An essential component of the bride’s look on her wedding day are her shoes. Whether a blue pair of high-heeled Christian Louboutins, or Badgely Mischka flat sandals, footwear makes an important statement on the big day, and is often the subject of a great photo. The shoes practically define the style, completing the statement of the dress, with its form, luxury, and personality. It’s not always that the groom gets this concentrated attention, but they should, especially now that bespoke suits are hotter than ever.
Among the finest shoemakers in the last century is Allen Edmonds, inventing timeless style, precision in its quality, and unrivaled comfort. An American company with a mission to create the perfect, long-lasting pair, there is simply no finer footwear for the groom than Allen Edmonds, as he dances with his bride at their wedding.
Sophisticated Weddings: New York Edition had the opportunity to do a Q&A with Allen Edmonds Chief Marketing Officer, Colin Hall. Check out his insightful and informative thoughts below!
SW: There are many different natures of occasions for weddings, from casual to black tie. How versatile is the Allen Edmonds brand for catering to these different dressing needs for men?
Providing great footwear to carry a man through the week is in our history, the company’s DNA. We started in 1922, a time when most men’s shoe wardrobes consisted of one pair of black oxfords. Allen Edmonds’ offerings have grown with the tastes of the men we serve. We know men can still create professional and versatile wardrobes from a single pair of black lace-ups, but we chose to expand our line to include a wide selection of styles and colors to suit individual style and expression. When fashion and cultural trends promoted the lowly brown shoe from the farm to the boardroom, we were there making beautiful walnut wingtips. More than any other factor, quality determines the wearability and versatility of men’s shoes. Our handcrafted Goodyear-welted shoes complement nearly any look and almost any occasion. Our timeless classics like the Park Avenue can move effortlessly from the office to the gala. Quality and craftsmanship are what sets Allen Edmonds shoes apart and makes them versatile.
SW: Who is the Allen Edmonds man?
Allen Edmonds was founded 91 years ago with a simple mission to create high quality and comfortable shoes for hard working, professional men. From the beginning, we made shoes that are considerably more flexible and comfortable than any other dress shoe by using a cork layer in the footbed that literally forms to the wearer’s unique foot shape. It’s because of that legacy of great quality, comfort, service and value that our company has thrived. We are dedicated to the many artisans and craftspeople in this country who skillfully craft our products. We’ve made a commitment to help restore our legacy as a nation of proud makers and builders. Today, less than 2% of shoes and apparel bought in the U.S. are made in this country. Allen Edmonds bucks that trend by crafting exquisite and timeless pieces right here, between the earth’s two largest ocean and not across them.
SW: Why is Allen Edmonds the shoe of choice for grooms as they gear up for the wedding day?
Milestones in a man’s life are key times when men discover Allen Edmonds. Interviews, graduations and wedding days are times when a young man literally steps up to Allen Edmonds as a rite of passage. Once a young man wears his first pair, he tends to be a lifelong customer.
Allen Edmonds handcrafts Goodyear welted shoes using a 212-step process. We offer nearly 350 styles on a wide selection of lasts and in a large range of sizes from 6 to 16 and widths from very narrow to extra-wide. To make sure that men are properly sized, Master Fitters carefully measure and advise customers in Allen Edmonds stores. For the men who want to make and even bigger statement at their wedding or any other day, we can create custom shoes that allow customers to select leathers, colors, and soles.
Another important aspect of Allen Edmonds is our legendary Recrafting service. We recraft nearly 60,000 pairs annually making us the “World’s Largest Cobbler.” By removing and replacing a worn outsole and cork footbed, Recrafting restores a shoe to like-new condition allowing men to wear Allen Edmonds shoes for many years. We hear stories from customers about how they wore their father’s wedding shoes at their own wedding.
To learn more about the Allen Edmonds brand, and find a retailer near you, visit www.AllenEdmonds.com.