Proper leather shoes

Still going strong! Wolverine Apprentice bought 6 years ago for £8 in a charity shop in Wood Green. Used and abused by me. Cobbled a few times by my best mate Gloucester cobbler. (he fitted new collars too after spaniel pub ate one) If Redwings are beyond your budget I recommend these indestructible booties.

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Hi all,

Can anyone recommend good stores in London to try a variety of formal shoes?

For context, I'm pretty ignorant in the formal dressing world but I'm looking for a pair of shoes for my wedding. It's not going to be super formal without being completely casual. Think sport jacket, no tie, but probably not going to get away with sneakers. I was thinking something along the line of "formal shoes" with no show socks for a more casual twist for example.
My problems is I don't really know where to look as I've not worn formal shoes all that much so I need a physical shop to see a variety of options.
Budget wise, it looks like it can be pretty crazy and even though I value good craftsman ship, I don't think I'm going to wear formal shoes all that much in the future so if we can stay reasonable that's better.

Thanks,

Note: this has been copied over from the suits thread after someone recommended this one.

Jones usually have a decent selection. Selfridge's if you are feeling spendy - I went there for my wedding togs and went out with a pair of Gucci lace ups.

Barker's on Regent Street for medium spendy.

Edit - I miss remembered where it was.

https://www.discountshoesales.com for great shoes on a budget, the shop has been on Strutton Ground forever. Worth a look.

If you're not gonna get that much use out of them I'd check the proper but sensible brands first. Loake's, Sanders, Grenson, etc. With these you should be able to get something decent without spending a fortune.

If you want to take it up price wise there's heaps of options. Church's, Tricker's, Allen Edmonds, Crockett & Jones, John Lobb, etc etc

Even better for value is second hand or visiting the factory shops. I've picked up quite a few pairs of great shoes for not much on ebay, but it takes a bit of time and know-how

also https://www.pediwear.co.uk/

For context, I'm pretty ignorant in the formal dressing world but I'm looking for a pair of shoes for my wedding.

Whatever you buy, get them ahead of time and wear them for a bit to accustom the shoes to your feet (and your feet to the shoes). Having to wear painful shoes will ruin your day!

Very good advice.
Just sitting around wearing new shoes will help break them in.
And get your trousers hemmed!!!
No. 1&2 groom faux pas - brand new shoes, trousers too long.
Even though it’s casual you want to look smashing, am I right?

And get your trousers hemmed!!!

This. I don’t have any formal wear but a few years ago I started hemming my trousers to have no break at all. I think it looks better at the bottom and the knees don’t bag out.

also https://www.pediwear.co.uk/

Seconded - had shoes and other stuff (Tilley hat, etc.) from here - prices were/are good and service good also.

Informal I'd look at suede - depends on what you're planning on wearing, find it hard to recommend without this info but generally a nice pair of loafers are a good shout as these can be worn easily afterwards casually. Alternatively some smart chukkas could work - such as the Sanders Playboys.

Lots of really good advice thanks a lot!

@HarmanMogul that's a great advice! Definitely would have not done that and just suffered on the day.
@absurdbird and @withered_preacher Yes. I'm also learning a lot about fit for clothing. Turned out there's a lot of details i didn't know about.

@>>>>>> that's a great recommendation. I definitely need to go to the shop in person though because I don't really know what I like/how things fit.

@kboy My problem is I need a physical shop because I sadly don't have that "know-how" you talk about ;-)

@ChasnotRobert solid recommendations here. I think that this type of "big stores" might be the quickest way to get the feel of what's out there.

@Tenderloin I'm going to be wearing a dark green jacket and light grey trousers if that helps. For the shoes I was looking at brown as they might be easier to reuse though my more fashion aware friends were suggesting burgundy.

In London, Jermyn Street probably is the best bet. I'm biased towards Richard James as I got married in a pair of Walton loafers so I'd reccomend starting there on Saville Row (they're made by Crockett and Jones but are cheaper), then walking down Saville Row to Jermyn Street and doing the shops there (Loake, Barker, Crockett and Jones, Church, Jones etc). Summer sales I think are on now, or if not might be worth waiting until they are (but obviously buy what you really want, not what's cheap on the day)

If you have time, a trip to the outlets in Northampton could save you a hundred or so, but depends how much you value your time.

Don't do no show socks - it's your wedding, not a night out in Chelmsford. Suede is more than casual enough. And don't do burgundy, brown is much nicer and much more wearable later on.

Don't do no show socks - it's your wedding, not a night out in Chelmsford. Suede is more than casual enough. And don't do burgundy, brown is much nicer and much more wearable later on.

This all day long. And also what @Tenderloin said.

Another shout could be ordering a few pairs on a credit card from A Fine Pair of Shoes. Berwick 1707 stuff looks really decent for the price. They have free returns.

https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/collections/berwick-1707

Sounds like a grand day out to me.

You won’t do better for the money unless there’s a sale on. Loake are so underrated.

I am a big fan of a fine pair of shoes but I think their house brand Berwick may be made by Carlos Santos. If so I had a pair from them (Carlos) and returned them because the leather was so flimsy.

The snuff suede Danite sole penny loafer is a goer at that price if it’s decent quality. Also worth giving Loakes or Meermin a look at around that price point. @trevox

Go for a classic shoe in a classic material and you will be able to wear it for years. Burgandy feels very slug and lettuce, skinny ripped jeans and Reiss blazer

E17 Cobbler (Hoe St) re-soled my eBay Red Wings chukkas with Vibram cristy soles. Really pleased with them, excellent workmanship and great vfm

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Grenson sale - chose some nice tan Wendell chukkas to replace my ever wearing out cheaper versions. 50% off and very tasty!

Tried a pair of Loake brogues on this morning, a size 10 in an F fitting were perfect... So I've ordered the 10 in the Chatsworth-Lea, now I'm worried they'll be too big!!

Was afraid they were a bit too tight but thinner socks have done the trick... They feel great, like the way they look too...

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Nice! I’ve had my eye on a pair of these as well - they look great 👍🏻 lovely silhouette etc etc

Do it, they're ace!

Been looking at the yukaten website. Might start saving for these the drk brown of these are v nice too.
I keep telling myself it's an investment