Arlington · Est. 1972
Fitted forwidth
Shoe size is the least reliable number in menswear. Width and last shape decide whether a shoe hurts.
Alan Payne shoes at The Man’s Shop in Arlington, fitted rather than sold by size. Most men wear the correct length in the wrong width and conclude dress shoes are simply uncomfortable. They are not — the shoe was wrong.
What matters
Worth knowing
- Width first
- The measurement most men have never been given. It is where the pain comes from, not the length.
- Last shape
- Two shoes marked the same size fit differently depending on the last. No chart captures this.
- Late in the day
- Feet swell as the day goes on. A shoe fitted at nine can be tight by six.
- Heel fit
- Your heel should not lift as you walk. If it does, the shoe is wrong however comfortable the toe feels.
- Cedar trees
- Unfashionable advice that works. They hold shape and draw moisture out overnight, which is what actually extends the life of a shoe.
The process
Two visits, not five
- First appointment
- About an hour. Cloth, measurements, and a conversation about how you actually wear the garment.
- Build
- Four to six weeks. Nothing is rushed and nothing is sent overseas without us knowing where it is.
- Collection
- Twenty minutes. Anything needing adjustment goes to Enrique, who works on site.
- Alterations
- Included on what we make. There is no separate bill at collection.
- Afterwards
- Your pattern stays on file, so the next order is a phone call.
Common questions
Shoes, answered
What size shoe should I buy?
Whichever fits the width, which is frequently not the size you assume. Most men have never had their width measured and have spent years assuming dress shoes are meant to pinch.
How should I care for leather shoes?
Cedar trees overnight, a brush after wearing, and polish occasionally rather than constantly. Most damage comes from wearing a pair before it has dried out, not from lack of polish.
What color should my first pair be?
Dark brown. It works with navy, gray and tan, which is most of a wardrobe, and it is less severe than black. Black is the second pair, bought when something genuinely formal calls for it.
Where are you and what are your hours?
100 S. West Street in downtown Arlington, parking beside the building. Monday to Saturday, ten until five, closed Sundays.
Arlington to Arlington
Book with Patrick or Austin
One hour to measure. Four to six weeks to build.
Book with PatrickBook with Austin
100 S. West Street, Arlington, Texas 76010
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday
(817) 265-1116