I have a question on AE uppers, as I am one who has fallen in love with the shoe and my collection grows exponentially! I have read that in the past AE made some more entry level shoes w/ uppers that were not calf, but am questioning a pair that I just thrifted, which appear/feel like several others that I have.

The latest pair that raises questions are a pair of Park Avenue's in Burgundy or Merlot (I find myself ignorant as to the difference). The upper on this pair of PA's feel and look much different than on my Black PA's. For that matter, I have several pair in the same shade that appear to be what I might think is corrected grain perhaps, all in this Burgundy or Merlot. To qualify the color, I have a pair of Manchester's that are a nice deep color, what I would think of more as burgundy and the leather feels soft and supple like many of my other AE's. The color of the shoes in question appears a little "brighter" red and feels closer to a pair of patent leathers than that of other AE's I have. My current collection of the "suspect" upper/color is: Park Avenue, Fairfield, Saxon. As I said the leather of these feel different when compared to: Park Avenue (Black), Strand (Black and Walnut), Manchester (Black and Burgundy?), Jermyn (Walnut), Broadstreet (Black/Burgundy), Cody (Chili).

Thank you for your assistance.