100 USD vs. 500 USD Men’s Dress Shoes – Differences Explained

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Just like with suits, there’s a huge difference between inexpensive and the more expensive shoe. In this guide, we will help you to identify what’s quality and what isn’t so you get the best value for your money no matter if your budget is $100, $200 – $400 or $500+.

Price Is Not A Good Indicator of Shoe Quality

Unfortunately, the price isn’t always a good indicator of shoe quality.For example, designers such as Gucci, Armani, Tom Ford and others automatically charge more because they have a name, no matter what the construction of quality of the shoe. Moreover, even lower-end or not well-known brands often have hugely different prices for the same quality of shoes.

Even among inexpensive shoes, the qualities can differ.

Sometimes, people just don’t wear dress shoes very often, so they don’t want to invest a huge amount of money. Other people have the money, but they don’t want to spend it, or they simply don’t know the difference, and they look at them, and they think they’re all the same.

$500 Allen Edmonds vs $100 Johnston Murphy vs Florsheim
$500 Allen Edmonds vs. $100 Johnston Murphy vs. Florsheim

Shoe Features & Quality Hallmarks

The only way for you to truly understand what you are getting when you buy a pair of shoes is to educate yourself before you buy. Therefore we outline quality hallmarks in different price ranges.

 $100 Shoes

  • Faux Stitching. Most dress shoes in this price range feature something that looks like a welt or stitching but more often than not, it’s simply glued, and the stitching is merely decorative, so it looks like a more expensive shoe. Even though there are glues in the market today that keep houses together, what’s generally used for shoes is less expensive, cheaper, and doesn’t glue as well. Therefore, soles will likely come off after a year or two of hard wear, and then you can glue them back on, but most of the time, the shoe is in such bad condition overall that it must be thrown away.
Florsheim faux stitching
Florsheim faux stitching
  • Soles. Sometimes you can see a welt at the bottom but don’t be fooled. That is probably just a Blake stitch or maybe a Blake Rapid stitch but generally not a Goodyear welt. If you look closely, it looks like leather at first sight, but in fact, it’s just a composite material that is supposed to look like leather but it’s cheaper, and it’s actually rubber. Most of the time, men’s dress shoes in this price range have either composite material that’s meant to look like leather, or you have a rubber sole. Even if you get leather, it will be of a lower quality that wears much more quickly than on a more expensive shoe.
composite material that looks like leather at first sight
Composite material that looks like leather at first sight
  • Details. Something that you find a lot in $100 shoes is that they try to fake higher end details but usually, the execution is not quite as refined. For example, on this Johnston & Murphy shoe, you have a stitched pattern at the bottom, and you can see a stitched pattern at the top, however, at the top, it’s just injection molded so it’s not a real stitch and it’s simply meant to be deceitful.
Johnston Murphy rubber sole with stitching
Johnston Murphy rubber sole with stitching
Johnston Murphy injection molded welt pattern
Johnston Murphy injection molded welt pattern
  • Inferior leather quality. Usually, the leather is quite hard and to sell the shoe for a $100 retail, the leather must be cheap. That means second or third-grade leather that is then sanded and pigmented with dye to cover up all the flaws. Even though it may not look very different than a high-quality leather when new, once you walk in it, you create creases, and the pigmented leather will just age very poorly. The pigments will come off and expose what’s underneath. Also, the leather won’t develop a nice patina; it just looks cheap, and the shoe looks worse the longer you wear it.
  • More Leather pieces. Shoes in this price range often have many leather pieces sewn together because the labor costs in Asia are low and using smaller pieces allows getting more yield from the leather. Just like in the example below, that can lead to multiple uneven seams and broguing that is not classic and simply too much.
unusual styling with three rows of broguing right next to each other
Unusual styling with three rows of broguing right next to each other
  • Unrefined lasts. In this price range, the shoe shape and lasts are generally chunky, with a large or boxy toe, and overall wide, clunky look so they fit every kind of foot. Usually, the last is one of those things in a shoe that quickly reveals the quality of a shoe because personally, we have never seen an inexpensive men’s dress shoe with a refined last.
Florsheim pigment dyed stiff upper leather
Florsheim pigment dyed stiff upper leather
  • Padded Interior. Usually, the leathers are so stiff and hard that manufacturers have to put padded foam on the inside of the shoes to make them comfortable to walk in. So when you put on the shoe for the first time, it feels quite soft, cushiony, and comfortable. However, it’s cheap foam that will wear out very quickly, and once it does, you just have a hard, uncomfortable leather left.
  • Limited Colors. Apart from that, you usually don’t have much color choice. You get black, brown, or tan, but you probably won’t find a nice burgundy shoe or a beautiful hand patina finish that gets better with age.

Conclusion $100 Men’s Dress Shoe

Basically, a $100 shoe is made of inferior materials, and will only last for a year, or maybe two before it must be thrown away.

$200-$400 Shoes

The next step up in shoes provides a wide range of materials used and construction techniques implemented. While some shoes in this price range provide immense value, other are overprices. Therefore it is particularly important to take a closer look at these shoes. In the $200-$400 section, you’ll find the Blake or Blake Rapid construction most of the time:

  • Blake construction. Men’s dress shoes in this price range are generally sewn and not glued. The most prevalent shoe construction method in this price range is Blake or Blake Rapid. Compared to a Goodyear welt, a Blake constructed shoe has a thinner and softer sole. Therefore it is most often used for summer shoes such as loafers that are supposed to be light. The disadvantage of Blake is that it lacks the cork filling, which makes the shoe less comfortable to stand and walk in, especially on a long day. Moreover, your feet are more likely to get wet from the bottom, when it is raining a lot. Blake stitching is very popular in Italy. So if your shoes are made there, it’s likely Blake. You can identify a Blake constructed show by the stitching on the inside sole of the shoe. Last but not least, Blake shoes are not easily repairable.
Blake Construction
Blake Construction
  • Blake Rapid construction. A more rarely used method in this price range, Blake Rapid is basically the same as Blake Construction with an additional leather sole attached to the bottom. It helps to keep your feet dry, and will add a little bit more comfort, but overall, it is not as comfortable as Goodyear welted shoes, while both can be repaired fairly easily.
Blake Rapid Construction
Blake Rapid Construction
  • Leather. Leathers in this price range can be very high-grade or just medium-grade, or even low-grade sometimes.
  • What Should You Buy?

    This price range can be very tricky. For example, if you take a Jay Butler loafer, it’s a Blake construction, it’s a nice leather, it’s made in Mexico, and it’s about a $200 shoe. In my opinion, it’s great value for the money.

    On the other hand, if you look at Paul Evans, they have the same Blake construction, shoes are made in Italy, the patina is very nice. However, the lasts are quite unrefined, and they charge $400 for the shoes. For $250 it would be a fair deal, but for $400, they’re totally overpriced.

    refined lasts
    Refined lasts

    Especially, if you compare them to a shoe like Cobbler Union which costs the same, is Goodyear welted, has an actual channel stitch at the bottom, has quality leather, has a good leather interior, it’s quilted, and the color doesn’t rub off. Overall, you wouldn’t know that these shoes are different by looking at the price tag, yet one offers a lot more value than the other.

    If you want Goodyear-welted shoes with a classic last at a $200-$400 price range, you probably should look into Cobbler Union, Shoepassion or Allen Edmonds. Of course, Allen Edmonds has a very specific style, so if you like a more traditional style, Allen Edmonds is the way to go.

    Breaking in the leather sole of a good year welted chukka boot
    Breaking in the leather sole of a good year welted chukka boot by Allen Edmonds

    If you want to go higher than that with finer details, there are lots of brands out there. For example, you get a fiddle back waist and simply more refined overall look. However, that category deserves a guide of its own.

    $500 Shoes

    Why buy $500 Shoes?

    • Comfort. It may take a little longer to break-in the shoe, but they’re usually made of all leather which means you sweat less, and they have a cork insole which is soft and cushiony so even if you walk all day, it’s still comfortable.
    • Leather quality. It is dyed all the way through. It has open pores that are often uncorrected, and you simply get a beautiful leather that develops a patina over time which is exactly what you want because it looks classic and elegant and can be resold. Sometimes, you also get a hand burnished finish from the factory that gets darker towards the toe. The leather lining is usually non-chrome tanned and quite absorbent.
    green and brown shoes with a patina
    Green and brown shoes with a patina
    • Construction. Higher-end shoes undergo a higher end construction method such as a good year welt or a Norvegese welt. $500 shoes are almost exclusively good year welted that means, you have a welt here on the outside, and another welt that connects it in combination with the cork and sole which makes it much more comfortable to wear. For example, this old brogue shoe here has been in my collection since 2003; it’s been to five continents, and it’s still going strong. In Austria and Hungary, you even have wood pegged shoes which is also a quality traditional method to make shoes.
    Goodyear Welt Construction
    Goodyear Welt Construction
    Norvegese - Norwegian Welt
    Norvegese – Norwegian Welt
    Wood Pegged Austro Hungarian Men's Dress Shoe
    Wood Pegged Austro-Hungarian Men’s Dress Shoe
    Sven Raphael Schneider's first pair of goodyear-welted shoes from 2003
    Sven Raphael Schneider’s first pair of good year-welted shoes from 2003, worn with Charcoal and Orange shadow stripe ribbed socks by Fort Belvedere and black corduroy trousers
    • Heel caps & Toe caps. On a quality shoe, they’re usually made of thermoplastic leather. On a very inexpensive shoe, they are usually plastic.
    • Lasts. Generally, the lasts on the $500 shoes are just more elegant, refined, and timeless.
    • Details. The broguing is nicer; everything is more thought through.
    • Colors. Of course, they also have a much larger color range; blues, tans, greens, reds, orange, and anything else you can think of.
    classic longwing brogue
    Classic longwing brogue

    If you want to learn more about recommended shoe brands, I suggest you go to our shoe guides where we sort them by style; Oxfords, Derbys, boots and much more.

    Something to remember: Even if you have the nicest suits, a beautiful tie, a good shirt, and nice cufflinks, cheap shoes will always bring your look down.

    George Frazier, a well-respected columnist for Esquire in the 1960’s, put it this way:”Wanna know if a guy is well dressed? Look down.”

    Higher-end shoes
    Higher-end shoes

    Cost Per Wear

    If you want to buy a shoe and you don’t think you can justify the high upfront cost, it makes sense to look at the cost per wear. Let’s say you have $100 shoe and you can wear it 200 times; that makes it $0.50 per wear. On the other hand, the shoe I bought in 2003 which had a retail price of $500 has probably been used for over 2000 times, that brings the cost down to just $0.25 per wear which is half of the $100 shoe.

    Not only does it cost half as much, but I also didn’t spend time on replacing my shoe. I had nice shoes throughout the years that looked elegant, upgraded my outfit rather than downgrade it. You also just have only to break it in once, and you can even play with the patina. If it’s a lighter color and you want to make it darker, it’s no problem because it’s open pore leather.

    shoe made out of boxcalf leather
    Shoe made out of box calf leather

    CONCLUSION

    So overall, don’t just look at the price but understand what quality you are getting. It’s just important that you educate yourself and you know:

    1. What’s the leather like? Is it aniline? Is it pigment dyed?
    2. What’s the sole like?
    3. What’s the construction like?
    4. What am I paying for here?

    What are your tips for shoe buying? Please share in the comments!

    Reader Comments

    1. Very informative article, Sven – it would be interesting to learn how useful other readers find it. On a parallel line, the same principle applies to athletic shoes. I don’t use them for daily wear (as so many men do), but my workouts require shoe stability and support. I am willing to pay well over $100 for quality shoes, even though they are replaced each year.

    2. I have shell cordovan AE’s for the non-bad weather days in cap toe.

      What can you recommend for the winter, assuming I do not wear galoshes, that can withstand the snow, ice, salt, and still look professional?

      The nicest rubber sole cap toe, maybe in shell, I imagine would be the best bet.

      But, I want some suggestions before investing $600 in shells if they won’t stand up to the weather.

      1. Excellent question. Oregon may not have ice & snow, but def our share of rain. I’ve even considered going BACK to using those very galoshes our mothers made us wear as school boys! When you’re dropping $400-$600, it kind of make sense.

        I’ve taken to throwing a cheapie pair of driving shoes under the front seat so as not to get that telltale floor mat scuffing. Then pop my AE’s Oxblood or Black on exiting. But being military, I’ll throw more time at shoe appearance than most gents are willing to invest. My take is, if you’re just watching the game on TV anyway..? It’s something to do w/ your hands besides mixing another drink.

      1. We ordered a pair anonymously. I wore it a few times but I did not like the last and feel of the shoe and so I donated them to a local charity shop.
        Also, I had the chance to inspect a number of other Paul Evans shoes in person at my friend Antonio Centeno last year in December. For what they charge you can find better shoes out there but at the end of the day: each to his own.

    3. Very good article. Have a look at Joseph Cheaneys made in England.
      I have many pairs they are wonderful quality and hand made
      Marcus UK

      1. Took a quick look and they appear quite impressive. Yet reasonably priced w/ good attention to detail. I like where you’re going w/ this one!

    4. “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” – Benjamin Franklin.
      As with so many things, buying the best quality–not necessarily the most expensive– you can afford is the way to go: Bicycles, wine, shirts and suits, and shoes are no exception. First, find a maker whose last fits your foot. That might take some time, but it pays off. For me, Church’s, Santoni and Fratelli Rossetti fill the bill. And once youpart with your money, take care of them: polish, conditioner and cedar shoe trees. You’ll have them to enjoy for decades

    5. My issue is wide feet and shoes fitting correctly. I wear a 6E width and have only located one firm (Hitchcock Shoes) that reliably offers mens dress shoes. Even still, the styles and colors leave much to be desired. Though my suits are all bespoke and made by a reputable tailor. I’ve been unable to locate a NYC/NY regional cobbler that makes affordable shoe lasts and shoes. Any suggestions? I admire the articles and products on the website.

    6. Hi Sven!

      Which is the red-maroon-ish knit necktie that you’re wearing in the video? It looks really good! It is a Fort Belvedere tie?

      Thanks!

      – M

    7. Have one disagreement to the above, you can’t wear a 500 dollar shoes 2000 times without the need for a resole. Unless it’s very very light wear, even then I’m pretty unconvinced.
      The cost of a resole by a good cobbler will set you back ~120-160usd. That I believe should be added to the calculations.
      Even more so if it’s a factory recraft and you have to send it to Europe or hand welted.
      And most gyw shoes last around two resoles maybe 3.. and that’s pretty much it.
      So it’s not always cheaper, but it always looks better.
      We may say a lot of things to convince ourselves to plop down 500 on a pair of shoes, but once you have passed AE lvl of quality/price ratio, it’s minimal increments.
      ie: a 500 dollar shoe is not going to be twice as good as a AE bought at 250. 20% better perhaps. A 1000 dollar shoe is not going to be twice as good as a 500 dollar shoe 10% perhaps etc.
      However a 250 dollar shoe from AE is likely to be 2x better than a 150 dollar shoe.

      1. Well, I can get a nice resole here for $60 a pop. The shoes in questions had a retail value of $500, but I bought them for $120 at a time as new old stock at a vintage store.
        Now if you buy a new pair of shoes, yes you have to take things into consideration. If you live in NYC resoling will be more expensive than in rural Portugal. I trust people can do their own math for their own situation.

        1. Sven,

          $60 is roughly what I pay. The nice older ( and rather deaf ) cobbler can’t be expected to go on forever. The man does excellent work and I make a point to pick up everything from laces to polish from him.

          From what I understand, AE ( my fave brand on your rec. btw ) averages around $150 but they throw in everything but the kitchen sink. I’m told there’s an active buyer’s market on Ebay etc. strictly for the access to their re-crafting services!

    8. Hi Sven,
      This was perhaps most informational show guide for me. I haven’t yet gone through your show guide, but now I will. I will never be looking at the shows with the same eyes again. Thanks a lot for this guide.

      1. You probably mean, factory made shoes because the custom shoes in this country are without a doubt finer and better than Alden.
        That being said, there are other good factory shoes as well. Each to his own.

    9. Gentleman’s Gazette is one-stop-shopping for information and links to and about men’s clothing. A great resource and time-saver.
      Thanks to Mr. Schneider for his efforts and his knowledge..

    10. Sven,

      I agree with your conclusion that quality shoes are the more economical option over the longer term, upon proviso that they are properly cared for. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes on consecutive days, always use (preferably cedar) shoe trees, and clean and polish/condition regularly is all it takes to maintain shoes in optimal condition and give many years of comfortable service.

      I owned a pair of Grenson’s for 15 years, albeit resoled twice during that period, although Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, claimed 17+ years wear from his pair. Unfortunately Grenson’s quality isn’t the same nowadays, but I do agree with Marcus that Joseph Cheaney make a fine pair of shoes.

    11. Solid tips SRS. And to all the ladies men – the ladies DO check out your footwear and judge you! So keep it well maintained. I was fortunate to learn early how to tell the difference of a quality shoe. Allen Edmonds are overpriced, not a good value. I’ve had several pair of AEs but their overall quality control/workmanship is not consistent and has declined. Your shoes should not squeak or make noises when you walk. Biggest tip? Do NOT buy shoes early in the day. Best time to buy is late afternoon. Your feet swell during the day. You want a true fit. You don’t want to wind up with tight fitting shoe at end of a long day.

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