@STEViEZHUU]

Don't forget Edward green, Vass, and Enzo Bonafe

[@davidgreenman9728]

@@STEViEZHUU And Berluti

[@michaelstatia4493]

Between 200 to 500 for me. After that your paying for brand

[@gentslounge]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@iaido01]

never seen an edward green, gaziano & girling or a john lobb haven't you? they make waay better shoes if you look at the small details. are they worth the 1300 euro price tag. no! but they are better and one of the few brands you DON'T only pay for the brand

[@mnj8311]

Love all your videos, but there is a tangible, visible and clearly discernible difference between shoes in the 300-500 ~~ range like Allen Edmonds, Alden, Carmina and a pair of Crockett and Jones or Edward Green shoes. Materials, construction stitching, and so on. Hell, there is even a clear difference between Allen Edmonds and Alden.

[@gentslounge]

I didn't say they were the same. I'm just saying I'm not sure if the slight jump in quality is worth the price jump. When you could have two pairs of $300 shoes vs one $600 shoe.

[@Gamblor10]

Minimal knowledge of the shoe market. At the 300 dollar mark, loake 1880 is tough to beat. The lack of benchmarking to Crockett and Jones or Alfred Sargent at the 500-800 is baffling.

[@gfbl]

I would look at meermin and jack erwin also.thise santonis look like fatte a mano which are good but not worth $900.00.

[@TjC2437]

Common projects?

[@middknight7969]

they are best for sneakers

[@jeppep95]

Congratz

[@gentslounge]

Thanks!

[@heyitsnate1544]

1rd

[@gentslounge]

Nice!

[@ShoeShineMex]

I my opinion, shoe brands who charge $1,000 dlls or more only worth if you are in a business who are surrounded of people which image is importante for closing deals... if you are not in that world, you can get the same quality for shoe brand around 300 to 500 dlls shoes :) ... more than 500 you are paying for the name of the brand

[@gentslounge]

Agreed!

[@Clarkson350]

You can have shoes made for you in the 1000 dollar range. Off the rack for that kind of money is not worth it.

[@colinbarrineau3102]

honestly wondering if this is satire, or not

[@willjavtor]

If blake not doing GL no more

[@gentslounge]

Just out of town.

[@jasonm129]

Congratulations