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Alden shoes: why don't they label their last sizes accurately?

post #1 of 9
10/16/11 at 8:32am
Thread Starter 
I'm a fan of Alden shoes (although one may have to send them back a few times to get a pair that is acceptable - e.g. "without extra needle holes").

One thing I've noticed is that if you visit online retailers, they will tell you certain Alden lasts run "large" and you need to "size down" a 1/2 size. The Barrie last is notorious for this. Here's an example of verbiage on Shoemart.com
Quote:
"The Barrie and Modified Lasts run a half size larger than other Alden lasts. Consider ordering a half size smaller than you normally use."

Alden Carmel even came up with this conversion chart to try and understand the bizarre size labeling from Alden:
Quote:

The most popular Alden lasts, and their relative sizes compared to usual U.S. shoe sizes are:

Leydon last - fits approximately like a standard US size
Plaza last - slightly longer than regular U.S. size
Aberdeen last - slightly longer than regular U.S. size
Van last - 1/4 to 1/2 size larger than regular U.S. size
Barrie last - about 1/2 size larger than regular U.S. size (U.S. size 10 = Barrie last size 9 1/2)
Trubalance last - about 1/2 size larger than regular U.S. size (U.S. size 10 = Trubalance size 9 1/2)
Modified last - at least 1/2 size larger than regular U.S. size (U.S. size 10 = Modified last size 9 1/2)

Question: Why doesn't Alden take note of this and just label their shoe sizes accurately and take the guesswork, confusion and hassle out of consumers having to return shoes that don't fit properly because Alden incorrectly labels sizes for certain lasts? Why not label their sizes for all lasts true to size and stop this nonsense?
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post #2 of 9
10/16/11 at 9:00am
It can be hard to start out with all the sizing questions. However, can you imagine how much worse it would be if Alden randomly "re-sized" all their lasts like you're suggesting? It would be a total nightmare
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post #3 of 9
10/16/11 at 9:16am
I've been saying this for years. If it's a size 12 but fits like 11.5, just call it 11.5 instead of 12. I don't get their sizing practices.
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post #4 of 9
10/16/11 at 9:33am
I would say 95% of dress shoes are not TTS.
AEs IMO are really the only TTS brand out there.
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post #5 of 9
10/16/11 at 10:43am
If AE can do it, Alden could, in theory, also do it.

But the numbering is the least of Alden's quirks. More dire is that many, if not most, of their lasts bear little relation to the shape of a human foot. Complaints are so standard that we can all recite them. Too wide, too narrow, too shallow, and so on.

Amazing to me that a company that takes pride in their product doesn't make an effort to listen to their most devoted clients.
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post #6 of 9
10/16/11 at 11:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by well-kept View Post

If AE can do it, Alden could, in theory, also do it.
But the numbering is the least of Alden's quirks. More dire is that many, if not most, of their lasts bear little relation to the shape of a human foot. Complaints are so standard that we can all recite them. Too wide, too narrow, too shallow, and so on.
Amazing to me that a company that takes pride in their product doesn't make an effort to listen to their most devoted clients.[/B]

This is a good point. If you're looking for a loafer and have a flat foot Alden has you covered with the Van last. If your heel is nearly as wide as your forefoot, Alden has you covered with the Barrie.
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post #7 of 9
10/16/11 at 1:26pm
Alden probably labels correctly.

Customers just don't care about it.

Shoe size indicates foot length. If your foot length (not Brannock) equals, say, a (US) 8.0, then you should try shoes in (US) 8.0, only. If it doesn't fit, the last is not made for your foot shape, strictly speaking.

But most people don't care. If they want a shoe made on the Barrie last, they go up and down in size to make it fit. No wonder, some people have shoes in sizes all over the place.

Dealers simply react to this. After all, they just want to sell shoes.

And generally, half a size deviation from your proper shoes size is hardly a problem. It only becomes a problem when you're off by more than half a size.
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post #8 of 9
10/16/11 at 1:34pm
I've seen others say that the Barrie last is a last for boots. But they sure make a lot of shoes on it. As a boot, it works. With enough leather laced up around your ankle, the boot will stay in place, sort of. But as a shoe, the Barrie is a loser, literally.
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post #9 of 9
10/16/11 at 10:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nurktwin View Post

Question: Why doesn't Alden take note of this and just label their shoe sizes accurately and take the guesswork, confusion and hassle out of consumers having to return shoes that don't fit properly because Alden incorrectly labels sizes for certain lasts? Why not label their sizes for all lasts true to size and stop this nonsense?

Sounds like lack of attention to detail; not a good sign in a shoemaker.
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