STYLE:
Classic, elegant design. Lithe and sharp. Suitable for both business and casual attire.
FINISH:
Superb. The hand painting adds a noticeably rich hue. I've attached photos taken in natural and artificial light, with and without flash, to show appearance in different environments. My one grouse is that I’d hoped for a darker burnish on the toe box, like the shoes in the photos on the company website. Given the hand staining, I assume no two pairs are identical, so coloration may be luck of the draw.
DURABILITY/COMFORT:
As the company website notes, Paul Evans shoes use Blake welt stitching, which is far lighter and less expensive than the Goodyear welt that is common in higher-end English and American shoes. I’ve had the Oliviers for about two months, and thus far I’m totally enjoying their relative litheness. Time will tell if they prove as durable as my Goodyear-welted shoes.
SIZING:
As I learned firsthand at the shop in Manhattan, Paul Evans shoes run large. I typically take a size 12 in an American dress shoe. My Olivier Monk Straps are 11.5 and fit well. The Oxfords, which are constructed on a different last, run even larger: a size 11 fit me comfortably.
PRICE:
Cost is a major reason that Paul Evans is such a disruptor in the high-quality leather shoe market, in my view. Aesthetically, they rival shoes that retail for triple their price. If they prove as enduring as they are handsome, I'll be hooked.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Excellent, in my…
