Hands On: Oak Street Bootmakers

A few months ago if you were to claim that the made in the U.S.A. penny loafer was dead you wouldn't necessarily be wrong.  Despite a return to the preppy aesthetic, of which this type of shoe is a cornerstone, there seemed to be a lack of quality options in the marketplace.  Yes, you could always get a cheap pair from Bass or Sebago as many of us have, but there was always the purist in the back of your head telling you, "It's just not the same".  For those of us looking for the real deal we were, more or less, out of luck.  If you made a similar claim today in regards to the death of the U.S.A. made penny loafer I would first tell you to stop your whining and then tell you to head over to Chicago's own Oak Street Bootmakers.  Someone decided to not only do it, but do it right.  The perfect penny loafer exists and it is a thing of beauty.  Handcrafted right here in the United States, Oak Street's beefroll penny loafer is everything you want.  The Horween Chromexcel leather speaks for itself.  It's tough, but looks equally elegant on a shoe you are going to want to dress up every once in a while.  Getting hands on with these shoes is the best way to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each pair.  The hand-stitched moccasin construction is immaculate, as is the welt.  The stacked leather heel and sole are substantial and extremely comfortable when combined with the form-fitting insole (my favorite feature).  Looks have always been there when it comes to the beefroll penny - no one is doubting that.  It's as classic as classic gets and versatile like none other.  So what were we waiting for?  Well, I was waiting for someone to do it justice at the right price.  Oak Street did just that.  As I put these on my feet and walked around in them for the first time I could have sworn I heard a gavel struck somewhere off in the distance.  Case closed.

-L.A.S