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

[CTYGGG]

...

nephew,
looking good in your ravello medallion cap toe

Thank you Mac. It's because of you & fellow SF'ers that I even own this Alden make-up. Thanks again.

 

[Andreas1965]

Leffot #8 Tanker & EP

Beautiful shoes!!

 

[Don L]

^^ +1 ^^ Love the EP Pants as well

 

[Papa Doble]



I use them. And heel pads as well, depending on the last. I use both on my PTBs.

Thanks. So I assume after a while the tongue pad will need to be replaced. How do you plan to remove it?

I guess I was also wondering if it is an indication that you have the wrong size if a tongue pad improves fit. I assume you would say no.

 

[BeSpiffington]



I really love the look of those boots. Seeing so many beautiful boots here on SF is pushing me towards getting a pair. Walk in peace.

Leffot #8 Tanker & EP

 

[indigoeagle]

Has anyone ever dubbed (treated with something like Obenauf LP or Hubberds) his snuff suede boots?

I've often heard of people doing that with their roughout Iron Rangers or Boondockers. And seen pics of the results that look very good.
The snuff suede seems to be a finer leather, though. So I'm not sure how that would work.
They still look close to Service boots, so perhaps why not?

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Quote:
I've used the tongue pad for slip on shoes. When the soles are pretty stiff when brand new, I've had some heel slippage. The tongue pad helps to relieve that until the soles have been worked out and have gained some flexibility. I'm not sure they are meant to be a permanent fixture. My guess is that if you need them permanently, the shoe doesn't fit properly. I suppose though, the bottom line is that you have a comfortably-fitting shoe, even if that means using the pad.

 

[mikeharo]



Has anyone ever dubbed (treated with something like Obenauf LP or Hubberds) his snuff suede boots? I've often heard of people doing that with their roughout Iron Rangers or Boondockers. And seen pics of the results that look very good. The snuff suede seems to be a finer leather, though. So I'm not sure how that would work. They still look close to Service boots, so perhaps why not?

Eagle, I treat my suede shoes. I've used whatever brand nordstroms carries in the past but lately I've been using ugg spray. I like the ugg spray better tha anything else I've tried. It keeps the nap up longer and makes the suede look fresher and cleaner. I avoid wearing suede in foul weather but in a light drizzle the ugg is also equal to others for water resistance.

 

[speekez]

not enough dirty wear pix on this thread. j crew 2nds from shoe mart (inner panel on the left boot was much lighter). forgive my ronald mcdonald socks. worn a year.

 

[El Argentino]

Alden Brethren - I've discovered a great secret of the Mac Method that I felt impressed to share today.

I've been struggling with water spots on my Cigar LWBs, and so after a few separate brush sessions, I decided to take a new approach to getting rid of these little things. Followed the method as best as I understand it:

Brush down with a slightly damp cloth.
Particularly rubbed the spots with a little extra "umph" with the damp cloth - not quite a scrub, but more forcefully than the rest of the shoe.
Let dry 2-3 minutes.
Lacking a deer bone, took a teaspoon and rubbed and rolled all over the spotted areas (mainly on the vamp), both pressing down with the spot, as well as rolling over them back and forth. I also used a swirling method to rub them from different angles. (I noticed that this closed up a particularly nasty scratch that I'd gotten on one of the shoes).
Let that sit for 1-2 minutes.
Applied a dose of Renovateur over each shoe separately, allowing the other shoe to set while I did the other.

- This is all normal and expected.

Here, at the brushing time, I did things a bit differently than in the past. Taking my horsehair brush to brush the Reno down in, I started using very heavy strokes of the brush to no avail - the shell still looked a little muddy and clouded. I lightened up the brush strokes (increasing speed/frequency and only allowing the very tip of the bristles to skim the shell) and it began to light up immediately and shine. I noticed the more I relied on friction generated by the brush on the shoe, the better and better it looked, and the more the Reno cleaned up. This is in stark contrast to heavy-handing the brushing, as I'd done previously, almost slathering the brush across the cordovan.

High, light, and fast - at times almost barely making contact. Each shoe for 3-5 minutes and they were sparkling.

So, if any are having issues with their method application, brush high and fast, and don't worry about applying actual pressure during brushing. Let the friction work for you rather than strength.

 

[Don L]

Thanks for sharing. I will try this going forward. Great looking gunboats

 

[doinitok]

f'ing gorgeous. damn. just damn.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

I think you are right on the mark with this El Argentino. I've always thought the heat created from the friction of buffing and brushing with the polish, cream, wax, etc... mixed in, had something to do with creating the shine.

 

[Alcibiades]

El Argentino and CTYGGG always post stunning photos, good work guys

 

[sazon]

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Leffot #8 Tanker & EP

CTYGGG: These are stunning on so many different levels : the agatine eyelets, the light edge trim, the commando sole. It all comes together perfectly.