About Johnston & Murphy
Founded in 1850, Johnson & Murphy can look back on over 100 years of experience in the manufacture of high quality footwear. With a captivating history of outfitting presidents and world-class musicians, Johnston & Murphy has a strong track record and is recognised by eminent officials and laymen alike. With its international shops, Johnston & Murphy serves men and women with a commitment to reinventing classics. This Johnston & Murphy footwear review will explore the key elements of the brand and help you make an informed buying decision.
Overview of Johnston & Murphy
Johnston & Murphy has its humble beginnings in Newark, USA, in the home of founder William J. Dudley. In the decade before the American Civil War, the brand was originally called The William J. Dudley Shoe Company when it was founded in 1850. William J. Dudley’s small business rose to prominence when the company clothed its first president.
The 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore, was an elegant man who favoured dark suits. That first momentous fitting led to a lively history of ‘shoeing’ each successive president. Johnston & Murphy catered to the individual tastes of each US head of state, outfitting Abraham ‘Honest Abe’ Lincoln with a size 14 lace-up boot. The brand’s timeless classics are constantly being reinvented and were most recently worn by President Barack Obama.
In 1886, the company changed its name to Johnston & Murphy. The namesakes were associated with the company, business partners and friends who were anchored in the history of shoemaking. Ulysses S. Grant opted for knee-high riding boots, while Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, who was a hunter and forester through and through, opted for robust dress boots.
Johnston & Murphy positioned itself in a class of its own on the market in the late 19th century and was described in the magazines of the time as ‘the first port of call when it comes to elegant clothing’. The iconic brand continues to influence men’s and women’s style. Their approach to women’s shoes was to ‘borrow from the boys, but do it better’. That sounds like feminism to me.
Johnston & Murphy are popular because they dress the well-dressed. The brand is committed to reviving the classics in their most stylish form. To summarise this review of Johnston & Murphy shoes, we’ll take a look at the brand’s strengths and weaknesses:
Advantages
- Historic outfitting of presidents and other famous Americans
- Premium shoes with a mid-range price point
- Crafted for comfort with features such as memory foam cushioning and sheepskin lining
- Classic with a modern twist
- Thoughtful details and fashion-forward collections
- Johnston & Murphy shoes can be purchased at many locations
- Free returns and exchanges
Cons
- Poor customer service
- Overbearing shop staff
- Customers reported that the shoes fell apart due to poor quality
Johnston & Murphy Men’s Shoes Review
Johnston & Murphy offers hundreds of high-quality lace-up shoes, loafers, sneakers, boots, sandals and dress shoes. In this report on Johnston & Murphy shoes, we cannot present the entire collection, so we have analysed the most popular models for men:
Johnston & Murphy Copeland Chukka Boot
The chukka boot has a fascinating history dating back to the game of polo. Chukka’ refers to a period of play, and the boots became popular after the Duke of Windsor brought them back to Britain from his trip to India in 1924. This ‘desert boot’ was later worn by British Army soldiers during the desert campaign in the Second World War.
Johnston & Murphy has embraced the heritage of this old-fashioned boot. The Copeland Chukka boot is available in black tumbled full-grain leather or tan oiled full-grain leather for $159, with select styles also available in suede for $100 and $129. Your feet will stay warm in a soft sheepskin lining. The Copeland is equipped with memory foam cushioning and a genuine crepe rubber sole.
Once you put it on for the first time, it will become your favourite shoe. In our review of Johnston & Murphy shoes, many customers have commented that the Copeland Chukka is so comfortable that they bought a second pair and basically live in the boots.
Johnston & Murphy Holden Penny Loafer
The style of the penny loafer became popular around 80 years after the brand was founded, inspired by the loafers worn by Norwegian farmers in the 1930s. The classic penny loafer is every boy’s first shoe for special occasions, it becomes every college boy’s well-worn favourite, and eventually finds its place as an office shoe. The Johnston & Murphy loafers take the essence of the classic penny loafer and give it a modern interpretation, which is reflected in the shock-absorbing, flexible EVA sole.
While your first pair of penny loafers may have been stiff and led to a lousy blister or two, the Holden Penny Loafers are innovatively constructed, fusing time-honoured style with ultra-lightweight, cushioned comfort. It combines the best of past and present: genuine leather ensures a great fit and feel with memory foam cushioning. With the leather frame, you can wear the Holdens all day and all night. Available in tan full grain leather for $139.
Johnston & Murphy Conard Wingtip
The wingtip style has been around for at least 400 years, with Scottish/Irish origins in the 16th or 17th century. With the Conard Wingtip from Johnston & Murphy, the devil is in the intricate details. If you yearn to be an eye-catcher, handcrafted Italian leather could be your thing.
A review of Johnston & Murphy shoes proved the versatility of the Conard Wingtip: You can wear it up or down, with two pairs of laces in matching or contrasting colours. The sole and heel are rubber, and the leather lining and padded insole provide luxurious comfort. For $130, you can choose between mahogany or black Italian calf leather and strut your stuff.
Johnston & Murphy Women’s Shoes Review
Johnston & Murphy’s range for women is much more limited than that for men. Nevertheless, there are over 70 styles of sneakers, mules, flats, heels, wedges and sandals for women to choose from. In this Johnston & Murphy shoe review, some of the best-selling styles have been carefully selected:
Johnston & Murphy Laina Heels
Every woman wants to create a surprise effect. Imagine if you could pull it off with exquisite cut-outs, a delicate strap and no pedicure. The answer to your prayers and pleas is the unusual shape and atmospheric floral sole of the Laina heels.
The Lainas are available in denim goat suede, black nappa leather and sand-coloured goat suede for $169. It’s hard to believe that a T-strap pump with a modern almond toe can be comfortable all day long, but Johnston & Murphy have stayed true to their word since 1850.
The Laina heel has a few tricks that make it so livable: It’s lined with sheepskin, has a cushioned footbed and a buckle strap with hidden elastic. Not bad, is it, ladies? With all these tricks and a rubber sole, the 2 ⅝’ block heel is a real insider tip. Whether elegant with a trouser suit or stunning with a summer dress, these shoes will attract all eyes (and your legs).
Johnston & Murphy Petrina Mules
The name of this shoe is derived from the Latin mulleus, an ancient ceremonial shoe. The Petrina mules from Johnston & Murphy are a testament to the opulence of a bygone era. Available in silver Italian leopard print and white nappa leather, black nappa leather and leopard hair calfskin or taupe goat suede/dusty metallic goat suede, the Petrina is sumptuous yet affordable at $159.
Mules are practical by nature, but Johnston & Murphy has combined the pragmatic with chic metallic colours and glamorous animal prints to create the modern Petrina. These mules are crafted for comfortwith a leather lining, a cushioned footbed and a rubber sole. The ⅝’ leather-wrapped stacked heel offers just enough lift to hit your trouser leg in all the right places.
Are Johnston & Murphy Shoes Good?
In our review of Johnston & Murphy shoes, we looked at what customers think of the traditional brand. The review started well with one customer describing the shoes as ‘legendary quality’ backed up by ‘exceptional’ customer service. Other customers were delighted with the variety and style of the shoes and said they were very comfortable the first time they wore them.
Things went downhill from there. Many customers complained about the overbearing staff in the shops. Others had to have the seams of the shoes repaired within a few months after wearing them mainly indoors. The soles of some shoes were coming loose and the leather lining was worn out. One person complained about the quality of the shoe material: in their experience, the heel was so stiff that it caused pressure points on the foot. Overall, many customers came to the conclusion that the shoes were of inferior quality.
Our review of Johnston & Murphy shoes emphasised that the shoes are elegant, innovative and feature fine details. They rival their higher-priced competitors in style and their comfort exceeds that of other mid-range brands. However, when push comes to shove, you get what you pay for and the quality of the materials doesn’t hold up. Whilst on the surface the shoes meet every standard, their durability has failed the test and the in-store experience was disheartening enough to deter customers from returning.
Johnston & Murphy Promotions & Discounts
We’ve tried our best to find deals on these Johnston & Murphy shoes, but there aren’t any available at the moment. Check their website regularly for updates on a new Johnston & Murphy coupon or Johnson & Murphy promo code.
Where to Buy Johnston & Murphy
Johnston & Murphy products can be purchased in their retail shops and outlet stores around the world, as well as through their website. A review of Johnston & Murphy shoes revealed that many other retailers carry the brand:
- The Shoe Company
- Walking on a cloud
- Foot Sensations
- Andrew’s Shoes
- DSW
- The Cove
- Nordstrom
- Dillard’s
- Macy’s
FAQ
Johnston & Murphy Sizing
We want to be as informative as possible in this Johnston & Murphy shoe review, so here’s everything you need to know about sizes:
Johnston & Murphy shipping conditions
Johnston & Murphy offers ground shipping for standard orders, which are delivered within 3-5 business days. Express orders must be placed before 1:00 PM CST Monday through Thursday. If your order is placed after 1:00 PM, it will be processed the next day. Orders processed on Friday will be delivered on Monday or Tuesday, depending on the delivery method. FedEx Ground does not deliver to PO Boxes.
- Shipping costs are calculated based on the total amount of your merchandise before tax and shipping.
- Johnston & Murphy only ships to the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and APO/FPO addresses.
- Orders shipped to Alaska and Hawaii must be converted to 2-Day or Next-Day shipping.
Johnston & Murphy returns policy
Johnston & Murphy has high standards for its products and attaches great importance to your satisfaction and comfort. That’s why our Johnston & Murphy shoe review found that they offer free returns and exchanges. Johnston & Murphy will exchange or refund unworn or defective merchandise within 90 days of the date of purchase.
- Enclose your receipt/return form with the merchandise.
- You will receive the refund in the original form of payment
- The refund will include the price of the product and any taxes charged.
- The original shipping costs will not be refunded on exchanges.
- Items sent to the Johnston & Murphy warehouse cannot be returned.
If you wish to return an item by post, complete the simple online form on the website and enclose the pre-paid label from your original parcel. You can also process returns through Johnston & Murphy shops.
Contact Johnston & Murphy
- For further questions beyond this review of Johnston & Murphy shoes, you can contact the company in the following ways:
- In the ‘Contact Us’ section of the website, fill out the required fields and submit your comment
- For the fastest response, call (800) 424-2854
- Johnston & Murphy is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST.
- johnstonmurphy.com
