Looking for a pair of brogues...

[davidlpope]

One thing to consider is the type of materials the shoe is actually made of and how well they will hold up. Many middle-grade dress shoes (I think most of the Florsheim shoes fall into this category) use a type of leather (corrected grain leather) that has a "plasticky" surface coating applied. Better shoes use either calf leather or even horse-hide cordovan, although cordovan is pretty pricey. These higher end shoes have all leather linings and better mid-sole construction. As a result, they hold up better over time and can be resoled and reconditioned, instead of having to buy new shoes every 2-3 years. HRH Prince Charles has a great pair of John Lobb (a very, very high end shoemaker) cap-toes that are ancient, though still proudly worn:




As the old adage goes, "I'm not wealthy enough to buy cheap stuff."

Cordially,

David