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

[MrDV]

Funny, I saw the picture and immediately thought I need a pair of those aldens (the strands). I have the strands but don't wear them as much as my alden lwbs.

 

[rpmfg]

i would send them to B Nelson in NYC, not Alden.
B Nelson does great work, and I have a feeling they would be less likely to label the shoes as "beyond repair" than Alden would be.
i asked the same question a few months back (NST on the barrie) and CitiShoes was the only lead that came up.

Seconded.

I would take them to the Cobblers Corner in Northville, MI. I've been there and he seems to do a good job, he is also one of the few Alden dealers in MI.

Thanks much guys! I'm in contact with B Nelson, but I might go check out Cobblers Corner. It's pretty close by.

 

[slam]

Thanks for all the responses. I will wear them casually most of the time, so the Longwings might be the right choice. I think that is why I posted the question here instead of in the AE thread

I rarely see Alden's on sale, which is another great point. I wish I could find some Longwings in Ravello for 30% off. That would be a no brainer.

 

[Roguls]



The Barrie and the Truebalance are both pretty big all around.  Without measuring, my impression is that the Barrie is a bit smaller.

Barrie is smaller in the forefoot and wider in the heel. It's why it is an awkward fitting last for me. I wish I didn't love my Pitt Boots in black shell so much....

 

[Papa Doble]



agree with this...if you want a more casual shoe, keep the LWB. I know some people wear Strands with jeans but I think that's an awful look IMHO. I don't think I would ever wear a balmoral with jeans, even if the other details on the shoe were more casual. Having said that, I do own a pair of Strands and I really like them, but only wear them with business casual outfits.

I think a half or full brogue suede balmoral can be appropriate, and look quite good, with jeans.

 

[Eleganza]

I thought you guys were actually related!

 

[100 yrs]



Barrie is smaller in the forefoot and wider in the heel. It's why it is an awkward fitting last for me. I wish I didn't love my Pitt Boots in black shell so much....

Same here. Seems I'd prefer an A/D combo last rather than a B/D.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

With the help of Reddit, I finally identified this pair of shoes I got at a thrift store for $4 in poor condition years ago:

Alden for Brooks Brothers Plain Toe Cordovan Bluchers

I'm wondering if anyone here can help me figure out how old they might be?

I plan to get them fixed up, but I have some questions you guys might be able to help me with.  Alden is sending me a mailer to send to their factory to be restored, which costs $160.  They say they'll send them back if they're beyond repair.  What I really need is a new sole and heel, and hopefully the heel counters fixed.  I think they're beyond cosmetic repair with some deep scratches in the cordovan, and I really like the patina and worn away dye anyway.  My question is: would a local cobbler be able to handle the resole/heel without messing them up?  How about the heel counter?  Or would it be worth it to have Alden do the work.  I'm in Southern Michigan and I make it to Chicago frequently so if anyone knows of a cobbler that would be up to the task around here, I'd appreciate it.

I've never had shoes restored, so I can't offer any real advice (my gut reaction would be to send to Alden). Whatever you wind up doing, please post follow-up pics! We need a little variety in the types of pics we see most often.

 

[MrDV]



Thanks for all the responses. I will wear them casually most of the time, so the Longwings might be the right choice. I think that is why I posted the question here instead of in the AE thread
I rarely see Alden's on sale, which is another great point. I wish I could find some Longwings in Ravello for 30% off. That would be a no brainer.

I bought the aofc ravello lwb new in box from thebay for $400 last year. They don't get much respect because of the crepe sole, but I love mine.

 

[Beatlegeuse]



I think a half or full brogue suede balmoral can be appropriate, and look quite good, with jeans.

that's a good point, a suede bal with jeans wouldn't look bad at all....I still think calf bals with jeans look pretty bad probably 99% of the time.

 

[Chaos_Cow]



I bought the aofc ravello lwb new in box from thebay for $400 last year. They don't get much respect because of the crepe sole, but I love mine.

Shell and crepe is totally bizarre to me - it would be like putting canvas on a triple leather sole - but you can just replace the sole, right?

that's a good point, a suede bal with jeans wouldn't look bad at all....I still think calf bals with jeans look pretty bad probably 99% of the time.

Agreed - although honestly I'm probably influenced by all the 'stylish' guys in porkpie hats who wear their weird papery wingtip bals from UO

 

[MrDV]

Crepe soles are not the best looking. But these are my most comfortable aldens. They are also ninja quiet on hardwood and tile.

 

[Papa Doble]



that's a good point, a suede bal with jeans wouldn't look bad at all....I still think calf bals with jeans look pretty bad probably 99% of the time.

This is probably true. I've never worn my walnut Strands with jeans, for example.

 

[Alcibiades]

I have thought about pairing my whiskey balmoral wingtips with jeans. Jeans, blazer and bals seems like a pretty common combo

 

[mcarthur]



Got the tobacco lwb from J. Crew today, they are going back. Color seems like it wants to be orange but is not fully there and it's not really a brown neither. Plus my student who always comments on my shoes that I get in said these felt like "cheap leather" compared to the other shoes I've gotten before. It's not cheap but color to me definitely looks off.
Color on mine is pretty close to this photo:

nephew,
enjoy wearing in good health

 

[mcarthur]



Cigar wingtip boots on Plaza (LS)

nephew, good looking boot