Dappered | In Review: Spier & Mackay Dress Shoes (specifically the cap toe oxford)

[Dappered | In Review: Spier & Mackay Dress Shoes (specifically the cap toe oxford)]() --------------------------------------------------------------- - [In Review: Spier & Mackay Dress Shoes (specifically the cap toe oxford)](#1) - [Banana Republic 50% off almost everything flash sale](#2) - [In Review (and Win it): The Timex M79 Automatic](#3) [In Review: Spier & Mackay Dress Shoes (specifically the cap toe oxford)](r/Dappered/~3/EIRWUOJTrcI/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 28 Oct 2020 03:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. [Spier & Mackay Cap Toe Balmoral in Dark Brown – $248]( About the Author: Adam Terry is a thirtysomething salesman in the heating and manufacturing industry. He enjoys bourbon, boots, sneakers, raw denim, and working on on his dad bod father figure. Dearly beloved Dappered readers, we are gathered here today to mourn [the loss of business formal clothing](. As a close friend of these dress shoes, I have the honor to speak to you today today on behalf of all of us who [have been working from home since mid-March](. They were great shoes, tremendous style … wait, what’s that? Business clothing isn’t dead? You’re telling me that [I can still]( wear my suits, sport coats, and fancy dress shoes [for other things](? Well, why didn’t you tell me that earlier?! A little bit classic, a little bit Euro. Spier & Mackay is a Dappered favorite because they offer up some incredible deals on well-made clothing and shoes, including these new Goodyear welted cap toe Balmoral (Oxford) shoes. This Canadian brand has been around the block a few times and are regulars on our Most Wanted and Best Of lists year after year. And these? These are from their recently released 2020 line of Goodyear welted dress shoes. Read on to find out how these oxfords stack up against other brands. The Adam Review Scale of Excellence (A.R.S.E.) - 5 – Excellent! No issues and highly recommended. - 4 – Good. Above average, but not perfect. - 3 – Average. Minor issues, might be good at the right price. - 2 – Fair. Below average due to defects, flaws, or imperfections. - 1 – Poor. Significant issues, not worth purchasing at any price. Plain box. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. Details - Brand: Spier & Mackay - Style: Cap Toe Balmoral (Oxford) - Size: 10.5 US (43.5 EU) - Last: N/A - Construction: 270° Goodyear Welt - Upper: Full grain box calf leather from Weinheimer (Germany) - Sole: Open channel leather sole with a nailed leather and rubber combo heel - Details: Blind eyelets, vegetable tanned leather insole, and cork filled midsole - Extras: One shoe bag and a plastic shoehorn - Country of Origin: Portugal - Price: $248 USD A deeply hued vegetable tanned German calf leather. Ordering/Delivery/Returns My S&M Balmorals were ordered on a Wednesday and arrived almost two weeks later. Normally, in today’s Amazon Prime marketplace, I’d deduct a few stars for a slower shipping time BUT the whole world is dealing with a pandemic. Spier states on their website to allow for an additional 7-10 business days for processing, due to a reduced workforce, so our delivery time is in line with their estimate. FYI: Spier & Mackay offers a simple 30-day return policy for all regular priced items in good condition. If it’s your first pair of shoes or sport coat/suit, the return or exchange is totally free. Note that only USA and Canada orders are eligible for the free returns and exchanges. Score: 4/5 Stars – Easy ordering , small delay, but a decent return policy. 5 (pairs of) eyelets makes for a higher vamp. Packaging/Unboxing My pair arrived in a clean, simply branded recycled cardboard box. It’s not the most magnificent unboxing experience or anything, but it’s serviceable. There was a lonely cotton flax-looking shoe bag slightly large enough for both shoes, but there were no spare laces to discover. I do like the plastic tortoise shell-looking shoehorn that they include, though. Score: 4/5 Stars – Throw in some spare laces and another shoe bag, guys! No packaging bells and whistles with this pair. First Impressions At first glance, and every subsequent one, these Oxfords are just simply gorgeous. Spier’s designers really nailed the simple elegance of a sleek cap toe Balmoral shoe. One interesting note is that these are a five-eyelet design whereas our American counterparts typically have six. The “shortage” of eyes on this model brings the vamp up a little higher, which I think gives the shoe a bit more style. The German calf leather is crisp with no noticeable marks, poor graining, or discoloration. Speaking of color, this shade of dark brown is perfect for that business suit, formal leaning sport coat and trousers, or upscale outfit for a night on the town. Up close you can see that it’s a warm reddish brown, but from far away, the color is so deeply saturated that it can almost look black or dark burgundy. There’s even a subtle bit of burnishing on the toe cap. All in all, the shoes look great and I see no issues with materials or construction. A simple and sleek design with European influence. On the inside, you’ll find a full calf leather lining, a thick vegetable tanned insole, and a lovely little leather heel pad that has some cushioning foam underneath. Both of my leather insoles have some neat graining patterns on them, but it’s all visual and you shouldn’t feel a thing under foot. You should notice the cork filled cavity underneath the footbed as it breaks in and molds to your foot. One thing you will also notice (and appreciate) is that [the tongue is tacked to one side of the upper with a small tab of leather](. This helps keep the tongue from slipping around or sliding down to one side. I think this shows a nice attention to detail. Full leather soles and a combo heel. The bottom side looks great, too, with full leather soles and a combination leather and rubber heel topper. The soles have been ever-so-slightly shaped to give them the hint of a beveled waist, although it’s not really that noticeable. The Goodyear welt stitching is neatly done by machine and sits cleanly in an open channel running 270° along the perimeter. The heel stack is nailed into the shoe with ten copper nails. Edge and welt finishing are done in black to give these Oxfords a formal aesthetic. Score: 4/5 Stars – Great! Well made from above average materials and construction at this price point. Neat stitching for a clean look. Comfort, Fit, and Sizing Like I always say, comfort is very subjective. Out of the box, these Oxfords are pretty stiff, and I’d need a few days of carpet wear before feeling comfortable enough to start wearing them into the office. Once the upper leather starts to soften up and your foot starts to mold to the thick leather insole, these should start to feel great. Spier & Mackay recommends taking your normal Brannock size in their Oxfords and I agree. My pair in a 10.5D (43.5 EU) feel about right in terms of length and width. After lacing them up, the facings put some noticeable pressure on my instep, but that should go away as the shoes break in with time. The top of the “V” created by the lacing is barely wider than a finger’s width, which is how it should look (at least that’s what I’ve always been told). The toe box is fairly roomy, and the heel is snug enough so that there’s no heel slip. For reference, I am a 10.5 D/E on a Brannock device and usually take a 10 D in most dress shoes, including Alden’s Barrie last and Grant Stone’s Leo last. I take a 10.5 E in Allen Edmonds 65 last, as that last runs too narrow for me. I also take a 10.5 in Vans and an 11 in most Adidas or Nike sneakers. Score: 4/5 Stars – Stiff at first, will need some break in time. Your Brannock size is best for these shoes. Final Thoughts If you’re in the market for a pair of stylish Oxfords to pair with your suits and formal-leaning sport coats, then you should definitely check out Spier & Mackay’s version of the Park Avenue. The higher vamp and 5-eyelet closure give this pair a subtle European flair while the choice German calf leather and Goodyear welt construction bring high quality components and construction to a price point that’s hard to beat. Avg. Score: 4/5 Stars – Spier & Mackay continue to offer excellent dress shoes at a great price point. ff/Dappered?a=EIRWUOJTrcI:YsjaaGoP1p0:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=EIRWUOJTrcI:YsjaaGoP1p0:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=EIRWUOJTrcI:YsjaaGoP1p0:gIN9vFwOqvQ [Banana Republic 50% off almost everything flash sale](r/Dappered/~3/YxUDpSTABWs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 27 Oct 2020 10:04 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. [Banana Republic: 50% off through 10/28 (BR Picks excluded)]( [Video killed the radio star](. And the internet appears to have killed the mall rat. Just a few days after Banana Republic and GAP took a look at the big mega-malls of America and said: “Yeah, you can keep your [Orange Julius]( and [Sbarro]( [we’re out](“… they’re running a half off promo. And c’mon, those two things aren’t directly related (those two things being [the announcement of 350 store closures by 2024](, and a half off promo). But look guys, how many intro blurbs can one man write for a BR sale in his life? HOW MANY I ASK YOU?! The answer is, apparently, at least one more. Nobody reads the words anyway. [Pancake pine tree misanthropic panda bear](! What? Anyway, this is just in time for the cold to really hit parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Hopefully. Off we go with some picks. Promo expires tomorrow, Wednesday 10/28. [Wool Blend Donegal Beanies – $24.75]( ($49.50) Late October is traditionally when many of us look at our hat stash from last year… and realize perhaps its not what we thought it once was. Hats get lost. They get worn on runs when our normal “workout” hat is in the wash… and then become workout hats themselves. So perhaps you need a new hat? New hat! New hat. It’s that new hat time of year. 60% wool, 20% nylon, 20% viscose here. [Unlined Recycled Wool-Blend Car Coat – $184.50]( ($369) This one is specifically for the guys who LOVE less structure to their sportcoats, blazers, etc. Because it’s the same thing, carried over into a super simple car coat. Just about 75% recycled wool, with poly and a bit of acrylic to balance out the rest of the mix. [Recycled Wool-Blend Sweater – $49.25]( ($98.50) WOW that texture. 80% recycled wool, 20% nylon waffle knit with ribbed raglan sleeves. That’s quite the crew neck. [Italian Merino Waffle-Knit Sweater – $44.75]( ($89.50) More texture… just more subtle. Doesn’t look to be quite as bulky. Five colors here. Another item that would look great with standard chinos or jeans, as well as athletic wear like joggers. [Unlined Recycled Wool-Blend Jacket – $149]( ($298) Looks like it could be a real zoom-call winner. The one review is… not kind. But the reviewer is reviewing a 34 short. And there are often issues with extreme sizes like that. Looks like they’re going for a true swacket here. A bit more relaxed. Fabric is 52% wool, 42% polyester, 6% other. That’s a lot of “other”! [Banana Republic Nubuck Leather & Merino-Blend Gloves – $49.25]( ($98.50) [Banana Republic Nubuck Leather & Merino-Blend Gloves]( They look a lot like [a pair of Hestras]( Mrs. Dappered gave me for Christmas last year (don’t guffaw, they were on sale at the time). Only these cost way, way less. [Also available in black](. A bit on the long side (from tip of fingers to the far end of the cuff), but breaking them in will have them mold to your hands in time. [Arley Boot – $89]( ($178) [Full review here](. A basic, good looking, hugely versatile, brown leather chukka. No, they’re not snow boots. And not confusing the two should have them lasting and looking great for a good long while. [Utility Sweater Jacket – $84.50]( ($169) [Utility Sweater Jacket]( Tactlecardigan! It’s cotton. Wish it was merino, but, guess we can’t have the world, can we? You CAN have it in any color you’d like. As long as it’s black. [Italian Leather Belt – $29.75]( ($59.50) [BR Italian Leather Belt]( These things are starting to gain steam on the oft-mentioned GAP Basic Belt. And why not at this price? [Merino Blend Cable Knit Scarf – $44.75]( ($89.50) Pure class. 80% merino, 20% nylon. Chunky knit. Looks like it has allllllll the cozy. [Birdseye Jacquard Stripe Scarf – $39.75]( ($79.50) Less chunk, more stripes. 80% merino with 20% nylon in the mix. [Slim Dark Rinse Japanese Traveler Jean – $59.50](//bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5389&vid=1&pid=130452002) ($119) [B.R. Slim Dark Rinse Japanese Traveler Jean](//bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5389&vid=1&pid=130452002) Jeans season! Let’s do this. The legend. Insanely comfortable. [Full review here](. [Supima Cable-Knit Sweater – $49.25]( ($98.50) [Supima Cable-Knit Sweater]( Another classic. Cotton here with a chunky knit. Lots of texture. Machine wash and dry. (On gentle and low, but still, should do okay in the washer and dryer if your settings are right?) Shown at the top of the post. [Cotton Cardigan Sweater – $49.25]( ($98.50) Varsity stripes with none of the blues. Black and charcoal here. So sleek, almost mod. But that might be the black pants and t-shirt that the model is wearing. Would look decidedly less mod with, say, an OCBD and some jeans. [Suede & Leather Gloves – $49.25]( ($98.50) More gloves. Suede tops for texture, leather palms for grip. [Camo Field Jacket – $114.50]( ($229) [Camo Field Jacket]( Shell is 89% polyester, 11% spandex, but the body is lined in 100% cotton flannel. Nice. Hidden bungee at the waist to cinch it down for a closer, tapered fit, if that’s what you’re after. ALSO shown at the top of the post. [Italian Wool Melton Topcoats in Heather Gray]( or [Brown Herringbone – $199]( ($398) [Italian Wool Melton Topcoats]( What time is it? It’s topcoat time. BR knows what they’re doing when it comes to these things. They’ve been cranking out substantial but not overly bulky or stiff topcoats for years. More than a few of us have a BR topcoat in our closet that we wear with everything during the cold months. Here’s a couple of options for this year. [Italian Wool Melton Topcoat in Camel – $199]( ($398) [Italian Wool Melton Topcoat in Camel]( And now the obligatory camel option. Man, a good camel coat just looks good. Wear it with anything. Suits. Jeans. [Whatever](. [Italian Merino Crew-Neck Sweater – $39.75]( ($79.50) [Italian Merino Crew-Neck Sweater]( Another merino wool winner from Banana. The crewneck and the saddle style shoulder seams anchor it in athletic wear (think vintage sweatshirts). Dress it up or dress it down. [Corduroy Puffer Vest – $84.50]( ($169) [Banana Republic Corduroy Puffer Vest]( Some of us have one too many vests. And if we DIDN’T… this one would absolutely be acquired. [Slim Heathered Traveler Pant – $49.25]( ($98.50) [Slim Heathered Traveler Pant] A fall-ready, “heathered” version of their extremely popular traveler pant. 81% cotton, 18% polyester, 1% elastane. Both cozy and comfy, yet still polished. [Also available in athletic tapered](. [Vegan Suede Backpack – $49.25]( ($98.50) [Banana Republic Vegan Suede Backpack]( Somehow BR has made some [actually QUITE nice vegan suede these last few years](. So fingers crossed on this one. [Wool-Blend Trucker Jacket – $84.50]( ($169) [Wool-Blend Trucker Jacket]( In wool? Yes please. Nicely reviewed, and the tabs at the back of the waist for a more fitted look are appreciated. [Responsible Merino V-Neck Sweater – $34.75]( ($69.50) [Responsible Merino V-Neck Sweater]( BR’s new basic merino v-necks, with a “responsible” moniker [that actually seems to have some meaning behind it](. 100% extra fine merino wool here. [Responsible Merino Cardigan Sweater – $49.25]( ($98.50) [Responsible Merino Cardigan Sweater]( And here in cardigan form. Don’t knock the cardigan fellas. They’re terrific. [See #9 here](. [Organic Cotton Sweater Hoodie – $44.75]( ($89.50) If one is going to hoodie (try not to “hoodie” all the time, [it’s bad for the soul, man](…), then this would be a great way to hoodie. The 50% off no BR merch exclusions deal ends tomorrow, Wednesday 10/28. ff/Dappered?a=YxUDpSTABWs:JQkoSDUGzRA:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=YxUDpSTABWs:JQkoSDUGzRA:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=YxUDpSTABWs:JQkoSDUGzRA:gIN9vFwOqvQ [In Review (and Win it): The Timex M79 Automatic](r/Dappered/~3/jJBNsDlvXqM/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email) Posted: 27 Oct 2020 08:00 AM PDT Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head [here]( to learn more. [Timex M79 Automatic Watch – $279]( [Just sit right back]( and you’ll hear a tale. A tale of a fateful ship… ment Look. Things are a mess right now. And here’s one very small example: - This watch was ordered for an in-person look on August 18th. - They lost the first shipment. Gone. Poof. Up in smoke. Tracking said it shipped, but it never moved past the second shipping checkpoint. - Five weeks, three days, and nine emails to customer service later, a replacement watch finally arrived. I had moved house in the interim. - A few days AFTER it arrived? They refunded me the money. Got all that? So now I have a “free” watch. Great, right? Wrong. [The Timex M79 Automatic Watch]( Throwback diver looks. Just 50m water resistance though. [Which is fine](. We have a strict policy against keeping freebies of any kind. It helps keep the trust between us and you guys in the readership what it is. So just return the watch right? I can’t. [The Timex M79 Automatic Watch]( Bubble crystal and a case with all kinds of angles. Since it took 38 days to get the thing (or, the replacement of the original thing that was lost), it was immediately outside of the 30 day return window. And thus, their platform hasn’t let me initiate the return. And I can’t get a response out of Timex Customer Service at this point. Like, short of [standing outside their corporate headquarters in a trench coat with a boombox over my damn head]( I can’t get a response. So screw it. We’re giving it away. If they finally do respond, I’ll tell them I got it, I kept it, and they can initiate a re-charge. We’ll just eat the cost. [The Timex M79 Automatic Watch]( Exhibition caseback. Yes those “movement” and “bracelet” stickers come off. It’s a good watch. I wouldn’t call it a great watch. But it’s a hell of a nice momentum builder for Timex if they do plan on continuing to expand their automatic/mechanical movement selection [outside of the Marlin](. It has a good, solid, “it has guts” weight to it. The 40mm case diameter should please plenty, but it’s got a real wrist presence. The domed bubble crystal is cool, but the thickness means it’s not gonna slide easily under many a shirt cuff. Which isn’t an issue, since they’re going for chunky-retro diver here. The bezel has a surprisingly satisfying ratchet action to it. The thing has real snap. It’s not a forgotten piece to the watch. Mesh style bracelet keeps the throwback thing going. Exhibition case-back is a nice touch too. The one drawback? The crown. It’s just okay. A bit dinky, really. It’s as basic as it gets. Feels like it could be a bit larger. Especially for something that can hand wind like this one can. And 50m water resistance, [while fine](, is just… fine. [The Timex M79 Automatic Watch]( Bit of thickness. It has it. It’s a good watch. But it is creeping up on $300. And at that price, [you’ve got plenty]( of [other options]( in the affordable automatic diver market. And as they say, timing is everything. You’d think a watch company would know that. [Enter here to win]( the Timex M79 Automatic shown in the post above so I can get this dumb thing off my desk. One entry per person. Deadline for entry is 11:59 pm ET 10/28/20. Winner will be notified by email. Good luck. [The Timex M79 Automatic Watch]( ff/Dappered?a=jJBNsDlvXqM:GMNmZFw0u5Q:yIl2AUoC8zA ff/Dappered?a=jJBNsDlvXqM:GMNmZFw0u5Q:qj6IDK7rITs ff/Dappered?a=jJBNsDlvXqM:GMNmZFw0u5Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ You are subscribed to email updates from [Dappered Style Mail](). To stop receiving these emails, you may [unsubscribe now](. Email delivery powered by Google Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States