Florsheim Men's Berkeley Penny Loafer Burgundy 9.5 D Review

Price, quality, namesake punctuality.

Exactly what I'd expect from a Florsheim. I'm delighted.Folks, let me share one mistake I made on my way to a good fitting pair of shoes. I ordered some in my size (I have a big foot, especially in width). I ordered what I thought I needed and it came in wide enough, but too short (the short was the surprise), but we all are told: "Manufacturers vary in their sizes not only from each other but from shoe model to shoe model." I want you to know I believe in that when it applies to clothes, especially children's and womens fashions in my life's experiences, but NOT with shoes, especially main-brand-deluxe. I ordered the next half-size up and now I have too large, how can that be? I found out when I pulled the paper stuffing out, in particular the LAST glob that extends from the middle to the toe, that it WASN'T the last glob, there was indeed a rather small glob still way down in the toe, almost pointless for this minor bit of stuffing being separate from the other, but it was. I had already innocently troubled Amazon with returns of shoes that would have fit, so I'll keep the half-size too large as a life lesson. I ordered this pair in the size I believed I was all along and viola, a good fit. What changed? When that last toe piece of paper wadding that's hard to see and even harder with a big hand to reach, the shoe fit perfectly. That's a lot of trouble because of a small piece of paper that was hard to see, but that's why I write this review for you so that you can make sure all the paper is really out when you already think it is. Amazon has been good enough not to hold me accountable and in return I'll not only repeat buy, I tell you of my experience.

The shoes arrived earlier than expected and did look very much true to the photos.Note: the stitch areas are indeed darker in colour (almost black) than the rest of the shoe - so beware, that's not just the lighting of the product photo.On first trial they felt a bit tight and stiff and I was worried I'd ordered the wrong size, but I was really surprised how quickly the broke in and the leather became very comfortable.They've felt and looked great so far but I've only had them for a few days. O should mention that I stand up and walk around at work for at least 6 hours a day and my feet have felt pretty good in these shoes.Only reason I didn't give them a full 5 stars is colour (in my opinion) is slightly darker than what true burgundy loafers should be, making them seem in certain lighting to be just a lighter shade of brown.

They have great design, a bit tight on the arch

These are beautifully made shoes, so if you can fit you'll probably be happy. BUT, the toe box is too low, too tight. I have no problem with XW or 3X Bass Weejun penny loafers (Bass doesn't make wide widths anymore and before they stopped production of those they cheapened the penny loafer design) or Rockport penny loafers. So, if you have a high instep, move on.Update, despite the listing saying "free returns", I've been charged a $13 restocking fee. Shameful!

Some will scoff at the durability of a leather sole, don't wear them without overshoes in inclement weather, but these shoes will mold to your foot in a way that rubber or elastomer soles cannot. Once properly molded to your foot, these shoes are incomparable in comfort, more like wearing a ballet slipper than a dress shoe. If you need high arch support you may need a pair of orthotics to slip in these, otherwise a thin insole is advised if desired. I prefer to use cordovan shoe polish that over time gives these shoes a purplish hue around the edges and I use black leather dye as edge dressing for the sole because it does not build up.

This concerns Florsheim Berkley penny loafers style 17058. I wore such shoes perhaps 60 years ago. That is the context for these comments concerning a pair I recently purchased. I received my purchase in a florsheim shoebox contained in a plastic bag emblazoned with the notice "lighter than our smallest box", a distraction from the fact that the primary purpose of a container is to protect the contents. Fortunately the shoe box was only slightly squashed and the weapon that punctured the top did not penetrate to anything vital. Contents were mostly as one expects for shoes in a shoebox, aside from the tissue packing in the toes being very firmly entrenched. The first thing I noticed is the color, although a reddish brown, it does not look like the cordovan (the color, not the leather) I recall. It seems not as red, or deep, and too uniform. The only markings, are on the inset, and the sole, and under the tongue, which is difficult to see, and where I confirmed the size and found they were made in Vietnam. The shoes appeared narrow, but when I tried them on they fit fine (size 10D). The sewing is not completely uniform, with the most egregious site being the significant intrusion of the beef roll stitching into the interior of the right shoe, on the left side. In the other instances that stitching is (mostly) hidden. The sole is stitched to the moccasin upper/sock. I was expecting I would be able to have the shoes resoled when needed, but I wonder about this construction. The shoe is unlined, which is as I recall.

They are a beautiful shoe, but the size isn't right I used to wear a size 10 1/2 D. A size 11.5 EEE should measure 11 3/8 'long. That's the size of my size 11.5 E Bontonian's. I have to send these back because they only measure 11 1/8 " long. I am sure that I will be happy with a size 12 EEE . The problem is that these foreign countries are measuring wrong. They're doing the same thing with belts. I wear a size 34, when I buy a new belt, I have to buy a size 36. No, I didn't get a bigger waist I still fit in the 3rd hole on my size 34 five year old belts.We may have to start getting these things made in the USA if they can't do it right overseas.