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FrankCowperwood

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I'm not sure which is more curious: that they won't let you follow them or that they are on Twitter to begin with. Maybe they are keeping everyone up to date on the shell shortage?
 

Rishi Kakar

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I'm not sure which is more curious: that they won't let you follow them or that they are on Twitter to begin with. Maybe they are keeping everyone up to date on the shell shortage?
Alden on twitter is as surprising is very true Frankcowperwood.
 

Tck13

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What does anyone think of the Alden suede boot by J. Crew? I'm thinking about picking up a pair...

link to boot
 
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Tck13

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Shouldn't matter what anyone thinks about the boot.  If you like it, get it.


Right. Maybe I should've been more clear. I'm not really looking for anyone to make the decision for me as to whether to buy it or not or whether they like it or not, I'm wondering what people think about the boot itself regarding sizing, construction, fit, etc. I need something to be able to wear with denim and khakis and this looks like it will work perfectly.

I don't see this boot on Alden's website. Is it an older boot from them? There seems to be an issue with sizing with this boot:
These boots were shaped over a Trubalance last and run one half size larger than regular US sizes.

I've never bought Alden before so I'm not sure of the sizing (trubalance last) and I don't think I'll be able to try it on anywhere. I'll have to order it so I thought I'd ask if anyone's had any experience with them and Alden's in general. And yes, I'm looking through the thousands of pages in this thread and found some sizing info but, once again, I'd like to get others input and experience with them.

I have a somewhat narrow size 12.
 
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aldenwear

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Right. Maybe I should've been more clear. I'm not really looking for anyone to make the decision for me as to whether to buy it or not or whether they like it or not, I'm wondering what people think about the boot itself regarding sizing, construction, fit, etc. I need something to be able to wear with denim and khakis and this looks like it will work perfectly.

I don't see this boot on Alden's website. Is it an older boot from them? There seems to be an issue with sizing with this boot:


I've never bought Alden before so I'm not sure of the sizing (trubalance last) and I don't think I'll be able to try it on anywhere. I'll have to order it so I thought I'd ask if anyone's had any experience with them and Alden's in general. (and yes, I'm looking through the thousands of pages in this thread...)

I have a somewhat narrow size 12.
Alden has a number of lasts on which it makes its shoes. The Trubalance last is Alden's largest last -- meaning it has the most room length and width wise. People tend to find that whatever size they typically wear in dress shoes, they must get 1/2 size smaller in an Alden shoe made on the Trubalance last. For example, if you typically wear a 12 in dress shoes, the general guideline would suggest you would wear an 11.5 in a shoe made on the Trubalance last.

All of this is general guidelines. If you search this thread for sizing, you will find a wealth of views, opinions, shaman-like prognostications, superstitions and howling at the moon on Alden sizing. The gist of it is that general guidelines can be helpful to get you in the ballpark, but ballparks are ballparks and with feet, ballparks don't matter: it is your two feet that matter, and feet can be specific and peculiar.

As an example, I wear 7.5E normally (true-to-size lasts) and 7E in Trubalance lasts. The general rule works well for me. I have found, however, that because Trubalance is roomy width wise, I can wear a 7.5D in shoes made on the Trubalance lasts - in other words, not go down a 1/2 size, but go more narrow than typical -- and it works pretty well. Not perfect - a 7E in Trubalance is still a better fit -- but pretty close, particularly in suedes because it tends to have a bit more give than other leathers.

You will find that some people do not go down a 1/2 size in Trubalance, but go down a width. Others go down a 1/2 size and a width.

It all depends on your feet. I know you said it is difficult for you to try on for yourself, but I hope you can see from this discussion that it is really a good idea.

Good luck.
 

Beatlegeuse

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^ in additions to all that, if you are a somewhat narrow 12, you might actually need an 11.5C on the Trubalance, which sucks because J. Crew only offers D widths. Try the 11.5 and if it's still too big you can always return or exchange it. Good luck and I'm sure this will not be your last Alden purchase!
 

Resistant

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Quote:
Just the same advice I gave to local heading into military college, he thought his Oakley boots were expensive and they will barely last Freshman year.
 

LaymanX

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My semi brogue in plaza last (#8) courtesy of LeatherSoul. My first pair of Aldens! :D


An update, two years later....


Loving the Plaza last!
400
 

coolarrow

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Why does Alden not let people follow them on twitter? Requests to follow are declined.

Alden has a love/hate relationship with social media. A while back Alden DC was going to do a email list of some sort. A lot of people here signed up for it. However, Alden corporate pulled it and it never got off the ground.

^^^LaymanX, great 1 year update. Love to see these shoes after some wear
nod[1].gif
 

Beatlegeuse

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I really wanted to like the Plaza but couldn't get it to work for me. I wish I could find a special makeup on the Plaza in a narrow width, maybe that would work but unfortunately that is insanely difficult to come across.
 

sevenfoldtieguy

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I'm not sure which is more curious: that they won't let you follow them or that they are on Twitter to begin with. Maybe they are keeping everyone up to date on the shell shortage?


More curious is that they are on Twitter to begin with.

Now if only Alden DC will get its own website**, and keep an updated inventory of its shell, including exotics. Wishful thinking .........

** I realize their inventory is, at least in theory, linked to the Alden SF site. But I have had first hand experiences with this not being accurate.
 
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