There is an old-line men's store next door to my office. You know the kind -- Hickey-Freeman, Pendleton, Stetson, and Allen-Edmonds are the mainstays. A couple of weeks ago, I was standing in front of the office ogling a pair of shoes in the window when a client happened to walk by and joined in my admiration. Not long afterward, that same client dropped these off at my office as a gift:


The Elgin Men's Casual Shoes - Allen Edmonds - Lace Up Leather Shoes

They are my New Favorite Thing. The soles are lighter in color than they look in this picture -- blonde, really. I've not worn them anywhere for more than 5 minutes without getting compliments on them. With jeans or a casual suit, they are absolutely perfect.

Pretty nice gift, huh?