Where to buy proper mens shoes in the South East

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Hello Chaps! where would you recommend I go to buy a decent pair of men's shoes, the budget is up to about £250 though I could stretch a bit. I'm after brown semi brogue oxfords (aka versatile first nice shoes). It's my first foray into this type of shoes and would like to visit a shop to get my feet measured properly.

I'm based quite near Gatwick.

[geezerbutler]

I'd recommend Loake. They have two shops in London, but I think you can also buy them through Debenhams and Jones Bootmaker stores.

[prand]

geezerbutler said:

I'd recommend Loake. They have two shops in London, but I think you can also buy them through Debenhams and Jones Bootmaker stores.

Personally don't think too much of Loake, I keep buying them for work because they are sold in may outlets so easy to pick up, and cheaper (though £150 a pair isn't exactly peanuts) than the more "premium" brands. I'm always disappointed in how they wear. My Barker shoes seem to wear much better and I have a pair that I have repaired several times and they are still in very good shape. They are also good for the OPs budget.

Barker have a couple of shops in London, also sell through other shops.

My favourite shoes above all are a pair of RM Williams boots that I wear at the weekends. I've just had them resoled (they are the boot with rubber sole) for the first time in 12 years, and are as good as new now, looking forward to another decade of wear! They are pricey at £275 a pair, but have lasted so well that does seem a bargain compared to say, what I have spent on trainers in the time.

[Big E 118]

Go to Jones in Tunbridge Wells (there might be one in Crawley). They do Loake and some other nice brands.

I've always found their shoes to be excellent quality and for a High Street shop they are a notch above anything else.

https://www.jonesbootmaker.com/catalog?params=fh_l...

[Neil H]

I'm not a fan of Loakes either, I have a pair and they are not great.

As far as brands, I would go for Cheaney, Church or Crocket & Jones (the latter may be a stretch on your budget but you would notice the difference).

Have a look through the 'Show us your Shoes' thread for some tips.

[AyBee]

Neil H said:

I'm not a fan of Loakes either, I have a pair and they are not great.

As far as brands, I would go for Cheaney, Church or Crocket & Jones (the latter may be a stretch on your budget but you would notice the difference).

Have a look through the 'Show us your Shoes' thread for some tips.

You're comparing Loake with shoes that cost twice as much! As a decent, smart looking shoe, Loake are fine. If these are for daily use, I'd rather have 2 pairs of Loakes and rotate than 1 pair of Cheaneys.

[JRM]

In my experience one pair of Church's will out last more than two pairs of Loakes. OP's budget will buy him a pair and it's money well spent

[Dicky Knee]

You are probably going to get the best choice by venturing into London although as stated before places like Jones the Bootmaker and department stores will have a range.

You are going to have to try a few pairs on as they will all have different shapes and fittings. I have recently bought a couple of pairs of Barkers shape 29 which are very comfortable on my foot straight out of the box. They do a full brogue called Grassington with a Dainite sole (which wears better for me than leather soles). I also have several pairs of RM Williams boots (Dynamic Flex) which are the most comfortable footwear I have ever bought. I have some Loake 1880s which are fine as a work shoe but not my favourite-Loake have a number of ranges at different price points and not all are made in the UK.

Personally I would have a look at some of the makers websites and see what you like the look of then find a stockist so you can try them on. Barker is a good call at around £200 to £250.

[Neil H]

AyBee said:

You're comparing Loake with shoes that cost twice as much! As a decent, smart looking shoe, Loake are fine.

Except that's not what the OP wants, he has £250 to spend so probably wants something a bit better.

[AyBee]

Neil H said:

AyBee said:

You're comparing Loake with shoes that cost twice as much! As a decent, smart looking shoe, Loake are fine.

Except that's not what the OP wants, he has £250 to spend so probably wants something a bit better.

Just because you have £250 to spend doesn't mean you have to spend all of it. He's asked for decent mens shoes and Loake produce decent mens shoes. Yes, they may not be in the same league as shoes that cost twice+ more, but they're still decent shoes.

[wack]

Loake 1880 is their premium range at around £220 , calf leather and full leather linings

[HD Adam]

If you are near Gatwick, easiest option must be to head for the West End and all the shoe shops there.

Burlington Arcade, Jermyn Street etc. They will have everything you need.

[Thankyou4calling]

I'm into nice shoes so perhaps I'm not in the best position but................................

A grown man having to ask where to buy a pair of shoes!!!!

Really.

I presume he has access to the internet and walks around a Shopping Centre or down a high street.

I,m not gonna decry the guys character but how hard can it be. To get to the age you are not be able to buy a pair of shoes is frankly remarkable.

[Captain Smerc]

TK MAXX

[anonymous-user]

Shoe shops usually sell them. If you know your size the Internet is quite good too.

[Jimbo.]

£250 will see you into a pair of Loakes from the 1880 line up (on a par with one-down-from-top Barkers, I believe) with change for shoe trees (don't forget these!)

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

Thankyou4calling said:

I'm into nice shoes so perhaps I'm not in the best position but................................

A grown man having to ask where to buy a pair of shoes!!!!

Really.

I presume he has access to the internet and walks around a Shopping Centre or down a high street.

I,m not gonna decry the guys character but how hard can it be. To get to the age you are not be able to buy a pair of shoes is frankly remarkable.

I have in fact bough lots of shoes, I am merely asking where people recommend is the best place to buy high quality shoes, a lot of high street shoe shops, in my area at least, don't stock those types of shoes.

[Collectingbrass]

OP - I've had 2 pairs of Loakes that have lasted at least 5 years and probably 6 or 7. They've been polished more times than my teenage self polished my knob weekly, resoled a couple of times when needed, never worn more than two days in a row and always see a shoe tree at the end of the day, so ignore the snobs naysayers above 2 pairs of Loakes or Jones will do you just fine and probably better than 1 pair of something twice the price.

To really wind the objectors to Loakes up, I got one of the pairs on ebay mint in box after being used in a fashion shoot for £70, including postage. But I'm from Yorkshire

[gizlaroc]

Loake imho are in a different class to Barker, we have stopped selling Barker in fact.

But make sure you buy the 1880 range, or at least Made in England, nice calf leathers and excellent soles on them whether leather, Goodyear or Danite.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I am thinking either http://www.loake.co.uk/byrange/loake-1880/naylor.h... or http://www.barker-shoes.co.uk/laycock/