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

[LeatherSOUL]



Leathersoul or whom ever feels they can answer; do you ever get E or better yet EEE widths in the special models, can they be special ordered, and in general, does the Alden toe box have a lot of room?
Thanks in advance.

We order some E widths for our stock, but never any EEE widths.

 

[Edgein]

Smoke 'um if you got 'um. Killer!

 

[LeJouvre]

We order some E widths for our stock, but never any EEE widths.

I have the same problem. Ever since I bought my first pair of SF Alden boots I have been unable to buy a single pair of Aldens no matter who I speak to, even if I am willing to wait, I find nobody will accept an order.

I used to buy all my Alden products from Jordan Sayler, nothing was too much trouble for Jordan, and i would always have a few pairs of Aldens in my closet. Ever since Jordan's store closed down I have spoken to a few stores now, including both LS stores, and the best they could do was recommend other styles I don't like.

It is great owning Aldens, but when you know you will probably not be able to replace the shoes when you need to, and when you know all that is available is not what you want, well then the pleasure of ownership is lost.

I was even thinking of dumping all my Aldens on eBay and paying the extra for C&J or EG MTO. Sure, it costs a little more, but at least you know they are replaceable and you can even ask for minor changes to personalize your boots to your own specific style. EG also fits better, wears better, ages better, lasts longer, polishes up better and looks much better than Alden, so the small premium is probably not bad.

I can never understand how some people manage to buy exactly the Aldens they want when for months and months there is not a single store in the USA I can find with a pair of boots or an ordering system capable of supplying me a pair I would want to own.

If I wanted a pair of 9 eyelet punched toe cap in one of the brown cordovan colors, forget it, I will only ever see a pair on some website or find some very used second hand pair on eBay.

Where does a person find a decent range of Aldens? Or where does a person find a retailer who can actually order a pair for a client?

 

[Alcibiades]



I have the same problem. Ever since I bought my first pair of SF Alden boots I have been unable to buy a single pair of Aldens no matter who I speak to, even if I am willing to wait, I find nobody will accept an order.

I used to buy all my Alden products from Jordan Sayler, nothing was too much trouble for Jordan, and i would always have a few pairs of Aldens in my closet. Ever since Jordan's store closed down I have spoken to a few stores now, including both LS stores, and the best they could do was recommend other styles I don't like.

It is great owning Aldens, but when you know you will probably not be able to replace the shoes when you need to, and when you know all that is available is not what you want, well then the pleasure of ownership is lost.

I was even thinking of dumping all my Aldens on eBay and paying the extra for C&J or EG MTO. Sure, it costs a little more, but at least you know they are replaceable and you can even ask for minor changes to personalize your boots to your own specific style. EG also fits better, wears better, ages better, lasts longer, polishes up better and looks much better than Alden, so the small premium is probably not bad.

I can never understand how some people manage to buy exactly the Aldens they want when for months and months there is not a single store in the USA I can find with a pair of boots or an ordering system capable of supplying me a pair I would want to own.

If I wanted a pair of 9 eyelet punched toe cap in one of the brown cordovan colors, forget it, I will only ever see a pair on some website or find some very used second hand pair on eBay.

Where does a person find a decent range of Aldens? Or where does a person find a retailer who can actually order a pair for a client?

If I understand your post, you want MTO Alden shoes in cordovan colors with details fit to your specs and in a specific uncommon size... I think the issue is that cordovan is in short supply, so it isn't economical,for Alden to take dozens or hundreds of individual MTO orders in something like ravello. I talked to Steven at Leffot, he is having trouble getting ravello orders confirmed. Remember, it is one pair of shoes per horse. If you need wide sizes, the Alden DC, NYC and SF stores seem to stock some Es and EEs in some cordovan styles. The Shoe Mart does occasionally as well. If you need a unique makeup, try one of the Alden MTO threads here on SF for a group order.

 

[SuitedDx]

With the recent demand, it might be a while before Alden opens up their individual MTO program...

 

[LeatherSOUL]



I have the same problem. Ever since I bought my first pair of SF Alden boots I have been unable to buy a single pair of Aldens no matter who I speak to, even if I am willing to wait, I find nobody will accept an order.

I used to buy all my Alden products from Jordan Sayler, nothing was too much trouble for Jordan, and i would always have a few pairs of Aldens in my closet. Ever since Jordan's store closed down I have spoken to a few stores now, including both LS stores, and the best they could do was recommend other styles I don't like.

It is great owning Aldens, but when you know you will probably not be able to replace the shoes when you need to, and when you know all that is available is not what you want, well then the pleasure of ownership is lost.

I was even thinking of dumping all my Aldens on eBay and paying the extra for C&J or EG MTO. Sure, it costs a little more, but at least you know they are replaceable and you can even ask for minor changes to personalize your boots to your own specific style. EG also fits better, wears better, ages better, lasts longer, polishes up better and looks much better than Alden, so the small premium is probably not bad.

I can never understand how some people manage to buy exactly the Aldens they want when for months and months there is not a single store in the USA I can find with a pair of boots or an ordering system capable of supplying me a pair I would want to own.

If I wanted a pair of 9 eyelet punched toe cap in one of the brown cordovan colors, forget it, I will only ever see a pair on some website or find some very used second hand pair on eBay.

Where does a person find a decent range of Aldens? Or where does a person find a retailer who can actually order a pair for a client?

We can order any of the stock offerings for you at any time. For our makeups there is just so much planning and back of house work involved to accommodate everyone's requests individually. Plus most people aren't willing to wait. That is why I basically stopped doing our preorders.

If you don't mind waiting 18+ months with a non-refundable/transferable deposit, let me know the styles you are looking for (non-cigar/ravello/whiskey/#4) and I will try my best to accommodate you personally. Email me directly if you are interested.

 

[SuitedDx]



We can order any of the stock offerings for you at any time. For our makeups there is just so much planning and back of house work involved to accommodate everyone's requests individually. Plus most people aren't willing to wait. That is why I basically stopped doing our preorders.
If you don't mind waiting 18+ months with a non-refundable/transferable deposit, let me know the styles you are looking for (non-cigar/ravello/whiskey/#4) and I will try my best to accommodate you personally. Email me directly if you are interested.

Pretty gracious move Tom. Looking forward to seeing what else comes down the line. Definitely getting nice wear from your cigar wing tip boot.

 

[blue collar]



We can order any of the stock offerings for you at any time. For our makeups there is just so much planning and back of house work involved to accommodate everyone's requests individually. Plus most people aren't willing to wait. That is why I basically stopped doing our preorders.
If you don't mind waiting 18+ months with a non-refundable/transferable deposit, let me know the styles you are looking for (non-cigar/ravello/whiskey/#4) and I will try my best to accommodate you personally. Email me directly if you are interested.

The fact that Tom will personally reply (to a forum rant) like this is more than I can say for any other Alden retailer out there.

 

[blue collar]

^^beat me to it

 

[SuitedDx]



^^beat me to it

I click the 'Enter' key like lightning!

 

[mr chorizo]



cigar wt boot
argyles otc

must be the maiden voyage....enjoy wearing Uncle!

 

[LeJouvre]

If I understand your post, you want MTO Alden shoes in cordovan colors with details fit to your specs and in a specific uncommon size... I think the issue is that cordovan is in short supply, so it isn't economical,for Alden to take dozens or hundreds of individual MTO orders in something like ravello. I talked to Steven at Leffot, he is having trouble getting ravello orders confirmed. Remember, it is one pair of shoes per horse. If you need wide sizes, the Alden DC, NYC and SF stores seem to stock some Es and EEs in some cordovan styles. The Shoe Mart does occasionally as well. If you need a unique makeup, try one of the Alden MTO threads here on SF for a group order.

No, you misunderstand and misrepresent what I said. I want stock standard Alden items in my size, to replace precisely what I already own. What I own is worn out and ready for replacement.

That the Alden cordovan range is chronically limited to products which are never available, even from retailers who cannot place orders for future delivery, is at the fulcrum of the complaint. That other suppliers can both supply a cordovan range AND offer MTO variations reduces Alden's possible list of explanations.

The argument that these leathers are in short supply is well known, but the argument is partially flawed because the other manufacturers do not experience the same problems as acutely as Alden allegedly does.

AE for example, a producer of greater quantity, manages to deliver fairly quickly, although they do not do Ravello, but, EG, G&G, Vass et al, all foreign producers, they experience far less of these problems, either that or they manage the problems a whole lot better.

The other suppliers have waiting lists as well, sure, and exotic colored cordovan leather can be a slightly longer wait, but these issues are no less onerous or burdensome than any other premium range of their products and the cordovan products in any exotic color can be delivered by the other suppliers within fairly reasonable lead times.

I have, for example, an order for a whiskey Sandringham and a Cognac Brummel from EG. Another retailer confirmed an order for a pair of boots in an exotic colored cordovan from G&G. Both orders will be delivered in very reasonable lead times.

The fact that Tom will personally reply (to a forum rant) like this is more than I can say for any other Alden retailer out there.

+1 absolutely, Tom is way out there, except that this is no rant, unless you view it from the perspective of a supplier and not a consumer.

We can order any of the stock offerings for you at any time. For our makeups there is just so much planning and back of house work involved to accommodate everyone's requests individually. Plus most people aren't willing to wait. That is why I basically stopped doing our preorders.
If you don't mind waiting 18+ months with a non-refundable/transferable deposit, let me know the styles you are looking for (non-cigar/ravello/whiskey/#4) and I will try my best to accommodate you personally. Email me directly if you are interested.

You got it Tom,

not only will I pay a deposit, I will pay full retail if the order is accepted. Previous inquiries have been met with an absolute decline, which is not a problem in itself, it just makes the marketing of these unobtainable items by the producer so strange.

I will PM you to discuss. I am after stock standard products, only in one of the exotic cordovans. Waiting is not the problem, availability and opportunity to be advised when stocks do become available is the issue. Perhaps I will simply get you to order from one of your other suppliers anyway, that way I could dispense with all this waiting for retirement age before delivery stuff.

Customers who are unwilling to wait will walk into an Alden retailer and buy one of these products straight off the shelf if they are lucky enough to make their purchase at the right time. But are they real Alden shoe enthusiasts? Like those clients who do spend the time and the effort to source these products but keep coming up empty handed.

 

[PhiPsi32]

Don't forget that there are sources for shell cordovan other than Horween. Allen Edmonds can custom make a pair of shoes in a few weeks as long as they have the leather. Lead times can grow considerably longer if they are waiting for stock. I ordered a Natty CXL belt from Hellbrand Leatherworks about three or four weeks ago, and Horween still doesn't have the hides available. Once they come in, Ed can deliver the product within a few days. This aspect of it can't be controlled.

And don't forget, if your Aldens are worn out, they may be eligible for resoling/refinishing. It's cheaper and can be completed in a few weeks. That's one of the reasons I went with Alden.

 

[AnOxymoron]

I didn't realize horween shell was so scarce. Maybe this means I should get another pair of aldens so I'm not wearing my whiskey indys every day.

 

[AldenLuver]

Quick question, I have a pair of J Crew Tobacco (waxed calf) LWB. Would a ravello LWB purchase be redundant, and not worth it?