Customer Reviews Johnston & Murphy Holden Plain Toe Oxford

Nice presentation but not very comfortable, tight across the bridge of foot and too much room at heel. Buy all my shoes from JM but this design is not doing it for me. Would not recommend to a friend.

I like these shoes and I feel like they are good quality. Currently the back edge and along the ankle bone is stiff and sharp. I believe they will soften as they stretch and break in.

The shoe is approximately 1/2 size too small. I normally wear 11-1/2 but waiting for an exchange to a 12.

Good fit and look, very comfortable. Leather scratches way too easily - constantly having to wipe it down w/ a leather conditioner

When these shoes were new in June, they gave me blisters on the backs of my feet. My opinion is there is not enough padding in the heel. Now that the shoes are broken in (along with my feet...), they are rubbing under my ankles under my ankles. Perhaps the soles are worn or compressed now, so that my feet sit lower in the shoe. I have been pleased with my other shoes from J&M, but not these. I expected better comfort for the price.

I own this same shoe in a brown and LOVE IT. For some reason I cannot get the leather on this grey to break in. I skin my right heal and bleed every time I wear this shoe. My son owns the same shoe and loves it but I just have a pair of shoes that sits in my closet unused haunting me.

These shoes are fine. They look pretty good. I got the tan oiled and I like them enough, but they scrape easy and start to show it early. You have to be careful. And sadly, they're kind of uncomfortable to me. Not terrible, but enough that I always "can't wait" to get them off 3/4 of the way into the day. It's in the heel, and honestly lots of new shoes bother my heels at first, but it usually goes away pretty quickly with good shoes. And never even happens w/ great shoes sometimes. But I've worn these consistently for a year and they're still uncomfortable. Which is odd, b/c I had a stretch of wearing a lot of J&M early in my career/corporate days, and their calling card was comfort then.

Right shoe was damaged- sent back to be exchanged for new pair. Not anticipating issues as J&M has always been great to work with.

I loved my last 3 pairs - can't remember the style name but they don't appear on your website any longer. These new Holden's are fairly stiff initially and can cause some irritation around the foot and ankle. I had none of that with the previous style. I'm sure they will break in but was surprised to have to deal with that this time.

I am replacing the cap toe Holden from a few years back, and the leather appeared and felt far better than this shoe.

Leather is a little cheap looking and they are very very stiff. My husband hasn't even worn them yet. A little disappointing. My son has another older style that my husband and you were out so tried these. But not good

Very stiff area around ankle area and not very supportive.

Fit it too small, and kind of uncomfortable overall. Would not recommend.

This shoe was very narrow and had to be sent back. The original width was a medium.

Shoe was advertised heavily for comfort. I have found that it is not comfortable at all

Nice style but to tight

Not comfortable

I don't care for the color. Too yellow green shade leather. (I prefer reddish)

Nice, well made shoe but unwearable out of the box. I had blisters on my heals after the first day of wearing them

Shoe is very well made and stylish but they completely chewed up my heels. Maybe they need some serious breaking period but out of the box they're unwearable. I could barely get through my day.

This is my second pair of Holden plain toe shoes. I love the shoe, they're very comfortable. So I ordered a second pair, same size 10, just in a different color. The second pair arrived recently and it's noticeably smaller. So much so I couldn't fit my foot into the shoe even though it is marked as the same size my original pair are marked. I did notice on the inside tongue of the shoe, the original pair were manufactured in Vietnam. The second pair was manufactured in India. I am highly disappointed in the quality control displayed by this change in manufacturing sites. Size 10 should be standard across all manufacturing lines, especially if you want to sell online.

Ran very small, got a size 10 and it was killing my feet. Not like I have wide feet at all. Looked great though

The edging where my foot slipped into the shoe was thin and "sharp" It cut into my foot and heel. As I walked the sides around the foot flopped in and out wearing on the foot and leading to discomfort.

Overall, it is a great concept. True to size, good style, good fit. The shoe is lightweight and well constructed. The sole is soft and responsive when walking. Styling is classic J M. The biggest knock on the shoe? The Top Line above the heel cap is not cushioned and extremely rigid. Since it lacks padding, be cautious during the break in period. After the first day, I got cuts on both heels, where the top line digs into your skin. I have used conditioner, but still breaking them in. I had to use bandaids to keep wearing them. I spent plenty of time in the military hiking with no issues or blister history. These top lines above the heel cap is very rigid. I don't know why they didn't add some padding. Break in with caution.

Historically I buy Johnston Murphy shoes for the comfortable fit. I don't feel these shoes fit that brand image at all. Maybe my fault, I went with a lower price model and they just are not nearly at the comfort level I have come to expect from the Johnston Murphy brand. I'm still recovering from blisters on the back of my heel.