***The official Alden thread *** - Page 2981

Quote:

Originally Posted by docalden2013 

This is exactly the slippery slope I trip on just about every time. It started off for me with, "I'll dive into the Alden scene, but only if I can get a J.Crew discount." Then it was, "Oh, LWBs are nice. The cool styleforum guys are talking about shell. I obviously need some shell action." Got a color 8 LWB then decided not only that I needed a shell boot, but also more shell in other places. "I'll go ahead and get that Grant lasted cap toe boot; Kathy from Alden of DC is so nice and accommodating after all." "Oh, wait, summer is coming. I obviously need a loafer. Cigar it is." Wait, what about those Indy boots everyone is talking about? Oh, if I pass up on the Leffot presale for black shell naval boots, there will be a big hole in the color spectrum in the closet." You catch my drift...

 

Olifter, congrats on a diverse shell collection and best of luck in the hunt for whiskey...

Yup. Same problem with me. "I'll dish out for a pair of LeatherSoul X Alden boots" and then I found this forum thread and a few thousand $ later...

#4 boot right there would get bought with the quickness, altho it'll prolly run $1500 

I finally decided to go with the Cigar LWBs given the feedback on versatility issues (a heartfelt thanks to everyone who offered advice and/or pictures). It's hard to say no to whiskey (really more like a "not now" than a no), especially given my posttraumatic stress and disappointment related to having had to give up the whiskey LHS when that darn left shoe ended up longer than the other.

So, I'm building a fantasy LWB lineup and would love to hear thoughts on which specific acquisitions should come first and which specific LWBs I've inadvertently omitted.

As previously mentioned, the LWB stable currently includes:

JCrew waxed brown "cxl" that isn't cxl-looking

Snuff suede Jcrew

Color 8

Cigar (en route)

I'm thinking the next suspects will include:

whiskey

ravello (as if...)

#4 (I'm told by Kathy "aint gonna happen")

natural CXL (not sure if Leydon epaulet or Barrie leffot) --> how dark does it really get after, say, a year?

Alpine brown (would non-SF people know this was a different shoe than the JCrew lwb?)

Black shell (I know some of you don't wear this as much as the others)

When does one hit the asymptote / point of diminishing returns on the LWB front?

How many of you try to parallel your lwb collection with wingtip boots in similar finishes?

Getting ready to bust out the snuff suede lwb's (enough carpet treatment for them). Has anyone used Meltonian Water and Stain Protector on suede? Is it worth my while? Should I have gone with the Alden leather defender? Have you treated calf with the Meltonian?

Any light shed on the matter will be very appreciated.

Thanks!