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

[Alcibiades]



Wax/Creme Review:

I've used the black paste wax from Brooks Brothers.  It does a fine job of adding some color back to a shoe that has faded a bit with age.  Applied thinly with a horse hair dauber.  Brushed with horse hair brush.  Buffed with flannel cloth.  It's lasted for months, have not had to reapply since.  It restored the jet black color that the shoes had when they were new.  They had lost some of their depth of color, and while still black, they just weren't jet black as they once were.  I think thats the point where you want to add your first wax/creme, as I think it improved/benefited the appearance of the shoe.  It still has that shell cordovan shine, and didn't cover it up. 

More recently, I bought the Saphir Cordovan Creme in Black, Brown and Burgundy from The Hanger Project, and just last night used the brown on my cigar.  The color was a perfect match.  I applied with a horse hair dauber, and one thing that I will do differently moving forward, is apply thinly to only one part of the shoe at a time, in a very circular motion.  What I won't do again, is spread it all over the shoe at once, and then try to go back around and work it in with a circular motion, as the initial spreading left some streaking from the linear movements used during application.  The streaks brushed out, but this stuff dries fast, so its best to apply it to one area at a time, as you won't have time after spreading it all over to go back around and work it in and even it out before it starts drying.

The Saphir Cordovan Creme also added a lot of moisture, as I have expereinced with venetian, which the Brooks Brothers Paste wax did not.  I did notice that the Saphir Cordovan Creme seems to have a 5 year shelf life, as it has an expiration date on the bottom of the jar.  It also has a nice almond extract smell, like a macaroon.  The Brooks Brother smelled more like a petroleum wax.

I think I do prefer the Saphir Cordovan Creme over the Brooks Brothers Paste wax.  I think it yields slightly better results, but the Brooks Brothers paste wax does a fine job as well.  I wish I would have thought to take before/after pics, but maybe next time.

That does it - off to Leffot to buy Saphir cordovan cream. Between Alden cigars and Ralph Lauren Marlows, brown will get a lot of use.

 

[lagsun]



Nice collection, and well maintained. It's increasingly hard not to own a cigar Indy. How do you plan rotating the Indy and the cigar captoe?

I haven't worn the Cigar Indy yet but I'll figure something out. I only go to the office a couple times a week so I really have too many shoes for my own good

perfect collection! congrats!

Thanks.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Cigar LWB delivered. Seems that Barrie will fit me better than Leydon.
Also, this is the first time I see cordovan IRL. Oh wow. 

The barrie is one of my favorites; the leydon one of my least favorites.

Cigar LWBs are wonderful. Nice choice.

 

[Papa Doble]



Cigar LWB delivered. Seems that Barrie will fit me better than Leydon.
Also, this is the first time I see cordovan IRL. Oh wow. 

Nice choice, let's see some pics.

 

[ThArtOfWardrobe]

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)

What is your true size?

 

[lagsun]



What is your true size?

Probably 8.5D. I started my Alden journey thinking I was a true 9D which explains the varying sizes. My most recent acquisitions have been 8D in Barrie and Trubalance and 8.5D on Grant.

 

[jt2gt]

Quick review...anyone even thinking of picking up a little tub of Saphir Reno, do it now. Been hitting everything with a dab of this stuff (shell, leather, my watch strap) and it is working wonders. If the creases in your shell are dry and grey, Saphir with get it back to a nice shell shine. I've used venetian too and the Saphir is even better IMO. I'll have to throw up some pics when I get a chance. JT

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Quick review...anyone even thinking of picking up a little tub of Saphir Reno, do it now. Been hitting everything with a dab of this stuff (shell, leather, my watch strap) and it is working wonders. If the creases in your shell are dry and grey, Saphir with get it back to a nice shell shine. I've used venetian too and the Saphir is even better IMO. I'll have to throw up some pics when I get a chance. JT

I have saphir reno and all the colors saphir offers in shell cordovan cream. Great products.

I would suggest using reno on whiskey shell as opposed to the neutral shell cordovan cream. The latter can slightly darken the whiskey if you are not careful (unless that is the desired result).

 

[Man with Apple]

I know these have been seen before, but I thought I would share some photos nonetheless. I am making my way across Europe and am now in Paris. I stopped by the shop French Trotters today. I have to say this is one of the best shops I have ever been in. They carry more streetwear than anything, but they have a fantastically edited collection and plenty to choose from.

Much to my pleasure they also had a decent selection of Alden shoes in both E and D widths. They had some great looking black shell Indy boots, but I ended up picking up this pair. They are a snuff suede longwing on the barrie last, with eyelets, antique edgetrim and a double waterlock leather sole. So, they are basically the JCrew version from what I can tell, but they come in the E width which I need and JCrew does not offer.

Here are some shots:

Also, I stopped by Anatomica. The customer service is superb. As most know, they focus primarily on the modified last and I just cannot make it work for me. In any case, it was certainly worth the visit.

 

[NAMOR]

Some Saphir action this morning

 

[Kashiwa]

@Johnnyrich7, nice pickup. I have the same pair on the way, from J crew via a forum member. Although the pic of the sole on the J Crew page shows a standard double leather sole, the J Crew version is, from what I understand, also on the waterlock sole. Indeed, if you check the description, it does say "oiled" leather sole.

 

[Alcibiades]

Sunday Morning Saphir schedule:
Cigar captoes
Cigar PTBs on crepe
RL shortwings
Will post pics

 

[Man with Apple]



@Johnnyrich7, nice pickup. I have the same pair on the way, from J crew via a forum member. Although the pic of the sole on the J Crew page shows a standard double leather sole, the J Crew version is, from what I understand, also on the waterlock sole. Indeed, if you check the description, it does say "oiled" leather sole.

Good catch. You are right, the page does show that, but the description is different. JCrew really needs to get their stuff together with their photos and descriptions. I think you will love the shoes. I think they are quickly turning into one of my favorites.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



@Johnnyrich7, nice pickup. I have the same pair on the way, from J crew via a forum member. Although the pic of the sole on the J Crew page shows a standard double leather sole, the J Crew version is, from what I understand, also on the waterlock sole. Indeed, if you check the description, it does say "oiled" leather sole.

I have found that retailers, for better or worse, use the following terms interchangeably: waterlock/waterloc, oiled, flex. Or they use combinations of them ...

 

[Papa Doble]



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.

One more NRO update: They charged my credit card even though they said the shoes were at least 16 weeks from shipment.