Made in the USA: Quality Men’s Leather Dress Shoes With an American Sole

It is relatively easy to find work boots or uniform-style work shoes that are made in the USA, but finding American-made dress shoes can prove a little more problematic. At the lower-end of the men’s footwear market, you will find plenty of shoes made in China and Vietnam. Once you move upmarket, the vast majority of high-end men’s dress shoes are made in Italy or Switzerland.

However, there are still a number of shoe companies that still make quality men’s dress shoes right here in the United States. The shoes are more expensive than the standard mall fare that is mass-produced in Asian factories, but the price generally undercuts that of pricey Italian shoes. Consider the extra money spent on these American-made shoes an investment, rather than an expense. Not only are you supporting the working American by purchasing these shoes, but you are also buying quality footwear that can last years, or even decades, with proper care.

Alden of New England

Alden of New England specializes in very high-quality men’s dress shoes with their full line being handmade in Middleborough, Massachusetts. The price is rather high for these shoes but the cost is on par with similar offerings from Italian makers like Bruno Magli and the quality construction of an Alden shoe is truly top-notch. Expect to pay between $500 and $700 for a pair of these traditionally styled shoes. Alden occasionally brings more casual variants of its American-made dress shoes to select J Crew stores.

Allen Edmonds

Allen Edmonds is widely known for making well-built men’s dress shoes that are built to last. The company packs a lot of value in its quality men’s footwear with pairs of these American-made dress shoes starting at $200 and topping out at $400. Allen Edmonds shoes possess a generally conservative aesthetic, much like the traditionally styled shoes from Alden of New England. Allen Edmonds can be found at fine men’s clothing stores across the United States and the company even produces shoes for Brooks Brothers.

Esquivel

While Alden of New England and Allen Edmonds cater to the more straight-laced set looking for a pair of relatively conservative men’s dress shoes for office meetings, George Esquivel caters to an entirely different demographic seeking fashion-forward footwear. Esquivel shoes are entirely hand-crafted in Los Angeles and start around $500 with the price-ceiling for these hand-made shoes hovering around the $2,500 mark. The color options and styles are nearly limitless, and upon request, George Esquivel will even make an entirely custom pair for you or embellish an existing pair with custom details like your name. Esquivel shoes are a favorite of the Hollywood set due to their uncompromising quality, beautiful attention to detail, and bespoke build.

Walk-Over

Walk-Over shoes occupy another special niche in the American-made men’s dress shoe world. The company’s shoes are not intended for conservative business attire like those from Alden of New England and Allen Edmonds, yet they are also not intended for the fashion-forward set like the footwear of shoemaker George Esquivel. Walk-Over makes casual dress shoes that can be paired with seersucker suits, chinos, and Nantucket reds. The preppy style of Walk-Over’s white bucks and traditional saddle shoes has long made them a favorite of the country club set and their quality construction and timeless style means that they will pair well with your blue blazer and grosgrain belt for years. The $150 to $250 price range makes Walk-Over shoes very accessible.

The contributor takes great pride in the pair of George Esquivel shoes that he bought five years ago and still wears twice a week.

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