Andrew Davis was one of the first stores in the United States to carry the On brand—a cushiony Swiss running shoe with lightweight, patented sole. This pair comes with no-tie laces and is often worn as a slip-on casual. photos by Rodney Margison

photos by RODNEY MARGISON

by TRACY ZOLLINGER TURNER

With a curated collection of men’s clothing and accessories that come from all over the world, Andrew Davis Clothiers has provided menswear in Bloomington since 2008. The store’s selections are hand-picked by owner Andy Mallor and General Manager Macey Dale, who routinely travel to the fashion centers of the world in search of what Mallor calls “the best collections with our attitude.” 

The store’s shoe selection includes styles and shoes by designers that are difficult to find in large Midwestern cities, let alone a market the size of Bloomington, Mallor says. Customers come from around the region for handcrafted footwear by European artisans and contemporary, innovative designers—especially those who are part of the current trend toward high-end comfort in menswear, which Mallor refers to as “Friday dressing.” 

“We see a lot of people wearing elegant trainers or sneakers with suits or sportscoats, both for comfort and style,” Mallor explains. “The casualization of formal footwear is not about dressing in what you would wear to a barbecue, it’s about looking good and creating presence. All of dressing is about creating presence, and footwear is one of the most important ways to do that.”

These cap-toe Oxfords by Magnanni have the artisanal brand’s signature burnished finish, but leather soles make them a more elegant dress shoe.               
These waterproof suede and leather Johnston & Murphy sneakers are “part of this comfort revolution” in footwear, says Mallor, who spent a rainy Chicago weekend wearing a pair. “They really are waterproof,” he says, “and comfort personified.”
Gray canvas suede slip-ons designed by SeaVees, a California-based line. “If you go into the best shoe stores in Italy, this is the fashion you will see,” Andy Mallor says.  
The look of old-school penny loafers has been updated by Trask, the Montana company that produced these black leather shoes.       
Handmade in Italy, these leather Santoni sneakers exist in the upper echelon of high-end men’s footwear when it comes to cost, says Mallor, but “they are our most comfortable and sought-after shoes.” This pair comes in navy, cognac, a darker shade of brown, and black.