***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[sockpuppets]

Originally Posted by trunks206

^ the coupon stopped working a while ago on the Aldens.
It worked for me last week. Alternatively buy something that doesn't go on sale w/ the 20%, return it without receipt in store and use gift card for the shoes. A lot of work but if he's strapped I'm all for creative Alden acquisition strategies.

 

[chestercopperpot]

Almost all the Alden's I have have nails on the heel. Usually they don't stick that far out, unless the heel is worn down pretty signicficantly

 

[Thor]

Originally Posted by michaelw

whiskey chukkas

Mac- do you ever gets scuffs on your shoes (it doesn't appear so

- and of so, I how do you get them out?

I have some that no amount of brushing will eliminate...and I am wary of using too much paste...but that only seems to mute them- not eliminate...

Any tips? Anyone?

 

[ltb]

quick sizing question - I really don't have any leather soled shoes and the only boots I wear are Clarks (in a 10 that should be a 9.5, but I put some insoles in). I wear a 43 in CPs, 10 in Chucks - am I right in saying a 9.5 is probably my best bet for Aldens? D width, definitely.

 

[hobojones]

Originally Posted by ltb

quick sizing question - I really don't have any leather soled shoes and the only boots I wear are Clarks (in a 10 that should be a 9.5, but I put some insoles in). I wear a 43 in CPs, 10 in Chucks - am I right in saying a 9.5 is probably my best bet for Aldens? D width, definitely.

Though I know relatively little about Aldens, I'm sure that the sizing would be dependent on the last you're interested in.

 

[wj4]

Originally Posted by hobojones

Though I know relatively little about Aldens, I'm sure that the sizing would be dependent on the last you're interested in.
That is correct. According to my knowledge, there are 3 lasts that fit bigger which require sizing down half size, they are: Barrie, Modified, and TrueBalance.

I'm also a noob myself so I may have missed something. Ever since I've stumbled onto this thread, I've bought 5 pairs of Aldens already.

 

[ltb]

Originally Posted by wj4

That is correct. According to my knowledge, there are 3 lasts that fit bigger which require sizing down half size, they are: Barrie, Modified, and TrueBalance.

I'm also a noob myself so I may have missed something. Ever since I've stumbled onto this thread, I've bought 5 pairs of Aldens already.

for the Winn Perry tan vegano calf captoes if that helps

 

[bananananana]

Originally Posted by wj4

That is correct. According to my knowledge, there are 3 lasts that fit bigger which require sizing down half size, they are: Barrie, Modified, and TrueBalance.

I'm also a noob myself so I may have missed something. Ever since I've stumbled onto this thread, I've bought 5 pairs of Aldens already.

Just to confuse people more, I would say you coudl possibly size down with the plaza if you have narrow feet. IME, a 8D in plaza I has around the length of a 8.5D and the width of a 8D.

 

[joz411no]

Just to confuse people more, I would say you coudl possibly size down with the plaza if you have narrow feet. IME, a 8D in plaza I has around the length of a 8.5D and the width of a 8D.

I wondered that about the Aberdeen. My first pair of Aldens/Cordovan was the cap toe monk straps, 11EEE, and they're a little long. A sleeker more slender last than Barrie or Trubalance but seems longer than what I'd imagine other lasts to be. Not to confuse anyone though.

 

[sockpuppets]

Originally Posted by ltb

for the Winn Perry tan vegano calf captoes if that helps
Barrie last. Size down 1/2 unless you have a fat foot and are buying them in a D.

 

[HorseHide]

Originally Posted by ltb

quick sizing question - I really don't have any leather soled shoes and the only boots I wear are Clarks (in a 10 that should be a 9.5, but I put some insoles in). I wear a 43 in CPs, 10 in Chucks - am I right in saying a 9.5 is probably my best bet for Aldens? D width, definitely.

I've got to tell you - this is precisely the type of situation that has a high probability of ending poorly. Alden makes wonderful shoes (I've owned probably 50 pairs of Aldens over the years - I obviously like them) but their sizing isn't uniform.

Lack of uniformity may be attributable to the manufacturing process, to the fact that dress shoes will never fit like work boots (and remember that before the Indy boot was seen on the feet of hipsters in Williamsburg it was seen on the feet of factory workers in Williamsburg), to the various skins used for the shoes/boots but the primary reason they are different is due to the multitude of last that Alden employs - but whatever the reason I don't believe that you should buy a shoe unless you've had it (or one just like it) on your foot.

If you get to know the Alden offerings (and the various combinations of sizing options based on the lasts) you can make a more informed decision - maybe (I still make mistakes).

Sure, you can work with on-line retailers that have liberal return policies but returning shoes is frustrating for everyone - let's hope you don't crease the shell - and can lead to dissatisfied customers and retailers alike. Nobody likes to pay big bucks for a mistake.

I don't want to re-open the quality control issue but I might offer up that a shoe that doesn't fit won't wear properly either. I'm not defending Alden, I'm just saying.

My recommendation? Do your homework. Get to understand the lasts. Find a bricks and mortar retailer (go to LSBH, to Leffot, to Alden in SF or DC, to Shoemart, even to the guys on Madison Ave) - even if it means you need to get on airplane to do it (a ticket is less than the retail price). Try on lots of combinations (lasts, widths, etc). Then buy a pair - 1 pair, not 6 - and see how they work out.

Too much effort? Not for these shoes.

 

[LeatherSOUL]

Originally Posted by HorseHide

I've got to tell you - this is precisely the type of situation that has a high probability of ending poorly. Alden makes wonderful shoes (I've owned probably 50 pairs of Aldens over the years - I obviously like them) but their sizing isn't uniform.

Lack of uniformity may be attributable to the manufacturing process, to the fact that dress shoes will never fit like work boots (and remember that before the Indy boot was seen on the feet of hipsters in Williamsburg it was seen on the feet of factory workers in Williamsburg), to the various skins used for the shoes/boots but the primary reason they are different is due to the multitude of last that Alden employs - but whatever the reason I don't believe that you should buy a shoe unless you've had it (or one just like it) on your foot.

If you get to know the Alden offerings (and the various combinations of sizing options based on the lasts) you can make a more informed decision - maybe (I still make mistakes).

Sure, you can work with on-line retailers that have liberal return policies but returning shoes is frustrating for everyone - let's hope you don't crease the shell - and can lead to dissatisfied customers and retailers alike. Nobody likes to pay big bucks for a mistake.

I don't want to re-open the quality control issue but I might offer up that a shoe that doesn't fit won't wear properly either. I'm not defending Alden, I'm just saying.

My recommendation? Do your homework. Get to understand the lasts. Find a bricks and mortar retailer (go to LSBH, to Leffot, to Alden in SF or DC, to Shoemart, even to the guys on Madison Ave) - even if it means you need to get on airplane to do it (a ticket is less than the retail price). Try on lots of combinations (lasts, widths, etc). Then buy a pair - 1 pair, not 6 - and see how they work out.

Too much effort? Not for these shoes.

For my 1000th post on SF, I'd like to quote this post by HorseHide. Great post.

 

[PeterParker]

Originally Posted by HorseHide

My recommendation? Do your homework. Get to understand the lasts. Find a bricks and mortar retailer (go to LSBH, to Leffot, to Alden in SF or DC, to Shoemart, even to the guys on Madison Ave) - even if it means you need to get on airplane to do it (a ticket is less than the retail price). Try on lots of combinations (lasts, widths, etc). Then buy a pair - 1 pair, not 6 - and see how they work out.
The problem with this is that if I were to go to LSW/BH in person, I would end up buying six pairs even though I only intended to buy one in the first place.

Sarcasm aside, this recommendation is ideal but hardly practical for most people. I've now bought 3 pairs of Aldens by mail-order, and it wasn't until the third pair that I had problems. A prudent consumer can approximate their size by collaborating information from others, but obviously it is not a substitute for trying on a pair in person. That being said, we have heard stories about people visiting stores for sizing only to have a pair in "the closest available size" forced upon them.

My suggestion: Leather Soul should open a store in my city

 

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by PeterParker

The problem with this is that if I were to go to LSW/BH in person, I would end up buying six pairs even though I only intended to buy one in the first place.

Sarcasm aside, this recommendation is ideal but hardly practical for most people. I've now bought 3 pairs of Aldens by mail-order, and it wasn't until the third pair that I had problems. A prudent consumer can approximate their size by collaborating information from others, but obviously it is not a substitute for trying on a pair in person. That being said, we have heard stories about people visiting stores for sizing only to have a pair in "the closest available size" forced upon them.

My suggestion: Leather Soul should open a store in my city

This is probably my biggest pet peeve in this thread. People read one negative thing and accept it as gospel and the norm.

We have only read one story of this in Alden NYC and then someone who was not speaking of Alden's but of a general shoe selling experience.

Any positive experience needs multiple sworn affidavits with times, dates and pictures.

 

[Newstyle]

Originally Posted by Ahab

I would personally fgo with the dark brown. I have a pair from Tom and it is a great shoe.

I would love the dark brown but I really love the sole of the tobacco colorway, it's amazing. I can't find that combination at that price-point anywhere.