I get quite a few questions about shoe options. While it would be nice to have a closet full of Edward Greens and John Lobbs, that isn’t a reality. The folks at Jack Erwin reached out to me and wanted to get my take on their shoes. They asked me to pick a pair, so I went with the standard black captoe brogues, known in Jack Erwin-land as the Noah model.
The Jack Erwin shoes are designed in New York and manufactured in Spain. They are available on their website, which has quite a bit to ensure you get the right size (more on that in a minute).
Out of the box, I was impressed with how substantial they are. They aren’t heavy by any means, but it’s obvious that these are constructed of quality materials. From a sizing perspective, they run just a touch under true to size. I wear a 9D in Alden shoes, and these are just a touch snug. I’m not going to return them and go up a size, instead I’ll get them stretched by my cobbler. No biggie.
What really stands out for me is the quality of the leather. Quite a few brands at the $200/pair price point are made of leather that doesn’t clean or shine at all. The leather on these oxfords is supple but substantial, and will take well to polish and brushing. Since these are dress shoes, they will get a lot of brushing…pay attention to the details, guys.
Bottom line: the Jack Erwins have a GREAT value proposition. You’ll have a hard time finding a better deal for shoes of this quality. Don’t forget your heel and toe caps, as well as your shoe trees. Take care of these, and they’ll take care of you.
