***The official Alden thread *** - Page 2542

Originally Posted by thebeebs 

Never mind, I figured out what a Kirkwood boot is.  Can't say I'm a fan - a cap toe together with a commando sole is very confused looking to me.  Sleek and rugged at the same time.  This is why I returned my Cigar cap toes from Alden DC.  It's trying to be too many things at once.

Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy 

An argument can also be made that a WT boot is dressier than a captoe boot - but WT boots many times come on a commando sole.

Originally Posted by Badandy 

Was considering ordering either the Indy (made for J Crew or through Alden SF) or a plain toe Alden boot. Any SF consensus on this? I haven't yet seen them in person so I'm interested in people's opinions on what I admit is a preference matter. Would I be nuts to get one over the other? I'm not doing any outdoors work, just want a great looking boot I can wear with chinos/jeans and that will look great after some wear.

Originally Posted by Burton 

If you ask most of the people here they don't know why they purchase shell corodvan either. Sure we all come up with "reasons" - or execuses. That said, as Uncle Mac says, it is an addiction not easily understood. If you purchase one pair you will be done --think long and hard before you do there is no turning back. I sold all of my shell shoes and am now in the process of rebuilding my collection because I can't quit it.

Originally Posted by Alcibiades 

Do I really need another cordovan captoe boot

Originally Posted by johnnyrich7 

That pic makes them look similar to the color of the #4 boots recently posted:

Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy 

this one:
ravello captoe
approx. 6 inch boot
commando sole
speedhooks at top
barrie last

Originally Posted by Alcibiades 

I'd recommend the Indy in chromexcel. The chromexcel Indy looks unique (moc toe stitching stands out), the leather wears well and takes a nice sheen, and the boot is versatile (it can deal with a lot of weather conditions and looks good with both jeans and chinos in a variety of casula settings).

Originally Posted by Alcibiades 

Ravello can range anywhere from looking light slightly darker/redder whiskey to slightly ligher color 4. It seems to vary the most out of all the Alden cordovan colors

Originally Posted by Roguls 

Am I the only one who prefers the original leather?
I am over CXL.

Originally Posted by Roguls 

Am I the only one who prefers the original leather?
I am over CXL.

Originally Posted by REguy 

Someone go get that last pair of 10s!

Originally Posted by Winston S. 

Only as confused as a captoe derby in my eyes.
Really? In what sense? I always thought captoes were dressier than wingtips if they were both derbys. On the other hand if the wingtip was an oxford it might be a different story

Originally Posted by johnnyrich7 

I agree and have experienced it personally. I own 3 different ravello shoes (lhs, ptb, and lwb) and each is a different shade.

Originally Posted by sevenfoldtieguy 

With respect to blucher style shoes, I generally speaking would agree with you; and of course a plain toe being considered even more formal (no ornamentation).
However, I see it differently for blucher boots, as do many others.
Keep in mind my discussion is limited to blucher style boots: if a captoe is necessarily dressier than a WT (due to more broguing on the WT, etc.), then it follows that a plaintoe is necessarily dressier than a captoe (due to zero ornamentation). Yet a plaintoe boot is almost universally considered the most casual (particularly if on a wider last like the Barrie) - hence, the chukka style, and many other plaintoe boot styles. So, with blucher boots, IMO, the "formal" continuum from plain toe to captoe to WT simply doesn't work - and, indeed, might just be turned on its head altogether. Some may disagree. I have no problem with that.