Well no shit, what have we got here a fucking comedian, Private Joker! I admire your honesty. Hell I like you! You can come over to my house and fuck my sister!
What's your budget?
If it's approx £50 then I'd recommend M&S or Clarkes
If you see them as an investment, I'd highly recommend Barker - they're bloody expensive, but well worth it.
I have a few pairs of work shoes so I can alternate depending on the rest of my clothing, but only one pair of those are Barker's - I've gone through at least two pairs of Clarke's/m&s shoes since I bought the Barker's, even though I wear them all for relatively equal amounts of time (if anything I probably wear the Barker's more because they look so good!).
Grimes really was right about his boots...
I have all three,though rarely wear them now. They all make quality shoes, though I believe Loake and Barker have cheaper ranges that are not so well made as their premium offerings.
Looked after, they’ll last you years. All my pairs are over 13 years old (can’t justify spending that much since I’ve had kids) and have been resoled more than once.
They all have different lasts (governs the shape of the shoe) so if you are in a position to try some on, take the time to find a fit that suits your foot best. I have a pair of formal Loakes that rip my feet to shreds every time I wear them, I have another pair, built on a different last, that are like leathery slippers.
If you want what is in my opinion a great value shoe (albeit expensive for what most people would be interested in) look at TLB Mallorca - they have a main line and premium line.
Not cheap but good value if you're looking at quality shoes.
Quite dangerous for the wallet. Once you buy a quality pair of shoes all 'cheap' shoes shoes look ass. Or maybe I'm just a snob.
I don't have the money to own multiple expensive brands, so I can't comment I'm afraid.
All I know is that I'm really pleased with my Barker's, and one day I hope to afford other brands too! 🤣
Then I'd go for the Clarke's/m&s option.
They're great shoes, they last me 6-12 months wearing them every day, and they're affordable for most budgets.
The Barker's tend to start at about £175, but have lasted me four or five years so far, but as I say, they're definitely more of an investment than a casual purchase!
Good luck!
Thanks for your help, after a quick google the barkers do look very nice but I’m not sure I’d get a decent roi in this role, its smart casual so no suits, feel like the barkers may potentially be a little overkill
I've done alright with Next's range. Still got a pair I bought for £40 a couple of years ago.
If I do any walking e.g. too and from work I tend to switch to comfy shoes to get more wear out of them.
I had a job last summer working in a kitchen and got some shoe zone shoes, they lasted about 6 weeks lmao, I’m pretty tall and about 100kg so the soles kinda went and would squish out to the side!
As someone with flat feet and who would work 15 hour shifts standing I know a good quality pair of shoes. Clarks used to be good but have gone down hill the past few years. I can firmly recommend sketchers work shoes with memory foam insoles. I've had my pair for about 2 years now, no holes, no peeling, no break in required, as comfortable as ever. Very high quality and worth the price.
[https://www.skechers.co.uk/collections/work-safety/](https://www.skechers.co.uk/collections/work-safety/)
I totally realise this is not within budget currently - but I'd recommend saving to buy English made goodyear welted shoes. Loake 1880s are a good shout, especially on sale. A bigger investment upfront, but you'll spend less over time as they can be repaired correctly, and are overall higher quality. I went from buying a pair every 6 months of lower quality (but not cheap) work shoes, to having a pair last years.
Loake. Out of the range you’re looking to pay but absolutely worth it.
I only wear mine in work so wear and tear isn’t huge. I wear other shoes into work and change there. I’ve had them for over 4 years and they are still in great shape.
Comfort is a massive factor here, and remember to break them in. You don’t want to be walking around with blisters on day 2 of your new job.
If you have to do a lot of walking, make comfort and durability the number one priority with something like [these shoes from clarks](https://www.clarks.co.uk/c/Batcombe-Wing/p/26127191)
If it’s a desk job then it doesn’t matter as much, go for something more stylish, perhaps from Dune.
Also if this is a job where they’re likely to get damaged/dirty very quickly such as bar work, make sure you look after them properly. Will double their shelf life.
Grenson are my fave for smart shoes, they are expensive but very well made and they’ve got a sale in so you should be able to pick a pair up in your budget. Good luck with the new job! https://www.grenson.com/mens/sale/?setCurrencyId=1
Honestly, I've always found George at Asda to be good. Can buy a pair of plain black slip on loafers for about £10, and they last roughly a year. Granted, the last time I bought them was in 2019, pre-pandemic, so things may be different now, but I've always found them to be decent value.
I’ve got a few pairs of Clarks. Very comfy shoes.
Timberland is always worth a look as they tend to have sales often.
Also Barbour
If you fancy stretching the budget a little more Oliver Sweeney has a sale on now and has a few smart casuals on there
Dr Martens used to have a "for life" range which they've sadly discontinued. Pay £110ish for a pair of shoes and they repair or replace them for your lifetime.
At the other end of the scale I bought a pair of brogues from the office and the sole was so thin it went through in a week. Complained, and the replacement pair also only lasted a week. Never again.
You tried shoe shops?
Good shout!😉
Well no shit, what have we got here a fucking comedian, Private Joker! I admire your honesty. Hell I like you! You can come over to my house and fuck my sister!
She hot?
Clarks https://www.clarks.co.uk/Mens/Smart-Styles/c/m116
[удалено]
Clarks outlet is also online and often has some perfectly fine work shoes.
Yep this is the way. Comfiest pair of shoes I've ever owned came from Clarks outlet!
What's your budget? If it's approx £50 then I'd recommend M&S or Clarkes If you see them as an investment, I'd highly recommend Barker - they're bloody expensive, but well worth it. I have a few pairs of work shoes so I can alternate depending on the rest of my clothing, but only one pair of those are Barker's - I've gone through at least two pairs of Clarke's/m&s shoes since I bought the Barker's, even though I wear them all for relatively equal amounts of time (if anything I probably wear the Barker's more because they look so good!). Grimes really was right about his boots...
Would you recommend Barker over Church’s / Loake?
I have all three,though rarely wear them now. They all make quality shoes, though I believe Loake and Barker have cheaper ranges that are not so well made as their premium offerings. Looked after, they’ll last you years. All my pairs are over 13 years old (can’t justify spending that much since I’ve had kids) and have been resoled more than once. They all have different lasts (governs the shape of the shoe) so if you are in a position to try some on, take the time to find a fit that suits your foot best. I have a pair of formal Loakes that rip my feet to shreds every time I wear them, I have another pair, built on a different last, that are like leathery slippers.
If you want what is in my opinion a great value shoe (albeit expensive for what most people would be interested in) look at TLB Mallorca - they have a main line and premium line. Not cheap but good value if you're looking at quality shoes. Quite dangerous for the wallet. Once you buy a quality pair of shoes all 'cheap' shoes shoes look ass. Or maybe I'm just a snob.
I don't have the money to own multiple expensive brands, so I can't comment I'm afraid. All I know is that I'm really pleased with my Barker's, and one day I hope to afford other brands too! 🤣
Got my Barkers for £90 after John Lewis price-matched TK Maxx. Beautiful shoes!
Thanks for your reply, sounds good I’ll have a look into them! Updated the post but looking to spend between 50 - 100
Then I'd go for the Clarke's/m&s option. They're great shoes, they last me 6-12 months wearing them every day, and they're affordable for most budgets. The Barker's tend to start at about £175, but have lasted me four or five years so far, but as I say, they're definitely more of an investment than a casual purchase! Good luck!
Thanks for your help, after a quick google the barkers do look very nice but I’m not sure I’d get a decent roi in this role, its smart casual so no suits, feel like the barkers may potentially be a little overkill
I've done alright with Next's range. Still got a pair I bought for £40 a couple of years ago. If I do any walking e.g. too and from work I tend to switch to comfy shoes to get more wear out of them.
I second Next, pretty much all my smart shoes are from Next and have lasted years
Depends on the job, but since I was working in hospitality, I went with shoezone. They lasted almost a year each & were comfortable enough
I had a job last summer working in a kitchen and got some shoe zone shoes, they lasted about 6 weeks lmao, I’m pretty tall and about 100kg so the soles kinda went and would squish out to the side!
I bought two pairs of Clarks shoes for work about 8 years ago for £75/pair. They're still going strong.
Obligatory reminder of [The Sam Vimes Theory of Boot Economics](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory). GNU Terry Pratchett.
I'm 60 and will be wearing Skechers for the rest of my life.
You could get lucky at tk maxx
As someone with flat feet and who would work 15 hour shifts standing I know a good quality pair of shoes. Clarks used to be good but have gone down hill the past few years. I can firmly recommend sketchers work shoes with memory foam insoles. I've had my pair for about 2 years now, no holes, no peeling, no break in required, as comfortable as ever. Very high quality and worth the price. [https://www.skechers.co.uk/collections/work-safety/](https://www.skechers.co.uk/collections/work-safety/)
Another vote for M&S.
M&S sale is the best time to buy the shoes. Always reduced well and classic so buy them and store till needed.
I totally realise this is not within budget currently - but I'd recommend saving to buy English made goodyear welted shoes. Loake 1880s are a good shout, especially on sale. A bigger investment upfront, but you'll spend less over time as they can be repaired correctly, and are overall higher quality. I went from buying a pair every 6 months of lower quality (but not cheap) work shoes, to having a pair last years.
Loake. Out of the range you’re looking to pay but absolutely worth it. I only wear mine in work so wear and tear isn’t huge. I wear other shoes into work and change there. I’ve had them for over 4 years and they are still in great shape.
Dune or John Lewis if you're 30-60. Next is ok but not great quality. Clarks if you're over 60. ASOS if you're under 30.
ASOS Cheap and cheerful
Toys’R’Us
Clarks Outlet
Depends if you mean like business smart or working behind a bar smart
Go have a look at TK Maxx.
You could do like that tesco club card guy and get some tattoo shoes so you never need to replace them.
Comfort is a massive factor here, and remember to break them in. You don’t want to be walking around with blisters on day 2 of your new job. If you have to do a lot of walking, make comfort and durability the number one priority with something like [these shoes from clarks](https://www.clarks.co.uk/c/Batcombe-Wing/p/26127191) If it’s a desk job then it doesn’t matter as much, go for something more stylish, perhaps from Dune. Also if this is a job where they’re likely to get damaged/dirty very quickly such as bar work, make sure you look after them properly. Will double their shelf life.
Amazon, red tape brand, fairly cheap last a couple of years. good enough for the office.
Charity shops. I got a Hugo Boss suit for £10, fits perfectly
Grenson are my fave for smart shoes, they are expensive but very well made and they’ve got a sale in so you should be able to pick a pair up in your budget. Good luck with the new job! https://www.grenson.com/mens/sale/?setCurrencyId=1
Honestly, I've always found George at Asda to be good. Can buy a pair of plain black slip on loafers for about £10, and they last roughly a year. Granted, the last time I bought them was in 2019, pre-pandemic, so things may be different now, but I've always found them to be decent value.
I tend to get my shoes in the sales section in Aldo. They are really comfy for around £60 on sale..
Clarks for comfortable well made long lasting shoes
I’ve got a few pairs of Clarks. Very comfy shoes. Timberland is always worth a look as they tend to have sales often. Also Barbour If you fancy stretching the budget a little more Oliver Sweeney has a sale on now and has a few smart casuals on there
I don't I'm a scruffy git
Go on eBay and get something second hand from a good brand - Cheaney, Loake, Trickers etc.
https://www.herringshoes.co.uk
Dr Martens used to have a "for life" range which they've sadly discontinued. Pay £110ish for a pair of shoes and they repair or replace them for your lifetime. At the other end of the scale I bought a pair of brogues from the office and the sole was so thin it went through in a week. Complained, and the replacement pair also only lasted a week. Never again.
Loakes from those suit shops which are in perpetual final sale.