Related Forum Threads
- ID these Peal and Co. Boots -- Alden or AE? Last post on 10/26/12 at 11:59am in Classic Menswear
- One question before I treat myself to Shell Cordovan Boots. Last post on 12/20/12 at 5:42pm in Classic Menswear
- Alden 404 Indy Kudu 8D (Fits 8.5D) New In Box (June 13 Final Drop for Quick Sale) Last post on 6/6/12 at 9:50pm in Marketplace
- Alden Cigar Shell Chukkas 8EEE worn 8-9 times, FREE SHIPPING Last post on 10/30/11 at 5:02pm in Streetwear & Denim Classifieds
- How to protect suede boots. Last post on 9/21/11 at 3:45pm in Classic Menswear
Industry Insiders
- Andrew Lock
- Apolis
- The Armoury
- Bespoke England
- Blake
- Blue Owl
- Bodega
- Crane's Country Store
- Drinkwater's Cambridge
- eHABERDASHER
- Elite Suits
- Epaulet
- Equus Leather
- Exquisite Trimmings
- A Fine Pair of Shoes
- Four Horsemen Shop
- Gentlemen's Footwear
- Gordon Yao, Hong Kong
- The Hanger Project
- Henry Carter Neckwear
- Hiras Fashion
- Howard Yount
- Hugh & Crye
- Kent Wang
- Leatherfoot
- Ledbury
- LuxeSwap
- Luxire Custom Clothing
- Malford of London
- Mes Chausettes Rouges
- Modern Tailor
- Need Supply Co.
- Neighbour
- Oak Street Bootmakers
- Peurist
- Portland Dry Goods
- Roden Gray
- Saddleback Leather
- Self Edge
- ShopTheFinest.com
- Skoaktiebolaget
- Sydney's
- Tanner Goods/Woodlands Supply
- Tate + Yoko
- Taylor Stitch
- Temple of jawnz
- Tiberias Clothing
- Ties-Necktie.com
- Uncle Otis
- Unipair
- Vastrm Fashion
- Virtual Clotheshorse
- Wrong Weather
Alden MTO Boot Group Order via Alden DC - Page 8
I submitted via Google Docs as well. Thanks for all the legwork (or bootwork) on this.
I'm still confused as to why virtually everyone wants the "all eyelets" option. Isn't it a colossal pain in the ass to lace up 9 holes each morning? Especially in a situation where you're not wearing the boots with hemmed trousers, it would seem to me that speed hooks are much more efficient. If the goal is to wear with suite, I get it, but that would also imply that you'd opt against the commando sole.
Please enlighten me :)
- Posts: 7,982
- Joined: 3/2008
- Location: Breuckelen, NY 11209
- Select All Posts By This User

I submitted via Google Docs as well. Thanks for all the legwork (or bootwork) on this.
I'm still confused as to why virtually everyone wants the "all eyelets" option. Isn't it a colossal pain in the ass to lace up 9 holes each morning? Especially in a situation where you're not wearing the boots with hemmed trousers, it would seem to me that speed hooks are much more efficient. If the goal is to wear with suite, I get it, but that would also imply that you'd opt against the commando sole.
Please enlighten me

I find Alden speedhooks cheap and aesthetically unappealing. I think they also make the shoe less versatile, meaning you (or at least I) would NEVER wear the boot unless I was in jeans or chinos. The inconvenience of having to take 15 seconds to lace them in the morning is far less than having them sitting in a box under your bed (where I keep mine) Monday through Friday because you want to save 30 seconds it would take to have a boot you can wear all the time. Its not 9 holes you'd be lacing, just the top three, exactly what I do for my hockey skates.
I don't think the commando makes it totally unwearable with flannel trousers. Wouldn't wear commando with a suit, but its low profile enough not to be a deal breaker for me though I prefer a double leather or waterlock.

I submitted via Google Docs as well. Thanks for all the legwork (or bootwork) on this.
I'm still confused as to why virtually everyone wants the "all eyelets" option. Isn't it a colossal pain in the ass to lace up 9 holes each morning? Especially in a situation where you're not wearing the boots with hemmed trousers, it would seem to me that speed hooks are much more efficient. If the goal is to wear with suite, I get it, but that would also imply that you'd opt against the commando sole.
Please enlighten me


I find Alden speedhooks cheap and aesthetically unappealing. I think they also make the shoe less versatile, meaning you (or at least I) would NEVER wear the boot unless I was in jeans or chinos. The inconvenience of having to take 15 seconds to lace them in the morning is far less than having them sitting in a box under your bed (where I keep mine) Monday through Friday because you want to save 30 seconds it would take to have a boot you can wear all the time. Its not 9 holes you'd be lacing, just the top three, exactly what I do for my hockey skates.
I don't think the commando makes it totally unwearable with flannel trousers. Wouldn't wear commando with a suit, but its low profile enough not to be a deal breaker for me though I prefer a double leather or waterlock.
+1, and all eyelets just look better all around
^ thanks for the comments everyone. i have a little dilemma: i ordered ravello wingtip boots on shoemart, and they have speed hooks and double leather soles. based on what i've heard, it sounds like i'd be better suited w/ all eyelets and double waterlock/commando soles. i know i can swap out my soles, but not sure what to do about the laces, esp since i want ability to wear with these boots with suits. but ravello is so damn hard to find....i know, i know, there are bigger problems in this world, but would love some guidance....
"Can I have speed hooks converted to eyelets?
B Nelson will do it for $12 per eyelet (not per pair). A standard Alden boot with 4 pairs of speed hooks would therefore run $96. The top four eyelets would be off-centered with the bottom five, which is often done to compensate for the oblong size of the speed hooks."

^ thanks for the comments everyone. i have a little dilemma: i ordered ravello wingtip boots on shoemart, and they have speed hooks and double leather soles. based on what i've heard, it sounds like i'd be better suited w/ all eyelets and double waterlock/commando soles. i know i can swap out my soles, but not sure what to do about the laces, esp since i want ability to wear with these boots with suits. but ravello is so damn hard to find....i know, i know, there are bigger problems in this world, but would love some guidance....
I'd go by the bird-in-the-hand philosophy and keep them, but then I don't mind speed hooks.
Seems like if you're willing to wear a commando sole wing tip boot with a suit, speed hooks shouldn't be a deal killer.
Remember there was a Cigar/Whiskey/Ravello shell shortage in 2008 too.
http://www.styleforum.net/t/54922/alden-price-increase
I don't think it was until mid/late 2009 when it started becoming more available.
Oh, and my personal opinion is that replacing speed hooks with eyelets looks like ass.
You might want to double check this. The Alden MTO's we have with Epaulet and Leffot were restricted from being shipped internationally (US and Canada only) which we found out about after the pre-orders were initiated. I was under the impression that this was a recent new policy from Alden. Both Epaulet and Leffot ship plenty of other stuff internationally so it doesn't make sense for it to be a store policy that they both coincidentally implemented simultaneously. They are both located in New York though...
![patch[1].gif](http://files.styleforum.net/images/smilies/patch%5B1%5D.gif)
Context Clothing doesn't seem to mention this restriction on their Alden page as well. So, interesting.
okay, ill kick off with a proposal to do the following makeup
- cigar shell boot
- antique edges
- perforated cap toe
- barrie or leydon last
- speedhooks
- commando soles or double leather
- 360 or closed heel (I havent figured out myself yet
in the end it would look rather similar to this one

10r95w7 by SLAB13, on Flickr
This has been my holy grail ever since I laid eyes on it. Count me in if this comes to fruition.
Edit: The exact one in the picture, not the one described in the post with speed hooks or closed heel. Might as well just buy the the cigar captoe DC sells as its not to dissimilar from what you are describing minus the perf toe and last.
Edited by Bakes11771 - 6/19/12 at 7:07pm

I actually spoke to Kathy a few weeks ago about doing a:
Cigar
plain toe boot
on the barrie last
w/ antique edgetrim
and all eyelets
...and she seemed very open to the idea.
That would be my preference. Maybe on a double waterlock or commando sole.
Also, just to add, possibly whiskey instead of cigar would be nice. Never seen a whiskey plain toe boot, and Kathy did do the whiskey indy last go-around. So maybe she can come by some whiskey again.
Remember how nice these Leather Soul make-ups were?
Frans Boone is taking preorders on a Plain Toe Cigar Boot currently, as mentioned in the official Alden thread.
Also, Someone mentioned #4 LHS, which I'd be down for as well. Also Mahogany, if there is even such a thing anymore?
- Alden MTO Boot Group Order via Alden DC
Recent Discussions
- › Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions 30 seconds ago
- › Recent purchases - Part II 4 minutes ago
- › Australian Members 6 minutes ago
- › Transparent Moderation Log & Site Topics - Part II 7 minutes ago
- › Carmina Shoe P0rn. 10 minutes ago
- › ***The official Alden thread *** 10 minutes ago
- › LuxeSwap - Official Affiliate Thread 11 minutes ago
- › NBA 2012-2013 Season Thread 13 minutes ago
- › HOF: What Are You Wearing Right Now - Part III 17 minutes ago
- › Random fashion thoughts 17 minutes ago
Recent Reviews
- › Alden Indy Boot 403 Brown Chromexcel by Shavely Manden
- › Allen Edmonds Men's Malvern Boot by blue suede shoes
- › Isaia Coral Lapel Pin by carre567
- › Kiton Napoli WearRight Dark Green Soft suede Loafers 11.5 *Handmade* by BearBindell
- › Red Wing Men's 6" Iron Ranger Boot by ranger21
- › Alfred Sargent Moore by Harrydog
- › Bright orange green paisley pattern silk tie by Holtemor
- › Allen-Edmonds Men's Leeds Oxfords,Black,10 C by trouble
- › Jos. A. Bank Signature Gold 2-Button Wool Suit by JJTV
- › Frye Men's Wallace Oxford by RandyE
New Articles
- › San Francisco Shopping Map by j
- › So you want to design your own clothes? by DaveJames
- › Styleforum Product Reviewer Questionnaire and... by alyssaw
- › Styleforum Product Reviewer Terms of... by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Start your... by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Extras) by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Jeans &... by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Cardigans) by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Pullovers) by alyssaw
- › Styleforum's Winter Getaway (Footwear) by alyssaw
About Styleforum | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2013 Styleforum is powered by Huddler Fashion & Lifestyle | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map








