IMO, the spread of dress sneakers has to do with the slow death of...
derek guy@dieworkwear
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Oct 06, 2026
~1 min read
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IMO, the spread of dress sneakers has to do with the slow death of good retailers who can help men find quality leather shoes. Many think that leather-soled shoes are uncomfortable simply because they don't know how to shop for footwear.
x.com/RadioFreeTom/s…
x.com/RadioFreeTom/s…
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I don't buy the argument that leather-soled shoes are inherently uncomfortable because people wore them during those historical periods when people walked *more,* not less. The difference? People back then had sales associates who could help them.
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Setting aside aesthetics, dress sneakers are bad bc they're poorly made. Leather quality is low, so they look worse with age. Soles are glued on, so you bin them when they wear down. Compare to quality leather shoes, which can be restored and resoled. These are the same boots!
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I may do a thread in the future on how to find quality leather shoes (how to figure out your size, how to understand lasts, how to identify fit issues and solve them, etc). If you absolutely must wear them, at least don't do tan with navy suits. They make you look like a duck.
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Left: Cole Haan Lunargrand. The uppers look cooked 😭. Soles are glued on. You'll be displeased with how they look after a few years, so you buy something new.
Right: Quality leather shoes. Uppers get *better* with age. Shoes can be resoled. You cherish & keep for 20 years.
Right: Quality leather shoes. Uppers get *better* with age. Shoes can be resoled. You cherish & keep for 20 years.