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***The official Alden thread *** - Page 2084

post #31246 of 53546
6/27/12 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhoKnewI View Post

agreed. to be honest, the alden last/sizing chart isnt that accurate, and I'd suggest most people try on the shoes before buying them (I know that's not always possible, but whatever.) But leydon is actually an incredibly narrow last, and i take true to size and go up half a width in the chukkas.

I concur.
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post #31247 of 53546
6/27/12 at 10:49am
I'm the same in Van as on the Barrie, but my experience is only with the unlined cordovan LHS. I feel like if it were lined i'd go with my actual size due to the lining and the fact all cordo shoes I've worn seem a smidge bigger than their calf counterparts.

(another factor is that I wear them sockless, which is a good consideration when determining fit)

I can also add that unlined cordovan feels amazing and the LHS is now one of my all-time favorites after just a couple months of wear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakes11771 View Post

What would you like to know? 

It all depends on the characteristics of your feet.  I am a slim guy with boney feet, so true-to-size the heel had a bit too much volume.  A chubbier fellow with fatty feet might not have that problem, but might find that it's tight across the vamp, as many complain about.  Being a slip-on, it needs to be big enough for you to slip on, but fit well enough that your heel doesn't slip out when you walk.  I found that sizing down a half size and down 1 width fits best for me.  The lined Alden version took a long time to break in due to its stiffness/rigidity.  I also have the unlined brooks brothers version, which runs more true-to-size (for me) and is more flexible/supple.

On a side note, Do many people find that they wear the same size in van and barrie?  Obviously it varies person to person, but are they similar enough in shape and form that such a generalization can be made with a high degree of validity?
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post #31248 of 53546
6/27/12 at 11:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feji View Post

Well, I tried on a pair of Quoddy mocs in size 7, and they fit tight across the vamp, but length wise were pretty spot on. I take a 6.5UK in Trickers/McNairy, and I've tried on a 7US in the Alden unlined seude PTB from RG (which ran a little tight across the vamp, don't know what last RG's came in). For dress shoes I'm pretty much a 7.5US.
Did the leather stretch out a little after breaking in, and was it tight across the vamp before breaking them in? Just wondering how it should feel when they're new, and how it'll break in.... unlike shoes I won't be able to just tie the laces up tighter or looser to compensate.

Cordovan is said to stretch very little, if at all.  However, Aldens have a 1/4" layer of cork in the insole, so your foot will sink in to that allowing for more room as they break in.  Also, while the cordovan doesn't really stretch, the upper will form to your foot as you wear them, so that will aleviate some of the tightness across the vamp.  I would say if they are very tight off the bat, they don't fit.  If they are only very slightly tight, you probably have the right size.

 

Also, the first stitch connecting the tounge to the side of the upper on both of my pairs seems to have broken or loosened, so maybe that has something to do with it.  However I think that has more to do with the sole and upper still being stiff when I began walking in them, and not that they were the improper fit.  Let me see if i can figure out how to insert a pic of what I am describing from my album...

 

Also, some may find that the van last or this model doesn't work for them at all in any size do to a high instep.

 

57c900df_DSCF0026.jpg


Edited by Bakes11771 - 6/27/12 at 11:24am
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post #31249 of 53546
6/27/12 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by calidist View Post

Thanks for the responses. Do you consider the Leydon narrower through the vamp and toe box than the Aberdeen?

my only experience with leydon is their unlined chukkas, and they just felt tighter all over. Aberdeen is a last that i tried multiple sizes and widths and could never get to work right for my feet, but overall i'd say leydon just felt tighter all over than aberdeen. my only issue with the aberdeen was the narrow toebox and weird wide heel.
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post #31250 of 53546
6/27/12 at 11:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakes11771 View Post

What would you like to know? 

It all depends on the characteristics of your feet.  I am a slim guy with boney feet, so true-to-size the heel had a bit too much volume.  A chubbier fellow with fatty feet might not have that problem, but might find that it's tight across the vamp, as many complain about.  Being a slip-on, it needs to be big enough for you to slip on, but fit well enough that your heel doesn't slip out when you walk.  I found that sizing down a half size and down 1 width fits best for me.  The lined Alden version took a long time to break in due to its stiffness/rigidity.  I also have the unlined brooks brothers version, which runs more true-to-size (for me) and is more flexible/supple.

On a side note, Do many people find that they wear the same size in van and barrie?  Obviously it varies person to person, but are they similar enough in shape and form that such a generalization can be made with a high degree of validity?

I wear the same size in thew van and the barrie, I find the Van a tad more tight.
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post #31251 of 53546
6/27/12 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.K View Post

I wear the same size in thew van and the barrie, I find the Van a tad more tight.

Agreed.
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post #31252 of 53546
6/27/12 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.K View Post


I wear the same size in thew van and the barrie, I find the Van a tad more tight.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by SenorChang View Post


Agreed.

Thanks for the responses.  Tighter in what aspect?  Toe? Heel? Vamp?

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post #31253 of 53546
6/27/12 at 12:40pm
Really annoyed I slept on the Black Shortwings from LS. If anyone is thinking they may not like their's in a 9D, hit me up. Last mention, promise...

+1 on Tom and Ken and the gang being stand up fellas...
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post #31254 of 53546
6/27/12 at 12:41pm
Interesting the love for the black shortwing.

Have a pair of AE's that I'd gotten a few years ago yet always discounted - felt a black cap/medallion toe was the only way to go for a black shoe.
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post #31255 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Argentino View Post

Interesting the love for the black shortwing.
Have a pair of AE's that I'd gotten a few years ago yet always discounted - felt a black cap/medallion toe was the only way to go for a black shoe.

A black captoe (probably in calfskin) is one of the first shoes anyone should buy, but black wingtips are also great additions. I think that the shortwing pattern lends itself to black a bit better than the longwing (though the black longwings I have seen posted here look good). In many ways it's more of a Men's Clothing shoe vs a Streetwear and Denim shoe, but you can find ways to wear them casually too. I was in the market for black longwings later this fall, but I had to jump on these when they appeared, so I won't be needing the black longwings anymore.
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post #31256 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alcibiades View Post

A black captoe (probably in calfskin) is one of the first shoes anyone should buy, but black wingtips are also great additions. I think that the shortwing pattern lends itself to black a bit better than the longwing (though the black longwings I have seen posted here look good). In many ways it's more of a Men's Clothing shoe vs a Streetwear and Denim shoe, but you can find ways to wear them casually too. I was in the market for black longwings later this fall, but I had to jump on these when they appeared, so I won't be needing the black longwings anymore.

The black short wings are definitely more appropriate with a suit. I think of Aldens as more casual or biz casual shoes.
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post #31257 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:26pm
Alden has numerous models in black shell that are wonderful for professional business attire, not the least of which are the perforated captoe balmoral or the straight tip captoe balmoral. For those who buy Aldens for casual wear only, I can see why, for the most part, they may shy away from black shell (opting instead for the uniqueness of one of the exotic colors, for example). But for those of us who buy Aldens for business attire and for casual wear, black shell is not only an option, but, in my judgment, is at the top of the list. Nothing shines like black shell. nod[1].gif
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post #31258 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:29pm
What size Alden shoe trees should I get for the following:
7.5D Barrie
8D Aberdeen
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post #31259 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy View Post

Alden has numerous models in black shell that are wonderful for professional business attire, not the least of which are the perforated captoe balmoral or the straight tip captoe balmoral. For those who buy Aldens for casual wear only, I can see why, for the most part, they may shy away from black shell (opting instead for the uniqueness of one of the exotic colors, for example). But for those of us who buy Aldens for business attire and for casual wear, black shell is not only an option, but, in my judgment, is at the top of the list. Nothing shines like black shell. nod[1].gif

The perf captoe bal on hampton is a gorgeous dress shoe. wear mine with a suit all the time.
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post #31260 of 53546
6/27/12 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakes11771 View Post

 

Thanks for the responses.  Tighter in what aspect?  Toe? Heel? Vamp?

Tighter, though slightly, across all those dimensions.  In the loafer, I tend to feel it most in the vamp, but the length/width is also a tad smaller.  I wear the same size in both Barrie and Van, but Van isn't quite so different as to warrant a different size.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by edubs01 View Post

What size Alden shoe trees should I get for the following:
7.5D Barrie
8D Aberdeen

Medium

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