For more than 30 years I've searched for a true everyday-wear wide width dress shoe. For most of that time I wore Red Wing wingtip oxfords. They were durable, comfortable, and well worth the extra money. Unfortunately they only went out to a 4E width and I wear a 6E. As good as they were, they would still begin breaking over after 6-8 months and inevitably fail at the outside seam after a few years (actually pretty good considering I was averaging 6-8 months per pair before I found the RW's). Around 2015 or so Red Wing dropped the model temporarily, bringing it back in widths only out to 3E. Just not enough for my hammy hooves.
Enter Drew Shoes. They are an orthotic footwear maker but have a line of dress shoes, one in wingtip. Glory of glories they also have it in a true 6E width. They aren't terribly spendy for a good dress shoe so I got a pair. It is the first time in my life I've had a store-bought dress shoe that actually fit. They're also the first dress shoes I've ever had that didn't start breaking over the outer edge in less than a year. I'm 18 months in and the uppers are still in fantastic condition with no sign of breakover or undue materials wear. A bonus are the double insoles, made that way because of the focus on orthotic footwear (for custom inserts, if needed). I average several miles a day on my feet and the extra cushion has proven a godsend.
The downsides? Well, the thick soles make them a bit aesthetically clunky but it's a minor trade-off given the fit and durability. The steel shank in the sole takes a bit of getting used to if your accustomed to thinly-soled footwear. Finally, the toe box is HUGE, though the perception may also be from my never having owned a pair of dress shoes wide enough to fit properly. Aside from those piddly issues I have yet to find anything about them I dislike.
http://www.drewshoe.com/storeproduct883.aspx
Brad
