The Shoepassion Shoe Review

I think that it is no secret that the men’s dress shoe market is far better in Europe than it is here in the States.  This is due in large part to a proliferation of brands both old and new that sell well made and well designed shoes both online and off.  Of these brands is Shoepassion.  A German brand that has its shoe made in Spain and sells only through its website and store in Berlin.

Shoepassion launched in February 2010 and was founded by Tim Keding and Henry Bokemeier, however, I have been in contact with Tobias Borner who is Shoepassion’s PR and based on the idea of providing English style Goodyear welted dress shoes and boots at a lower price.  Shoepassion is able to maintain lower prices for its shoes relative to the market by selling directly to its customer, effectively cutting out wholesalers and other middlemen.

I think it is easiest to categorize Shoepassion’s collection into two categories; conservative and contemporary.  Although they segment their collection into formal, contemporary, exotic (from which my shoe is from but there are other models in calf hair, python and ostrich) and boots.  There are shoes in all 4 collections that I do and don’t like.  I was particularly interested in some of the models from the exotic collection.  They have a few classic styles in exotic skins that really caught my eye.  So after some discussion, Tobias and I agreed that the No. 470 would be a suitable shoe for review (249euro or around $280 if you are outside the EU, you have to take off the 19% V.A.T.)  .  The No. 470is a brown deerskin wingtip (although the description says it is black, it is most certainly brown) and without sounding too childish, it’s pretty awesome.

In short these are some great shoes for the money (around $280 exl V.A.T.).  I cannot knock them at all on the quality, construction and finishing fronts.  The only complaints I have are that the last is a bit voluminous for my taste and that the shoes run a little large.  Which as long as you are okay with the former and know about the latter you shouldn’t have a problem with Shoepassion’s shoes.  That said, I can’t speak for some of the other lasts and models they have but I would imagine they are of equal quality.  So if you are in the market for some more classically styled dress shoes in the $300 price range I recommend you check out Shoepassion.

–JLJ

Note: FYGblog did receive the shoes being reviewed in exchange for this review.  As always, the utmost effort was taken to maintain an unbiased perspective on the product at hand.