Funny timing--I just spent $320 on two pairs of shoes yesterday.
Both were Allen Edmonds, one made in Italy, the other in USA (Branded Brooks Brothers).
I have a LOT of shoes, some inherited from my dad and grandpa, some I've bought. I have 2 pairs of shoes that I wear to death--Ecco's. These were bought at Nordstrom Rack or an Ecco outlet for about $100 each, same shoe, one brown and one black. I've been wearing them 4 days a week (2 days each) for about 3 years now and figure I have another 3 years in them based on the wear so far.
My Allen Edmonds (about 8 pairs) are almost all WAY dressier--I wear these when I meet with executives, for weddings and funerals, interviews, or nice dinners. Figure they're worn each about once a month. I have 2 pairs of 2 different styles that are exactly the same, and keep one at work and one at home. Most of these are at least 20 years old and would wear MUCH MUCH better than my Ecco's, but aren't quite as comfortable--but still way better than the Steve Maddens I bought one time.
Fact is, my grandpa passed me on some AE's that we figured out were at least 25 years old. The things are built to last. I'll happily pay to have them resoled when the time comes, on all of them.
Now, to get political here: I think that the USA needs to either do away with the minimum wage, or impose enormous tarriffs on countries without similar labor laws. It probably cost Steve Madden $3 to make the shoe I pay $60 for. It probably cost Allen Edmonds $50 to make the shoe that I bought for $200 yesterday. I will happily pay a living wage to a guy in Wisconsin instead of lining the pockets of some investor.