I have been looking for a nice pair of dress shoes. Black lace up. I picked up a few and noticed that they were made in China! WTF!
What brand do you like?
I like Bates, http://www.batesfootwear.com/US/en-us/Gallery.mvc.aspx/G-F/Shoes?feature_PTYP=1070 , their dress shoes are “assembled in the US”. Their boots are wicked comfortable, wear out semi fast, but are damn comfortable.
Allen Edmonds. Good looks, cork bed, factory refurbs etc etc etc.
Johnston and Murphy makes good stuff. Not sure on where they are made since I have one pair that was made in Italy and the other 4 pairs I am not sure where they were made. One pair I just replaced in june lasted 4 years of uniform wear walking through all kinds of nastyness 16 days a month.
Johnston & Murphy or Bostonian. No idea where they are made or assembled, but they have offered me years of good service.
Shivan- So many things you and I are similar on. That’s no smoke blowing. I may be your brother from another mother(or father). Good luck with both. I have found my shoe needs/likes align quite closely w/Brooks Bros. selection. Buy once, cry once was never so appropriate. A quality pair of shoes can last many years.
Ecco Austin April Toe Ties. Extremely comfortable, rubber soles. I had a pair of Rockports that caused shooting pains in my feet waiting around in court or on my feet teaching all day. Mine say made in Slovakia on the label.
These Eccos are as comfortable as my Mephistos and Havana Joes. I’ve worn them while teaching on my feet all day with no discomfort or fatigue. You can get them at a local Nordstrom. Their service is all it’s cracked up to be.
Cole-Haan, Johnson and Murphy are my favorite top tier shoes; for more comfort and better cold weather soles, Rockport.
I have several pairs of Johnston Murphy’s and they are nice shoes, but you have to be careful about where the shoes are made. They have a few different lines with their top of the line stuff being made in Italy and their lower lines being made in China and Mexico.
My question is what are you going to be doing in these shoes?
Getting a pair of shoes to go with a suit you wear to weddings & funeral is going to be different than buying a shoe that a plainclothes detective would need.
“In 1892, Milton Florsheim began producing shoes in a small factory located in Chicago, Illinois…”
I haven’t purchased a pair in awhile since they tend to last me a long time (not prone to frequent “dress shoes” often;)). Every pair I’ve had fit well, were comfortable, and lasted. In all honesty I’m not sure if their construction has been farmed out to Mexico or China, but at one time they were made right here in the good ole USA. But then so were soooooo many other things also.:rolleyes:
Rockport “Ellington’s” are the most comfortable dress shoes I’ve owned.
I have some Clarks that I wear for work, but second the suggestion of Cole-Haan.
SAS. Made in the USA and VERY comfortable:
http://www.sasshoes.com/main/view_styles_catalog.php?catid=2
Yea I was looking at the Johnston & Murphy Shoes. I was just worried that they were made in China. I just can not bring myself to pay $150 - $250 on a pair of shoes made in China. Same goes for boots. I have a pair of 511’s that I paid $120 for and then realized that they were also made in China. Like the Chief said what isn’t made in China anymore.
I do like those ECCO shoes. I want to try a pair on.
Bostonian are nice but not to overpriced.
Crocs 
If you are going to actually work and stand (trade shows, floor sales), Rockports.
If you are looking for a dress shoe for office work or playing dress-up at the wife’s orders, Johnston and Murphy - and frankly buy the most expensive pair that you like the looks of and can almost stomache the price of. The bare minimum is that they be re-sole-able. $100 shoes you can’t resole get expensive over time, $150 re-sole shoes can last a lifetime, and if they are going to last a lifetime, you might as well get the $250 pair with the ‘trampoline’ system.
Be sure to put WOOD shoe trees in them when you aren’t wearing them.
If running and mobility are not driving the train- allen edmunds.
if such physical activities are- then rockport or the allen edmunds above resoled with rubber.
Allen Edmonds are nice but overpriced for what you get IMO.
Johnston & Murphy are the best mix of quality and price. You can often find them at Filene’s for a nice price.
I have a pair of Mephisto shoes which are fantastic but are an investment, they have also lasted 15 years.
Bass or Bostonian are nice alternatives for less money than either.
Dead Hands what are wood trees?