Customer Reviews

Allen Edmonds Men's Soho Oxford

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're reading this, you probably already know all you need to about Allen Edmonds: great shoes. They're well made, high end footwear that with any sort of care will last 20 years. While more initially more expensive, over the course of time they may end up cheaper as they can periodically be sent back to the factory to be recrafted for $95 - uppers redyed, polished, and sole replaced with your choice of anything from their available lineup, meaning you can swap leather for rubber or vice versa if you'd like - when they've worn down after a few years. AE periodically puts the recrafting process on sale too.

The biggest non-stylistic difference between AEs and other luxury models like Alden is that while both nominally run at very steep list prices, AEs can periodically be found at substantial discounts to them. As of this review, at least temporarily, the Soho appears to have hit that level. Props to Amazon for offering first quality shoes at closeout prices.

The Soho proper is a gorgeous shoe, and currently the only oxford cap toe in their line besides the best selling Park Avenue (PA). The Soho is slightly different from the PA in two respects. First, it's on the new 0 last (called the double-zero by AE salespeople) which is one of the larger, wider lasts AE currently offers. The old 5 last that the PA has been on for 70 years is the narrowest and longest of all AE shoes, and as a result some will find the PA just doesn't fit them in any size. For those, the Soho may prove a better alternative.

It's probably not a bad idea to get fitted not just in AEs but in the actual last of the shoe you're looking to buy if you can before ordering as it makes a big difference. In general, most will probably take a 1/2 to full size down from what they wear in sneakers on the Soho, but keep in mind one AE salesperson told me something like 70% of the grown men who walk in her store are wearing shoes that don't fit (let alone knowing what size they wear!), so if you've not bought a set recently, probably a good idea to get measured. AE is the best shoe manufacturer out there, bar none, in producing models that fit non standard sized (extra wide or extra narrow) feet, so there's probably a size and last that fits...but it may take some time to find it. It's hard to pass up prices during a sale like this, though. If you're not near an AE or Nordstrom store to try them on in person, worse case, just buy 2 in different sizes and spend $15 for return shipping to Amazon if neither fits.

Second, the only downside is that the cap toe is a little longer than on most shoes. As such, it comes across as slightly more stylish than traditional stodgy cap toes, but there's a catch - you have to be very, very careful breaking in the shoes to make sure you don't crease the cap toe proper, which ruins the look and is why this is only 4 stars instead of 5. AE should have reinforced the cap toe to limit creasing, but in this case style and probably weight won out. One suggestion is to use a bunch of AE Conditioner Cleaner, unfortunately not carried by Amazon but it's less than $10 from AE directly, before even trying the shoe on as it helps limit creasing somewhat overall. Conditioner is good in any case before wearing any shoe for the first time as dried out leather is bad in general - one example: if the leather is really dried out, shoe polish can literally create dark spots on the shoe!

Still, a very comfortable, very formal dress shoe that will last for years if you treat it right. Recommended, especially at this price.

I received these shoes about a week ago from Amazon. The shoes are beautiful, and the elongated toe makes a nice, subtle statement.

That said, the reviewer who mentioned creasing on the cap due to the longer last was dead-on: Mine have already begun to show some creasing about a half inch past the cap stitching. It isn't terrible, but definitely something worth considering, especially if you aren't one to properly care for your shoes. I would *highly* recommend buying some cedar shoe trees to go along with these shoes. Some creasing is inevitable, but I've found the trees have really helped.

Amazing shoes - arrived 2 days after I ordered them online, and I live in Canada! First quality shoes, fit me perfectly (got the sizing right in store and then bought them online from Amazon.com. I would definitely suggest buying these shoes based on my personal experience > I now happily own 4 pairs of AE's with no complaints

This is a gorgeous shoe, very modern looking, better looking shoe than the park avenue. I cannot understand why is AE discontinuing these.

This is my first pair of Allen Edmonds and I got them for a steal on amazon. The style, fit, quality, etc. are all top notch, and I can tell after 6 months of wear that they'll last twice as long as the $100 shoes I was accustomed to buying. I don't know if I'd pay the $350 retail price, but I'd pay $200 without a second thought.

Very, very nice shoes, as to be expected. More modern and narrower than the Park Avenue.

These shoes are more high-styled than I was led to believe by the photos (they do no not have the shape of traditional oxfords). Workmanship looks good, except for a wrinkle in the leather beside one of the eyelets.
In terms of fit, I ordered a size 13, B width, even though I am usually a 12 or 12 1/2. I have found previously that AE shoes feel smaller than marked, and these shoes are no exception - 13 is the right size for me.
These shoes feel wider than a B width - my feet slide around too much on the smooth leather insoles, so I will probably insert foam ones to use up some of the space.
At full price, these shoes would have been a disappointment. However, given the $154 paid and the fact that I was in the US only temporarily, I decided to keep them.

At least they look like nice shoes. However, I ordered them 1/2 size smaller, as an earlier review suggested. WRONG IDEA. This is a bit more problematic as I live in Uzbekistan working for Uncle Sam. When I finally get these shoes in the mail for an exchange for my normal size, I'll change this rating. Until them, I have $250 pair of paper weights.