Alden Cordovan Longwings - Page 5

Caveat emptor. Just read the AA thread. Too bad. Does anyone know of a source for the squarish heel nails on the Kenmoor? I'd like to replace the soles of mine to the original standard. Any NY recommendations for the job? Thanks. lefty

If you're ever in Boston, Santacross shoe repair on Tremont street across from the Boston Commons can repair the sole and/or heel exactly. The cobbler has shown me the leather heels, cleats and nails. We've spoken at length about the vintage shoe construction since I discovered ebay 5 years ago and started purchasing and bringing him vintage Florsheim shells and assorted vintage Royal Imperials and Santoni to place toe taps on. If you're interested call first in case this has changed.

I agree - I'm seeing them on some of the trendier fashionistas; with jeans and sockless with shorts, especially well-worn versions in brown with a nice patina. I guess we'll know it's a trend when Abercrombie & Fitch comes out with an artificially aged brogue.

Tarmac, those are all in your size too?? amazing finds, all the good Kenmoors are in every size but mine it seems (on ebay)

Those white ones are supremely sick. I'm also with the Bostonians

Thanks, Deacon. I may be in Boston in a month or so and I'll give him a call.

Any NY leads?

lefty

hehe I do this right now! I don't think anyone cares though, other than saying "yet another pair of wingtips???" I do find it a little precious to take my leather soles through the gunky hell which is the floor of a club. Then again they are all double soled. Maybe I will get one of them topyd and keep those on club duty.


Olive?? Never seen that, I would love to. The natural color wasn't pebble grain? Sounds awesome as well. There was an Imperial non-longwing a few weeks ago in white buck with red rubber sole, I was tempted but I laid off.



At first I thought these white Kenmoors were fake, were they painted? But no they were factory white, down to the lining. I don't wear them every week but I feel like a rock star when I do. Check your PM

Also, it seems like a lot of the Florsheim wing listings are keyworded "punk, ska, rockabilly, swing" etc. I can picture chunky wingtips and spectators in this crowd, but is there really an underground demand in rockabilly for these authentic vintage shoes? I'm curious.

I just got these on ebay for cheap.



Should have them in a few days...hopefully they fit.

The natural ones I've seen have not been pebble grain, and unfortunately I've never seen one in my size (that I can recall). I'd love a pair. I'd also go for the olive if I found one my size. White bucks, huh? I'd rarely wear them, but they'd still get attention from me if I saw some.


I don't know, but I always see "rockabilly" next to wing tips, so there must be something to it.

I'm still missing the #1 in my collection, which is a lightly worn Kenmoor in shell. I've had a couple of pairs where either the size didn't work out or they were just a little too beat up for me (I can't stand stained insoles for some reason). My baby is out there, somewhere...

Thanks again for the PM!

Actually, yes there is a market. At the bigger rockabilly weekenders I've seen one fellow in particular that has a huge collection of deadstock shoes (mostly brogues) from the 30s-50s. I've seen some amazing shoes for sale thru him but they are always larger sizes around 9.5-10.5 A local LA shoe shop called Remix Vintage shoes does nothing but sell vintage NOS mens and women's (mostly) shoes, as well as making their own repros based on vintage models.

Keep an eye out for brown shell. The examples I've seen (two or three, none even close to my size) were a deep rich brown, something like the modern cigar but a warmer tone. They were quite lovely, but I have very rarely seen them on eBay.

That's interesting. Remix don't advertise that fact online ....that I am aware

If you like the longwing look but don't want to pony up the money for shell Aldens, J. Press offers a longwing in both black and dark brown calfskin. You can purchase off the website and, as of today, they are on sale for $172.50 down from $350. I don't know about the quality or the maker.

online, Remix only adverts their repros. You'd have to go into the store to see the vintage NOS shoes

let me just say this, after seeing the Alden cordovan longwing in person, you do NOT need to look further.
this is the most beautiful and substantial longwing cordovan ever.
this is the first shoe i believe is worth its full retail at 530. no other shoe did that for me ., not even santoni to be honest.