Advice on shoes...

[Spartan Tartan]

I'm a fan of the last pair for a couple reasons. I prefer smooth leather shoes because I can polish them up real nice and keep them looking new much more easily. And, as for the sole...it has to be leather. That's a requirement for me. Echoing others comments, for me those would be well worth the $$$ and likely last as long as you care to keep them.

Just my 2 cents.

[fortcollinsjerry]

IMHO any of the black shoes with leather soles would look fine - espcially after you wear them for a week every day to break them in. Nothing like sore painful foot wear at a fling. Also the black's with a nice military spit shine will look very eligant especially if you dye and spit shine the instep like I use to do when I was in The Corps. Attention to detail

[English Bloke]

Send a PM to X Marks member DWFII. He is a highly skilled and kilted shoemaker based in the USA. See if he can't put you a custom pair together. There is a thread about his shoes here. A fantastic read and a great insight into his craft.