Here's a couple of shoe tidbits.

Quality. In early eighties, I was living in NC near Pinehurst. There was a small shoe repair shop that was highly recommended. I remember the old guy lecturing me about how the quality of the shoes he was asked to repair had basically gone to hell. He was showing me why my Florsheims were junk. Cork in the sole. That was then, imagine what is inside the typical shoe now days.

Fit. I walked into a very nice department store in Columbus OH, years ago.
As I strolled into the shoe department the shoe came up to me an said, "Your shoes don't fit" I accepted his challenge and sure enough he was correct. I had always worn 12 1/2 Narrow or B. He fit me in 13 A or B depending on the last.

Shoe Lasts. Lasts are the mold that shoes are made around. When you find a style that fits perfectly you can ask for the last number. Then you can look at other styles made on the same last. I believe I am correct in stating that the the Allen Edmunds site lists the last for each style.

If you have extremely wide or extremely narrow feet, then you will always wear fairly expensive shoes, because nothing else fits.

Steve