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

[NAMOR]

Great polish Lagsun

 

[kwhitelaw]

other than straight from an alden source, has anyone found a good match for #8 shell for a belt?

 

[Papa Doble]

I have a couple questions on the Mac Method (perhaps I should just PM uncle). I know this has been covered before, but this thread is VERY long, and I really want to take good care of my shoes.
After wearing:

1. Insert trees.
   Question: Alden's cordovan care guide suggests delaying putting trees in your shoes for a bit. Is there any consensus on this?
2. Wipe with a barely damp cloth and let dry for 2 to 3 mins.
   Question: Do you use a basic spray bottle? Will an old, clean t-shirt do, or is a flannel cloth preferable?
3. Brush vigorously with horse hair brush, keeping the brush in contact with the leather, for 5 to 6 minutes per shoe.
   Question: If you wear shell daily, this means you spend about 15 minutes each day (accounting for the other steps) caring for your shoes? I'm willing to do this, but I find it interesting because people often say shell requires less maintenance. I guess the point is that don't have to go through this trouble and shell will still look pretty good?
4. Buff with flannel cloth.
5. Use very small amounts of wax polish after a minimum of 15 wearings.
   Question: With all of the emphasis on using minimal wax, would it be ill advised to just never polish shell?

 

[herrmj]

other than straight from an alden source, has anyone found a good match for #8 shell for a belt?

Check out Equus in the affiliate list, they have a burgundy belt that looks good (not shell though; bridle leather). I especially like their quick release buckle.

 

[pic9809]

Santa came early for me... My new Ravello Indy's courtesy of the wonderful folks at Frans Boone...





Sorry for the crappy iphone pictures in my lightless man cave of an apartment

beautiful ravello plaza indies!

was this their first shipment (think only size 12 left) or did they already re-stock?

enjoy wearing

 

[Dbc0919]



I have a couple questions on the Mac Method (perhaps I should just PM uncle). I know this has been covered before, but this thread is VERY long, and I really want to take good care of my shoes.
After wearing:

1. Insert trees.
   Question: Alden's cordovan care guide suggests delaying putting trees in your shoes for a bit. Is there any consensus on this?
2. Wipe with a barely damp cloth and let dry for 2 to 3 mins.
   Question: Do you use a basic spray bottle? Will an old, clean t-shirt do, or is a flannel cloth preferable?
3. Brush vigorously with horse hair brush, keeping the brush in contact with the leather, for 5 to 6 minutes per shoe.
   Question: If you wear shell daily, this means you spend about 15 minutes each day (accounting for the other steps) caring for your shoes? I'm willing to do this, but I find it interesting because people often say shell requires less maintenance. I guess the point is that don't have to go through this trouble and shell will still look pretty good?
4. Buff with flannel cloth.
5. Use very small amounts of wax polish after a minimum of 15 wearings.
   Question: With all of the emphasis on using minimal wax, would it be ill advised to just never polish shell?

I lack the expertise and experience of many here but for question two, I dampen an old t-shirt and seems to work fine. For question three, I usually Mac once a week, usually in front of TV on Sunday night. Don't think you have to Mac after every wearing. I believe some here go some time between Mac'ing. Oh, btw, you should give them a brushing when you take the shoes off though. Then trees and bags.

 

[wigglr]

I haven't seen any group shots lately so I took one of my current line up. I included lasts and sizes to show how my sizing has evolved over the years. The larger sizes fit with the use of insoles. Apologies for the iPhone pic. My son took his DSLR to school today...

Top (L-R)
AoC AF84 Brown Calf Wingtip Boot (Barrie - 8.5D)
J. Gilbert Cigar Indy (Trubalance - 8D)
Alden DC Cigar Captoe Boot (Grant - 9D)
Alden DC #8 Captoe Boot (Grant - 8.5D)
Bottom (L-R)
ShoeMart 2nd Snuff Suede PTB (Barrie - 8D)
Leffot Ravello LWB (Barrie - 8D)
#8 LHS (Van - 8.5D)
#8 PTB (Barrie - 8.5D)

i'm drooling

 

[Papa Doble]



Oh, btw, you should give them a brushing when you take the shoes off though. Then trees and bags.

You mean if you aren't going to go through the whole method, then you should at least brush them briefly before putting in trees and putting them in shoe bags?

 

[Dbc0919]



NRO Update: I decided to order a cigar LHS from NRO earlier today, just in case they actually had it. As expected, I received a message stating that they were "at least 16 weeks from shipment." I assume it will be the same for anything marked limited edition.

Provided NRO has #8 PTBs in stock, I'm now having an internal debate about whether the ravello PTBs I recently acquired are really worth a ($710 - 0.75 * $625 =) $241.25 premium over #8 PTBs. And no, owning both is not the way I'd like to go at this time.

As someone once posted here in response to my expressing the same thought as you, with proper care the shoes will last 20 plus years. That's like $35 per year. Certainly made it easier for me to justify the ravello LWB's. Btw- your ravello PTBs are stunning and so versatile. Considering how rare they are and how much more expensive they are likely to be when they become available again, in the long run, I bet you'll be really happy.

 

[Dbc0919]

Oh, btw, you should give them a brushing when you take the shoes off though. Then trees and bags.

You mean if you aren't going to go through the whole method, then you should at least brush them briefly before putting in trees and putting them in shoe bags?

Yes. Everytime you take them off, give them a good brushing to get any dust or dirt off them.

 

[Papa Doble]



As someone once posted here in response to my expressing the same thought as you, with proper care the shoes will last 20 plus years.

I hope so, hence my post about getting shell care right.

Btw- your ravello PTBs are stunning and so versatile. Considering how rare they are and how much more expensive they are likely to be when they become available again, in the long run, I bet you'll be really happy.

Thank you. You make a good point about how the price of shell, in particular cigar, ravello, and whiskey, just keeps going up.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



You mean if you aren't going to go through the whole method, then you should at least brush them briefly before putting in trees and putting them in shoe bags?

All of my shoes - shell or calf - are stored on cedar shoe racks, in the master closet, in full view. My flannel shoe bags get used only for travel.

 

[Bakes11771]

I have a couple questions on the Mac Method (perhaps I should just PM uncle). I know this has been covered before, but this thread is VERY long, and I really want to take good care of my shoes.
After wearing:

1. Insert trees.
   Question: Alden's cordovan care guide suggests delaying putting trees in your shoes for a bit. Is there any consensus on this?
2. Wipe with a barely damp cloth and let dry for 2 to 3 mins.
   Question: Do you use a basic spray bottle? Will an old, clean t-shirt do, or is a flannel cloth preferable?
3. Brush vigorously with horse hair brush, keeping the brush in contact with the leather, for 5 to 6 minutes per shoe.
   Question: If you wear shell daily, this means you spend about 15 minutes each day (accounting for the other steps) caring for your shoes? I'm willing to do this, but I find it interesting because people often say shell requires less maintenance. I guess the point is that don't have to go through this trouble and shell will still look pretty good?
4. Buff with flannel cloth.
5. Use very small amounts of wax polish after a minimum of 15 wearings.
   Question: With all of the emphasis on using minimal wax, would it be ill advised to just never polish shell?

1. I don't put the trees in until the next day. 12 - 24 hours. The reason for this is to give the insides time to dry out. They develop moisture from your feet perspiring. If that moisture persists, you create an environment for odor causing bacteria to thrive. (smelly shoes)

2. I take a paper towel and soak it under the faucet. Then I ball it up and squeeze it in my fist as hard as I can. This wrings out all the excess water and leaves me with a moist paper towel. (squeeze hard) Sometimes at work in the bathroom, I'll use the paper towel that I just used to dry my hands after washing them to get the dust off. If water is left on your shoes after you wipe them, your towel is too wet.

3. I brush about every 5 wearings (or so). If you do a good job, they maintain the shine for a few wearings or weeks (in my experience)

4. I often forgo the flannel cloth. I can get them looking pretty good with just the brush. The flannel just puts the finishing touch. What the brushing does is brings out the natural oils and waxes within the leather to the surface, (through heat and friction) and spreads it around evenly. The flannel cloth just makes it a little bit more even. A shine is caused by an even surface, whether its shoes, a car or whatever. The more smooth/even the surface, the better the shine.

5. The idea is to use only polish as needed. If you can get them looking good without it, than refrain. when you do use it, just use a small amount spread thinly. The idea is to bring out/maintain the natural patina of shell cordovan, not cover it up with thick layers of polish/wax.

Unless you scuff them or something, you probably won't need to add wax for the first year. Maybe after a few months you can add some venetian or reno. I use venetian, have never tried reno. Some say that the turpentine in reno can cause the pores in the shell to open up. The product description for Saphir cordovan creme mentions this on The Hanger Project website. There are many who use reno and have never noticed any ill effects, only positive results. The choice is yours.

 

[thebeebs]

All of my shoes - shell or calf - are stored on cedar shoe racks, in the master closet, in full view. My flannel shoe bags get used only for travel.

I think you may have told me before, but is there a good place to order the cedar racks online? Do you buy the Jos A. Bank version?

Thanks

 

[thebeebs]

Does anyone carry a snuff suede PTB in Barrie (or similar)? I know Epaulet carries the Leydon, but I haven't had luck w/ that last.

Thanks!