Recommended by: Michael Osborne, Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
Making the case: “These are English-made Goodyear welted shoes,” raves Michael Osborne, a partner at Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP. This type of shoe is the brainchild of Charles Goodyear, Jr., an American shoemaker who found a way to stitch shoes together from the outside. “That innovation makes it possible to take the shoe apart and replace the sole,” says Osborne. “That means the shoes last longer, because the sole is always the first thing to go.” And a longer shelf life means they provide excellent value.
It’s this perk that recently convinced Osborne, a dress-shoe connoisseur, to buy a pair of Loakes in tan. “They’re beautiful and very comfortable, even when walking long distances.”
How much you’ll pay: Around $500 to $545 for a pair and around $145 to replace the soles.
Where to find them: Woolridge Shoes (which specializes in this type of shoe) in Commerce Court North or on the Laoke Shoemakers website.
Did you know? Making a pair of Goodyear welted shoes takes the work of about 130 craftspeople. They select the leather, cut it and stitch the whole shoe together. It takes roughly eight weeks to finish the job.
This story is from our Fall 2016 issue.
Photo courtesy of Loake Shoemakers.