A few weeks ago I asked for any feedback people had on clothes valets (a place to stage your outfit for the next day). A few had some great pieces but many noted having no experience. Per their request, here is my feedback on the valet I purchased on Black Friday via Amazon from Proman Products. Great color, sturdy design easy to assemble. The top sections with slots and drawers was what set this apart from other options. It has a basic electrical extension cord to charge a phone (etc), but I will likely remove this as all of the area are too small to hold a large smartphone. I like the wood at the base for shoes as it forces me to check the condition of my shoes the night before. The shapes hanger in the back is perfectly size for my should sizing in my tailored jackets. The ere is nearly space for everything with one major omission: the dress shirt. The hooks underneath are too low to the ground so I have taken to hanging the shirt off of the top of the suit hanger, which forebodes of scratching the nice wood finish on the hanger. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

I’ve trusted Allen Edmonds for years because their Recrafting program is marketed as a heritage-level service — “the same craftsmen, the same machines, the same processes that built your shoes originally.” That message carries weight. It implies precision, pride, and an old-world standard of care. My recent recraft, however, revealed a very different reality — one that required persistence, escalation, and far more involvement from me than any customer should have to supply. Here is the full story, exactly as it unfolded with my custom patina A&Es October 8 – I purchased the recraft service with full confidence in the brand. October 20 – The shoes were shipped back as “completed.” A 12-day turnaround might look efficient, but the work told a different story. They looked rushed — uneven finishing, shape inconsistencies, and nothing close to the meticulous standard AE advertises. October 24 – I sent them back for correction. Any customer familiar with AE’s craftsmanship language would have done the same. The shoes simply didn’t reflect the level of detail they claim their recrafting is built upon. October 28 – AE received the returned shoes. According to their policy, I was supposed to receive recommendations and updates within 5–7 business days. Instead, I heard nothing. No updates. No action. No accountability. For weeks, the shoes sat. The process stalled. And the brand that built its name on service and heritage craftsmanship went quiet. Mid-November (Saturday) – I escalated the issue directly to the General Manager. Let me be clear: nothing moved until I did this. No progress, no traction, no corrective action. Within two days of contacting the GM, everything shifted. Updates came. Timelines were clarified. Work actually began. The contrast was stark. November 19–25 – I was given the new projected completion window. Ironically, this longer timeframe — nearly three times the length of the original recraft — said exactly what I had suspected: the first “completed” job was rushed. True craftsmanship requires time.

I got a mates wedding next year. I had a wedding recently for another mate and the shoe started falling apart and then completely disintegrated on the way home. Thankfully it held up until the end. I heard that rubber soled dress shoes need to be worn regularly. I guess that's what happens when there aren't enough weddings between the previous time I worn them and the recent wedding. I'm specifically looking for a shoe that would work in formal situations but one that I can use at less formal situations too so I can get more use out of it. I like the idea of RM Williams Chelsea boots but they are ridiculously expensive and quality has apparently dropped in recent years. But if they last 5 - 10 years of moderate wear, I could justify the purchase as I'd be saving in the long run of having to replace cheaper shoes. Any recommendations? I'm in Australia so Aussie recommendations preferred (shipping from USA is crazy). Many thanks

My dealer's name is Thursday.

I said when I moved into my own spot; I would purchase a watch case. Threw most of the watches in from out my nic-nack box