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

[neutrino]

To develop the topic of belts - I have navy suede LWB coming from Leffot (

), but I'm not sure what would be a good belt to pair with them. I guess it's not necessary to limit myself to navy belts (which are rather rare AFAIK), but what else, dark brown, tan?

 

[PhiPsi32]

You can have a belt MTO. I have a few MTO belts. They're really no more expensive than anywhere else. You can do shell, suede, CXL, etc.

 

[Numbernine]



Wearing my brand new Alden Captoe Shell Color 8 with commando soles for the snow today. Honestly, my right foot is killing me where the new leather is rubbing against my ankle bone, but I assume time will heal everything. Thanks to Cathy at Alden DC for once again sending me two pairs for size comparison. Loved the cigar shell more, but the 11.5E just fits better. I have four other Aldens in cigar, so one color 8 seemed the way to go.

moleskin u can find it with the foot aids in most drugstores.As a skier I couldnt live without it .Great boots

 

[FrankCowperwood]



Wearing my brand new Alden Captoe Shell Color 8 with commando soles for the snow today.  Honestly, my right foot is killing me where the new leather is rubbing against my ankle bone, but I assume time will heal everything.

Thanks to Cathy at Alden DC for once again sending me two pairs for size comparison.  Loved the cigar shell more, but the 11.5E just fits better. I have four other Aldens in cigar, so one color 8 seemed the way to go.

Great boots. #8 is a good choice, I think. In re the discomfort, looks like you are wearing thick socks for the weather. That may
contribute.

 

[MarioImpemba]

Got my Alden's back from repair.

I shipped them back in the original/box + packaging.

Here is what I received:
- Boots dirtier than I remember
- Plain white box (not original green Alden box)
- No cloth shoebags
- Enamel chipped on some of the speedhooks

This was after:
- Receiving the boots +1 month after originally told
- +1 month to repair

Suffice to say, Alden will never get my business again.

I cannot believe they shipped me back dirty boots without so much as a quick clean-up/buffing while they were supposedly at the Factory. They also robbed me out of the original packaging and bags.

I've had better customer service from Zappo's on $50 sneakers, and these are +$700 shoes. Alden clearly does not value their customers.

I am going to contact Alden directly, as this is not an issue with the dealer (J. Gilbert/Yenni), as things have gone smoothly on that end.

Very disappointed.

Update:

Sent Alden a berating email late last night. They promptly replied by trying my phone early this morning. I was getting ready for work and missed the calls this morning, but they called again @lunch for me (PST). I appreciate their perseverance in trying to reach me by phone - old-school customer service.

The guy on the phone profusely apologized for returning back dirty boots, and admitted that was an oversight. The box situation he said was standard practice for shipping between dealers and the factory. Thinking J. Gilbert dropped the ball here.

I was offered either one of the small leather accessories or shoe trees, plus some paste wax and an original box and shoe bags. I took the trees.

Alden redeemed themselves in my eyes for their prompt customer service in rectifying the situation and abating my dissatisfaction. They will get my business again. Back on Alden-wagon, lol.

 

[El Argentino]

Good to read this. Disaster averted.

Also:

My Cigar/Ravello hybrid.

 

[Alpina]

To develop the topic of belts - I have navy suede LWB coming from Leffot (

), but I'm not sure what would be a good belt to pair with them. I guess it's not necessary to limit myself to navy belts (which are rather rare AFAIK), but what else, dark brown, tan?

I have and love the blue suede chukkas and feel they get a bye on the belt-shall-match-the-shoes guideline. So I wear brown, needlepoint, or my British racing green bridle belt from Equus. It's another "color" but not the same, and that seems to work. Should you want to match, however, Equus does have a good looking blue bridle leather. Charlie is a pleasure to deal with and his craftsmanship is top notch. Highly recommended.

 

[Michael Haines]

I see lesthersoul has a preorder up on a few styles. I have never done a 1-2 year pre order though but it is just 100

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



I am wearing a shell belt which is not multi-piece construction. My belt is an AE belt. I have seen others as well that are not multi-piece.

There appears to be genuine disagreement over the authenticity of one piece shell belts.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/222512/one-piece-cordovan-belt

Some folks allege it can't be done, at least not with hides from Horween.

I don't have a dog in this fight, so I don't really care. I'd be glad to hear from a shell belt expert, if there is such a thing.

This is not a knock on AE belts. I have plenty (calf), and am wearing one riight now.

 

[Alpina]

Quote:

My Cigar/Ravello hybrid.

Wow. They're really just cigar, right? I covet.

 

[Alcibiades]



There appears to be genuine disagreement over the authenticity of one piece shell belts.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/222512/one-piece-cordovan-belt

Some folks allege it can't be done, at least not with hides from Horween.

I don't have a dog in this fight, so I don't really care. I'd be glad to hear from a shell belt expert, if there is such a thing.

This is not a knock on AE belts. I have plenty (calf), and am wearing one riight now.

Economically, shell belts would seem to have to be made from the remnants of shell hides after shoes are made. This appears to be how wallets, key fobs, etc are made. It seems unlikely to me that you would be able to get a single strip leather long enough for a full belt.

 

[CTYGGG]



Alden DC Grant Cigar Caps on this Snow Day

Looking good! Details on the jeans please.

Ravello WT Boot

FC you've been posting some great outfit pics on here & the EP thread, carry on.

I "LOL"ed @ this. I'm sure that she is in someway thankful to have such a well dressed husband though. Perhaps CTYGGG can offer a tutorial on shoe photography for the rest of us. While the boots are hard to see, that is to be expected when you capture the whole outfit. I'm confident you'll get there, just give it time. Sometimes I forget how peculiar our habit is. Usually it's the wife who has to hide the expensive new shoes from the husband. My sisters think it is really weird that I post pics of my shoes on the web for others to compliment. They think its even weirder that I have an Uncle Mac (online that is, we have an "Uncle Mac" IRL as well. Heck, they even think its weird that I have a website for discussing shoes. They called it my "Shoe Blog". I know a guy who bought a really expensive shotgun and hid it from his wife for about 6 months. Used to work with a guy who had a separate secret bank account for gambling activities. We all have our vices, shoes are much healthier than others.

Good lighting is a must for a great picture.

Wearing my brand new Alden Captoe Shell Color 8 with commando soles for the snow today. Honestly, my right foot is killing me where the new leather is rubbing against my ankle bone, but I assume time will heal everything. Thanks to Cathy at Alden DC for once again sending me two pairs for size comparison. Loved the cigar shell more, but the 11.5E just fits better. I have four other Aldens in cigar, so one color 8 seemed the way to go.

They will break in after a few wears. Nice purchase & as always wear them in health.

To develop the topic of belts - I have navy suede LWB coming from Leffot (

), but I'm not sure what would be a good belt to pair with them. I guess it's not necessary to limit myself to navy belts (which are rather rare AFAIK), but what else, dark brown, tan?

AE has a navy suede belt http://m.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF97692_1_40000000001_-1

Good to read this. Disaster averted. Also:

My Cigar/Ravello hybrid.

Looking sharp! It's always great to see a fellow granny knot fan posting.

 

[PhiPsi32]

I see lesthersoul has a preorder up on a few styles. I have never done a 1-2 year pre order though but it is just 100

The pre-orders are up? Why didn't you say so!

 

[Burton]



There appears to be genuine disagreement over the authenticity of one piece shell belts.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/222512/one-piece-cordovan-belt

Some folks allege it can't be done, at least not with hides from Horween.

I don't have a dog in this fight, so I don't really care. I'd be glad to hear from a shell belt expert, if there is such a thing.

This is not a knock on AE belts. I have plenty (calf), and am wearing one riight now.

Interesting - thanks, Seven. I think if you watch the Horween videos you will see shell hides large enough to make into belts. My belt feels and acts like regular shell - It does not have a Horween stamp and I don't remember any of the packagaing stating it was Horween, so it likely is from the Japanese tannery. I know BB used their shell for a while. It has served me well for quite a few years and it matches better than any other belt I have.

 

[FENWAY]

Icy and cold. Was a good day for the work boots on the crepe