Changing the Way Men Shop for Shoes

by | Dec 16, 2014 | Fashion | 0 comments

PD Loft

Photographed above: Paul Drish’s showroom, The Loft

 

The way men shop for shoes is changing in lower Manhattan. In the past month two new men’s shoe companies launched showrooms south of Canal Street, both with gorgeous and reasonably priced footwear that you can try on. But you’ll walk out of both places empty handed.

The concept that’s taking hold is a cost-saving, cut-out-the middleman kind of approach. These two new footwear brands are opening brick and mortar showrooms, where customers can try on every style of shoe available, but, because there’s no on-site inventory, they place their order online and get it delivered directly to their home or office.

Paul Drish shoes, a spin off of the 25-year-old footwear Indian manufacturer which also creates shoes for many of the high-end European designers, is a collection of 26 styles such as wingtips, loafers, and monkstraps, all with a contemporary flare. The Tribeca Showroom opened in early November with their online site launching November 20th. The showroom has a speakeasy vibe and on the night of the launch there was a bar with Milano Green Vodka cocktails, shoe shiners from men’s groomer John Allen and, of course, a gorgeous display of men’s shoes. Prices range from $200-$395 for shoes that are extremely high quality, stylish and would cost you closer to a grand if you were shopping at more traditional men’s stores.

Dress-shoe brand Jack Erwin opened their showroom The Fitting Room in Tribeca on November 13. While the showroom is more like a traditional shop with a street-level store front on a cobblestone street, as opposed to Paul Drish’ appointment only loft, the concept is similar. Handcrafted in Spain with full-grain leather from Italy and France, Jack Erwin’s styles are classic and classy. A suede driving loafer will run you $95, a streamlined Chelsea boot $210 and cap-toe oxford for $195. And incase you didn’t get it right when you tried it on in-person, they make the deal sweeter by offering free shipping and free returns.

-Nicola Harrison Ruiz

Nicola Harrison Ruiz is the Men’s Fashion & Lifestyle Editor at DOWNTOWN Magazine. She is also the founder of Harrison Style – a men’s style consulting business. If you want to take your style up a notch, you can find her at http://www.harrison-style.com  Or email at Nicola@dtnycmag.com.

jack-erwin

Jack Erwin’s latest styles featured in his showroom.

Screen Shot 2014-12-16 at 4.32.58 PM

Photo: Courtesy of Jack Erwin

Downtown Magazine