'Wing It' & 'Wingman'. Traditional Wingtip & Longwing Oxford
All the hard bottom shoes and loafers I normally wear to the office need a rest during the summer months. They leather can use a break and so can the soles of my feet so I made it a goal of mine to find a sole pair of soft bottom oxfords that I could wear to work as well casual affairs. Many brands have picked up on the heightened climate in menswear and men’s footwear so they’ve created their own version of wingtips and oxfords.
Overhead shot
Most brands have adopted a version of the traditional wingtip versus the longwing style. Wingtips, especially those with suede uppers, lean toward the casual side of the dress shoe spectrum. Not a casual as an athletic sneaker or one of those ‘Steve Madden‘ variations but not as formal as a plain or cap-toe oxford. The leader of the pack when it comes to updated versions of wingtips is Mark McNairy. I’ve been blogging about his shoes for a while so of course they were on the top of my list. I found a really great pair on sale but I was hesitant to pull the trigger because I couldn’t wear these to the office as much as I’d like so I would feel like I didn’t get my money’s worth or accomplish my original goal.
Wing It
Wingman
Since I passed on the McNairy’s my shopping karma led me to Nordstrom’s Anniversary ‘Next Season’ Sale where I found these 1901 wingtips. I already have a pair of 1901‘s so I know they’re pretty affordable and durable. I figured these would be a solid purchase but I had to see them in person to check out the quality. 1901 does pretty well with most of their shoe offerings but this is the 1st time I’ve seen them venture into the realm of wingtips so I had to be sure.
Wing it
Wingman
The ‘Wingman’ comes in both a navy and stone gray color and the ‘Wing it’ come in a simple tan nubuck. Both colors are suitable for work and play. They both feature suede uppers on the outer panels, full broguing. red brick soles, leather lining, burnished tips, and multiple pair of colored shoe laces to add a little flavor. I think the navy laces could be a little darker to match the suede of the navy color way like the tan laces match the nubuck. The navy color way features a contrast stitching which is a pretty nice touch. My favorite feature is the extra cushioned insole. I suppose the designers had this shoe in mind for more day to day use with its affordable price point. Overall these shoes score a 7.5 out of 10. Since they don’t have the same premium materials as higher end brands that knocks off an automatic point. Although the insoles are comfortable the space inside the toe box is a bit stuffy. -1 A total point would be lost for the laces but they make up for it by supplying multiple pairs. If you need an affordable summer wingtip that you plan to wear as often as possible until the weather prevents you then this is your shoe. Share your thoughts in the comment section.
