Allen Edmonds Appreciation Thread - reviews, pictures, sizing, etc...

[wdahab]



I'm going to have to disagree with some of you on the durability of shell, especially when it comes to scrapes. I have a pair of Alden shell LHS that I scratched on a barstool. No matter what I do to them, I cannot get the scrapes out. I tried a deer polishing bone, brushing, buffing, etc, but nothing works. I took them to B. Nelson shoes, and Nick told me there really isn't anything that can be done.

I also spilled a little kitchen grease on them, but didn't notice until several hours later. The grease left behind dark spots on the shoe. I tried buffing, brushing, etc. on those spots too. Nick also gave it a shot, but nothing worked.

If I had done either of the above on a pair of calf shoes, chances are, I could have gotten the stains out and/or polished over the stains and scrapes to the point where they would be unnoticeable.

Depends on what the scratches look like. If it's a gouge, where the surface of the leather is actually torn, then any material is going to suffer from that. While using my shell boots as real durable boots, they haven't gotten any gouges or surface tears, and that's from plenty of exposure to things that would destroy calf (exposed metal, scuffed on rocks, etc.) My calf shoes though, very often get surface tears on the toe just from the occasional bump, just a light tear to the grain and that's that, permanent.

For just scratches, well, this is going to be a subjective thing. When shell is scratched, the scratch can easily be buffed out 90%, but not 100%. I have tons of scratches on my shell boots, they appear as just lots of fine lines all over the place, especially after I give them a water brushing. For a quick fix, I lick my thumb and rub the scratch hard, usually blends it right into the shoe. The difference is that with calf or CXL, those scratches never get so indistinct, they always show as discolorations (though CXL can be rubbed out to some extent). You can wax over them if you'd like, but they are still scratched.

If you're looking for a leather that will end up looking 100% brand new always, well, you're never going to find that. Shell is much more durable. It isn't invulnerable.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

for a heavy scrape, any type of leather can show a permanent mar. but for light scrapes, shell can be restored, where leather could oftentimes not be, not to mention the creasing you don't get with shell.

see this video at 8:00 -

I know this is nit-picking, but since you've said it several times, I just thought I'd make sure you know that shell is leather. It may prevent confusion to people with less knowledge if you more correctly refer to the respective leathers as calfskin and shell cordovan, or whatever other leather may be in discussion (cowhide, horsehide, etc....)

 

[alloy13]

I know this is nit-picking, but since you've said it several times, I just thought I'd make sure you know that shell is leather. It may prevent confusion to people with less knowledge if you more correctly refer to the respective leathers as calfskin and shell cordovan, or whatever other leather may be in discussion (cowhide, horsehide, etc....)

For that matter, all animal skins are leather.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

For that matter, all animal skins are leather.

Yes, they can all be turned into leather. Leather is a product made from an animal skin, which is the raw material.

 

[msulinski]

Yes, they can all be turned into leather. Leather is a product made from an animal skin, which is the raw material.

But is shell actually animal skin? My understanding is that it is from a membrane (muscle) beneath the skin of a horse.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

But is shell actually animal skin? My understanding is that it is from a membrane (muscle) beneath the skin of a horse.

It is distinguished from horsehide being that it is primarily composed of fibrous flat muscle located beneath the hide itself. However, this does not nullify it's status of being leather.

 

[aj555]

1) As suggested - just post the series of numbers located inside the shoe. (By the way, that is one of the best looking set of boat shoes I have seen)

I wrote AE, and they said they were an old Colby model that's been discontinued for a couple years.

 

[RogerP]

I did a quick search and perused about a half-dozen definitions of leather, and all include reference to the "hide" or "skin" of an animal, which cordovan is not.

That said, it sure ly must rank as deeply contemplative navel-gazing to debate whether cordovan is properly described as 'leather' or not. Far more important, IMO, to understand what makes it different from other types of 'leather' (in its origin, processing, appearance and properties) even if it can be so described.

 

[texastom]

I bought the clearance Stewarts - Can I get away with Light Tan Khaki Pants?

 

[RogerP]

I bought the clearance Stewarts - Can I get away with Light Tan Khaki Pants?

Of course you can!

 

[cbtaylor]

Of course you can!

I agree, looks good

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I did a quick search and perused about a half-dozen definitions of leather, and all include reference to the "hide" or "skin" of an animal, which cordovan is not.

That said, it sure ly must rank as deeply contemplative navel-gazing to debate whether cordovan is properly described as 'leather' or not. Far more important, IMO, to understand what makes it different from other types of 'leather' (in its origin, processing, appearance and properties) even if it can be so described.

While it is distinguishable from other types of leather using common definitions, once again, this doesn't nullify the fact that it is considered leather. It is it's unique qualities that make it desirable and rare amongst leathers, and it is manufactered in a way that is different from any other leather. Many leathers undergo separating techniques after they are tanned. This is why we have suede, top-grain leather, full-grain leather, etc. After the horsehide has been tanned, the grain is separated from the shell.

I wasn't trying to delve into how shell is manufactered and why it is different from other leathers, it's pros and cons, etc. I was simply pointing out that it is incorrect use of the word leather to say to someone that "leather does this, but shell does that." Different leathers behave differently, have different traits, and are desirable for different reasons. The same applies to shell vs. calf when talking about shoes. People who have limited knowledge of these things may be prone to browse through the thread and take away a belief that shoes made from shell are somehow an "alternative" material, for better or worse. That is the point I was trying to make, and prevent from happening.

 

[MoneyWellSpent]

I bought the clearance Stewarts - Can I get away with Light Tan Khaki Pants?

Those look great!

 

[David Copeland]

Great website to pre-determine how another shoe style and size may convert to a specific AE shoe style:

http://feetlot.com/allen-edmonds

 

[masernaut]

The following are appearing on eBay:

Westgate
Weybridge
Berkley

SSHHHH!!! That Westgate is mine!! Keep it a secret

On the topic of wholecuts, here's the Allen Edmonds Dover. I had no idea this existed. I would snag these but they're too narrow.