The Official Alden Thread for 2016 - Share reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[Shawnc]



day 5. Alden suede

Spoiler: Warning: Clicking will reveal amazing shoes!

back row: white saddles x dc, white lwb x leffot, snuff indy x aom, snuff sw x ls, tan ptb x j.crew, snuff ptb. front row: saddles x j.crew, blue tassels x unionmade, blue lwb x leffot, snuff alt wien x epaulet, snuff sw x ls.

No words DV, wow!

Spoiler: Warning: Clicking will reveal amazing shoes!

Wet day here on the desert. AoM #8 that looks like Cigar ... Tanker, Antiqie Storm Welt. Heavy Ribbed BB All Cotton Tan Crew Sock, Orvis Flannel with some leather detailing, and of course 501's.

Nobody rocks the light denim/color 8 combo quite like you Chip. Nicely done.

 

[bantone]

A couple days old, but a tip nonetheless:

See if your CC company has a price match/rewind benefit. Virtually all of my cards do, and that lets me order shoes from stores that do have my size in stock, and price match it to stores that don't. I successfully did this last year for a pair of AE Daltons in oxblood when Nordstroms had the walnut model on sale (Nordstroms also doesn't carry my size).

Edit: I forgot to mention if you have an AMEX to check your offers. One of mine is $40 in statement credit when you spend $200 at Ben Silver. Brings their Alden prices down a bit.

Man don't tempt me.

 

[bl@ster]

Stopped by Brick + Mortar in downtown Seattle yesterday and kopped these tan/brown country calf Saddles. Yenni is killing it so far with her makeups. I also got on the list for some shell dover bluchers. Pics:

 

[chipshot]



Stopped by Brick + Mortar in downtown Seattle yesterday and kopped these tan/brown country calf Saddles. Yenni is killing it so far with her makeups. I also got on the list for some shell dover bluchers. Pics:

 

[chipshot]

^These are outstanding Sir! Enjoy...

 

[Teeka]

NYC Cigar Wingtip Boots x Chup Socks

 

[JSO1]

Hahaha this is fantastic. I generally have the same feeling about PTB, although definitely not to the level of your disdain... admittedly, I did purchase a pair of grain PTBs (not Aldens) to use a pair of bad weather beaters for work.

Maybe I'm not the best person to respond with an opinion and I'm certain I'm in the minority here but since you've asked...I find the PTB to be an aesthetically offensive shoe, even on the plaza last. They remind me of something a sanitation/janitorial professional would be forced to wear for work. Just the mere thought sends egregious discomfort down my spine; pain analogous to the passing of a 2lb kidney stone. Money spent on the PTB would be better served on a Betamax collection, circa 1986. Thus I would recommend literally any style other than the PTB, suede wingtips or captoe's would be a fine choice.

I used to feel the same way, until I got a pair of Whiskey PTBs. Changed my opinion completely. Now I really want a Cigar plain toe boot.

They don't always photograph well, but I think it's a lovely style, especially in Whiskey.

 

[halfnhalfnhalf]



Stopped by Brick + Mortar in downtown Seattle yesterday and kopped these tan/brown country calf Saddles. Yenni is killing it so far with her makeups. I also got on the list for some shell dover bluchers. Pics:

Those look just like my AE Sheltons.

(ducks)

 

[Watchman1]

I felt the same way about the PTB, until I began to appreciate it for its simplicity.

When I first started wearing shell cordovan there was this old timer who had been wearing cordovan shoes longer than I am old and he told me; "There is no greater canvas on which to paint the beauty of shell cordovan than the Plain Toe Blucher..."

Ever since I been a sucker for them. I NEED a #8 PTB with a badness...

 

[Watchman1]

Those look just like my AE Sheltons.

(ducks)

Yes, but only better...

JK...

 

[Watchman1]

I do miss the days of seeing all the cool AE special makeups...

 

[peppercorn78]



I do miss the days of seeing all the cool AE special makeups...

That was fun, but it was more about sharing new ideas with You gents than wearing the shoes themselves (cue pomp and circumstance) I find the Enzo and Vass threads to be just as fun.

 

[bespoken pa]

Everyone is ordering from Vass directly?

 

[bm93]

I used to feel the same way, until I got a pair of Whiskey PTBs. Changed my opinion completely. Now I really want a Cigar plain toe boot.

They don't always photograph well, but I think it's a lovely style, especially in Whiskey.

Though they're not my preferred choice, I don't really mind plain toe boots, and I actually love chukkas... it's just something about the aesthetic of a low plain toe shoe that seems unappealing.

 

[Watchman1]

That was fun, but it was more about sharing new ideas with You gents than wearing the shoes themselves (cue pomp and circumstance) I find the Enzo and Vass threads to be just as fun.

I hear you on that my brotha

I feel you on EB and Vass too, thats why I enjoy their stuff so much.

You should see the faces of the people at the Grad School I attend when they ask where they can get a pair of boots like mine and then I say they were a special makeup that I designed myself...

The first night I wore my mahogany EB boots one of my best friends was straight up gawking at them and he was like; "Someday I'm gonna have a pair of boots like that..." And when he said it he didn't even blink but just kept staring at my boots...classic...