My Hunt for Decent Loafers
Okay, so my old pair of everyday shoes were basically falling apart. You know how it is, soles flapping, looking generally sad. I needed something that looked presentable enough for going out, maybe even casual Fridays at work, but didn’t scream “trying too hard.” And comfortable, definitely comfortable. I do a fair bit of walking.
Stumbling Upon Jones New York
I started looking around online, scrolling through endless pages of shoes. Honestly, most of them looked the same or were ridiculously expensive. Then I landed on some Jones New York loafers. I vaguely remembered the brand name, maybe saw it in department stores years ago? They didn’t look too flashy, kinda classic I guess. The price wasn’t rock bottom, but it wasn’t crazy high either, sort of in that middle ground where you hope for decent quality.
Taking the Plunge
Decision time. I read a few reviews, seemed mixed like always, some people loved them, some didn’t. Classic internet. But the style I liked was available in my size, and I figured, what the heck. It’s better than walking around with busted shoes. Added them to the cart, punched in my details, and hit order. Pretty straightforward stuff, no drama there.
First Look and Feel
They arrived a few days later. Just a standard shoebox, nothing fancy. Pulled them out. First impression? They looked alright. The leather (or maybe pleather, hard to tell sometimes) looked decent enough, stitching seemed okay. I slipped them on. Felt a bit stiff, which I kind of expected. Not uncomfortable, but definitely needed breaking in. Walked around the living room a bit. Yeah, gonna take a few wears.
Wearing Them In
So, I started wearing them.
- First day: Wore them for a few hours to run errands. Definitely felt that stiffness, especially around the heel. No blisters though, which was a plus.
- First week: Wore them to work twice. Lots of sitting, but also walking to meetings and grabbing lunch. They started to loosen up a bit. Much better by the end of the week.
- After a month: Okay, now we’re talking. They molded to my feet pretty well. Comfortable enough to wear all day without really thinking about them. The look held up too, they still looked smart enough.
The Longer Term
Been wearing them regularly for maybe six months now? They’ve seen pavement, office carpet, restaurant floors. Here’s the lowdown:
The comfort level is solid now. Really no complaints there for just regular day-to-day wear. They broke in nicely.
Appearance-wise, they’ve picked up a few scuffs, especially on the toes. Nothing major, but the finish isn’t super tough. Expected, I guess. The soles are holding up okay, not wearing down too fast. The structure of the shoe itself is still fine, no weird bulging or collapsing.
Final Thoughts
So, these Jones New York loafers. Were they life-changing? Nah. Are they a decent pair of shoes for the price? Yeah, I’d say so. They do the job. Look presentable, became comfortable after the break-in period, and haven’t disintegrated yet. If you need a basic, classic loafer and find them at a reasonable price, they’re probably a safe bet. Just don’t expect indestructible tanks, treat them like normal shoes and they should last a fair while. I’m not rushing out to buy another pair immediately, but I don’t regret buying these either. They filled the gap I had perfectly.
