Going Brogue, Not Broke
Can’t muster the $600 for brand new wingtips? A used pair can tide you over until you’re ready to splurge. Give them a good shine and outfit them with cedar shoe trees (because the last guy probably didn’t). I grabbed these Cole Haan wingtips for $20 at a little thrift store called eBay. Wear them with jeans and your favorite button down oxford—the intrinsic character of your new-to-you kick-around brogues will take care of the rest.
Buy used and finish what the other guy started
left a comment on 3/6/2010 at 11:41 PM:
I procured a gently used pair of black A.E. wingtips on Ebay last winter for about $20 and rocked ‘em with my H&M jeans ever since,I get tons of comments ,some complimentary and some less so….this Winter I spent $18 on English heels,and now they look really good,also due to the fact I insist on Woodlore shoe trees and Meltonian shoe cream-holla!
left a comment on 2/23/2010 at 1:14 PM:
KGS—I suppose I could re-craft these brogues. I guess it’s just my prerogative, but I just simply don’t want to…it might detract from the luster of the $20 purchase. I like the pair “as is” and am not concerned with the previous owner’s sweat on the inside, etc. I’m going to keep scrimping and saving for a pair by Sid Mashburn.
left a comment on 2/23/2010 at 9:41 AM:
@KGS - I would definitely take my shoes in to AE to get redone. I’m actually wearing a pair of AE McCallisters I bought for $20 today. I’ll be sending them in to get the full treatment.
It’s definitely a deal.
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 11:04 PM:
I am sooooo jealous.. not only are they really dope… like perfect. but 20$ i thought i was supercool pickin up some shoes for 7$, but they werent nearly as cool as those
www.picklesandcoffee.com
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 4:34 PM:
Nice find! I picked up a pair of Nettleton Longwigs over at Ebay… $10+Shipping http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs193.snc3/20071_277762949140_556264140_3552871_8219975_n.jpg
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 12:05 PM:
Lovin the brogues F.E. I actively search eBay for the same type of deals…my closet is full of half price new Allen Edmonds. Though, Ive never bought used. The whole sweat/wear issue is something I cant get over. Re-soling and getting a shine is one thing, but what would you do for the inside of the shoes? Ive though of buying AE’s on the cheap and using their recrafting services for $90. Buying $300 shoes for $25 and then recrafting to get what is ultimately a new pair of shoes (recorked, stripped and redone leather, etc.) is a deal in itself as well. Thoughts?
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 11:28 AM:
Just picked up a pair of cordovan florsheim wingtips on ebay - I made an ebay rss feed that automatically picks up all results for “wingtip brogue florsheim 12D vintage” so I can look through them on google reader without hassle. Ah, internet.
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 8:13 AM:
Those are beauties, GREAT find! 
left a comment on 2/22/2010 at 5:32 AM:
In response to Main Line Sportsman:
I had to make a similar defense when a friend asked me about my shoes I bought off of ebay. I told him you would buy a used luxury car that is only a few years old and well taken care off, why not shoes? Just look at this way, no one can have sex in the back of a shoe like they would in a back seat of a car.
left a comment on 2/20/2010 at 3:58 PM:
@ F.E. Castleberry: you´re totally right. And hell, if only i could attend a Vampire Weekend shoe…i´d even go with bare feet 
left a comment on 2/20/2010 at 9:28 AM:
Great shoes. I have a pair of brown Cheaney medallion captoes that I use for exactly this reason.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 4:47 PM:
F.E. Castleberry - YES, i was so excited.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 3:59 PM:
Unfortunately I can only exclaim: ” EEEWWWW.” I love E-Bay and thrift stores but cannot feature used shoes/foowear. I just have a visceral reaction to the notion of someone else’s shoes. I like the majority of your posts…but this one…not so much.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 3:58 PM:
Nerdy Cool—Alden tassel loafers for under $50? That’s a find.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 3:47 PM:
Whoa! I’m jealous, and I just put those on my eBay saved searched list.
I’ve picked up a three pairs of Allen Edmonds and an awesome pair of Alden Tassel loafers over the past two months off of eBay (all for under $50 each), but I still haven’t found the killer brown brogues.
What search query did you use if you don’t mind me ask.
www.nerdycool.com
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 3:40 PM:
Perfect. IMO, the heart of a great wardrobe should be an old pair of brown wingtips, scruffs and all. Buff and shine occasionally, resole when needed, but most of all - wear with love!
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 1:11 PM:
I bought a used pair of Allen Edmonds cognac medallion cap toes 7 years ago - they were at least 7 years old at that point - and they are by far my favorite pair. The character inherent in their experience shines through on a daily basis. I will continue to resole them every 3 or 4 years until they just can’t take it anymore.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 1:11 PM:
Put a light aftermarket insole in them…works wonders for the fit.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 12:59 PM:
S.N. Carpeaux—You will be getting your shoe post very soon.
Schorsch—That first scuff is a heart breaker. The fact that you don’t have to be concerned with scuffs with a pair like this makes them even more endearing.
Randi—Yes, I am very envious of your find. I love those brogues on you.
Spoozy—You make a good point. But remember, these are brogues I can wear to a Vampire Weekend show, drip Guinness on, or scuff on a sidewalk—all without the heartbreak because I paid only $20 (that was w/shipping). Of course they don’t fit like a $600 pair of Sid Mashburns…that would be unrealistic to expect them to. These shoes at this price point are for kicking around in…just as if you grabbed them for your grandfather’s closet.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 12:44 PM:
Great buy! They look great.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 12:15 PM:
A really nice pair of shoes, just about the perfect age: worn, but still plenty of life in them.
But there is one major issue you have to be aware of when buying worn shoes: normally these kind of shoes are built with a cork sole between the inner and outer leather sole. This cork sole adopts to the shape of your feet when wearing them. Saying that, it is clear that the cork sole has already adopted to another pair of feet, which might be different from yours. Hence the fit of such a shoe does not only depend on the last and width of the shoe, but on the foot-shaped cork sole, too. Lucky you if that does not cause problems - poor you if they don´t…
Anyway, if fit is not of utmost interest to you, you can really grab a bargain…
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 11:37 AM:
One of my favorite vintage finds? Salvatore Ferragamo brogues for $28. Good as gold.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 11:14 AM:
The best part? You don’t have to care when you inevitably scuff them. Scuffed is better than unscuffed, but it’s hard to get over that first ding on new shoes.
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 10:30 AM:
Love them. A fabulous find that make me slightly envious. Ok, more than slightly.
When do I get my shoe post??
left a comment on 2/19/2010 at 10:28 AM:
Great find!
UNCMN left a comment on 7/21/2010 at 10:06 AM:
Just picked these up too! Slightly more than what you paid, but hey whatevs.