At the instigation of my better half I got some decent shoes for my son's wedding to wear with my kilt. Though they are made overseas now, I went with the Florsheim Imperial Kenmoors for $225 US. In the pebbled black leather I was going for an effect that was a little more toward casual than full-dress.



I ordered them over the phone and was lucky enough to talk to a young man who also wears them and he recommended going one size smaller on the length (down to a 12 from my measured 12-1/2 instead of 13) as in his experience the Kenmoors are built a little long.

Also this is the first time in my life I actually ordered the correct width for my feet. I've always made do with the wider shoes 'off the rack' but gambled and went with the 12C. And gambled further in sending them to my son's address in California to take advantage of the free shipping.

Thankfully the gamble paid off, they fit, and fit well.

The full-welt soles were very stiff to start with; much like Canadian army parade boots (I've worn a few pairs of those.) I broke them in slowly in and around the hotel in the week prior and finally wore them the whole of the wedding day with no problems... except for the rose petals strewn on the concrete path to the gazebo. Smooth leather soles become frictionless on a layer of rose petals. Thankfully I had my lady's arm and didn't do much more than slide a couple of inches.
I WILL be putting Topy or Vibram on the soles after they wear in a little more.