When it comes to dress shoes and loafers, I have written about my favorite companies before.
And typically, those companies sell shoes that are a bit more on the expensive side. But I’m always open to reviewing dress shoes that are not expensive and are affordable for men who don’t want to spend over a hundred dollars for a pair of dress shoes.
A company that has been targeting the budget-conscious man and woman with its numerous dress shoes and sold on Amazon is the company, Journey West.
Made in China, I decided to give Journey West a try. And I was quite pleased with the comfort,fit and price of the company’s penny loafers.
But now I’m going to review another Journey West product and that is their Belgian loafers.
Well, Belgian Loafers are shoes that guys either love or hate.
I am a member of many men’s style forums and each time one posts a photo of them sporting the Belgian loafer, you get a group of guys that give a thumbs up, and another half that give the thumbs down.
Some call Belgian loafers as slippers in leather (or other material) with the small bow (some companies use a smaller tassel) on top and typically with rubber soles. These were meant for casual, indoor use and not for walking long distances, nor are they to be worn during wet weather or at wet environments.
The popularity in the US, mostly the wealthy goes back as far in the ’40s thanks to Henri Bendel (who brought Chanel to the US and his shop still exists in Manhattan), you can spot one wearing them in New York and was popular in the ’60s and ’70s among the Ivy League preps. But you can find Belgians today in the swaggiest of styles, leather and non-leather, alligator skin, suede, linen, wool or some type of print.
These days you can spot men and women wearing them in metropolitan areas or upscale areas.
I have to admit, I was surprised to see Journey West, a Chinese company specializing in affordable shoes releasing a Belgian loafer. Many shoe companies don’t usually delve into producing these shoes, because most men tend to stick with the penny loafer or other dress shoes, may it be oxfords, derbys or brogues. Shoes that tend to sell.
So, let’s take a look at the Journey West Belgian Loafer. For one, they are under $100. Luxury leather Belgian Loafers tend to go for $500 with a stacked wooden heel.
These loafers feature a rubber sole, Journey West emphasizes that this loafer is made of 100% genuine leather (not PU leather) insole. Available in black or tan, I went for the tan version which is lighter brown (or camel) with a darker brown trim and dark brown bow.
The soles are stitched, uppers are glued and how they will hold up in the long run, one would have to wear them a lot to give them that big of a test. But I didn’t expect anything significant, considering the price.
I went with the usual size I get for shoes and similar to their penny loafers, the fit is very good and comfortable.
Similar to how I feel about the Journey West Penny Loafers, these are good shoes for the under $100 price. These are for people who want Belgian loafers at an affordable price and are not going to spend over a thousand dollars for Hermes or several hundred dollars from Belgian Shoes.
I do feel Journey West does need to get rid of the yellow box design (as I felt in my last review of a Journey West shoe, they need to go black or dark gray) and the addition of a plastic shoe horn is a nice touch for an affordable shoe.
For the price and the quality at under $100 and knowing for those looking at this shoe, are more than likely not looking to spend several more hundred, then this shoe gets a five star from me.
