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

[stevent]

Speaking of black scotch grain Aldens, Black Fleece store may still have a few odd sizes left

 

[dslonghorn4]

Deleted.

 

[dslonghorn4]



I'd bet they are AE brown shell strands.  At Lonhorn- how do you like them?  Is the size and comfort the same as the calf version of the Strand?

Plato/Mac - thanks very much! Confirmed that they are the RL C&J short wings.

Repp - they are AE walnut shell Strands; I bought them around this time last year and they have darkened a bit. I don't own the Strands in calf so I can't speak to a direct comparison. However, they are the most comfortable shells I own (likely because I've worn them for a year). I highly recommend!

 

[smdbitchh]

first day of 2013

Alden vanguard boot.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Quote:
Hook'em!

 

[LeCorb]

Happy New Year!! I'm new to SF Alden thread. I went to NY Barneys today to try on couple pair of Alden shell and they were awesome. It was perfect today because most of the people at Barneys are crazy with the 60% sale on the other corner of the store and I got to try on different style of Alden shoes on the shelf. Which one will be a good one to start my Alden shell collection? p.s. I tried color 8 Plain toe blucher, Black cap toe blucher and a color 8 Plain toe chukka.

 

[blue collar]



now that my collection of shell is done, i want to get a pair of suede chukkas--does it never end?

This is how my mind is working lately. Just waiting on my whiskey before i venture into suede and calf offerings.

 

[FENWAY]



Happy New Year!!  I'm new to SF Alden thread.  I went to NY Barneys today to try on couple pair of Alden shell and they were awesome.  It was perfect today because most of the people at Barneys are crazy with the 60% sale on the other corner of the store and I got to try on different style of Alden shoes on the shelf.  Which one will be a good one to start my Alden shell collection?  p.s. I tried color 8 Plain toe blucher, Black cap toe blucher and a color 8 Plain toe chukka. 

Welcome to the thread. I hope you realize you were about two blocks away from Alden NYC...although that may have made your decision even more difficult.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Happy New Year!!  I'm new to SF Alden thread.  I went to NY Barneys today to try on couple pair of Alden shell and they were awesome.  It was perfect today because most of the people at Barneys are crazy with the 60% sale on the other corner of the store and I got to try on different style of Alden shoes on the shelf.  Which one will be a good one to start my Alden shell collection?  p.s. I tried color 8 Plain toe blucher, Black cap toe blucher and a color 8 Plain toe chukka. 

What are your intended uses for your first Alden? The answer will have a significant impact on my suggestion.

And welcome to the thread. The folks are generally nice around here.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]

This is how my mind is working lately. Just waiting on my whiskey before i venture into suede and calf offerings.

You may have a difficult time convincing yourself to buy calf after having shell. But I would suggest it is nice to have a variety - shoes and boots - shell, calf, suede. But mostly shell of course.

 

[LeCorb]

What are your intended uses for your first Alden? The answer will have a significant impact on my suggestion.
And welcome to the thread. The folks are generally nice around here.

Casual and all year round. Mostly wear it with chinos and jeans.

 

[NAMOR]



nephew,
fortunately the store is closed

Haaaaa, if only I could always be this fortunate

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Casual and all year round.  Mostly wear it with chinos and jeans.

Of the three you mentioned:
1. color 8 PTB
2. color 8 chukka
3. black captoe blucher

For your intended uses, I would stay away from the black captoe blucher altogether. I have the black captoe blucher - and love it - but I don't wear them casually.

 

[Olifter]



I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of ravello and whiskey LWBs recently. Unfortunately, I am not sure if I should keep either pair. With the ravellos, the vamp of the right shoe appears to be much lighter than the left shoe. It is also somewhat lighter than the rest of the right shoe. I've seen comments from members of this forum state that the color #8 shoes go through an additional finishing step at Alden. Is this true for the other colors as well, or is variation of this type typically a result of the tanning process? If it is due only to the tanning process, I guess I am just surprised that it would not be caught much sooner in the process. If it is just the finishing step, is there anything that can be done to correct the issue, or I am better off just sending them back to the retailer? With the whiskeys, there is an area on the upper of the right shoe that has dark brown or black streaks that make the area appear almost "dirty". The same area on the outside of the shoe has a similar, but less pronounced appearance. To me, it almost appears as though the shoes were polished in that area with a dark brown or black polish before leaving the factory. That area of the shoe also has a much duller appearance than the leather near the sole. Has anyone else seen this type of dark striping effect with other whiskey LWBs, or other whiskey shells? Is it just natural variation in the leather, or something that can be corrected?

I had the same issue as you have with the Ravellos, only with Cigar. The vamp on the right one was noticeably lighter. I read somewhere, probably here, about using neatsfoot oil to darken them. I was not afraid to try it as I played baseball and used glove oil and recall how that would darken the new leather. I figured worst case, it would do nothing and I was going to keep them anyway as I don't think anyone other than someone actually looking for the difference would notice. Besides, I really liked the Cigar and they can be difficult to come by. However, it worked out well.

 

[Organika]

If it were my $700, those Ravellos would be on the first pre-paid shipipng label back to wherever you bought them from. There's just no way such a mismatch is acceptable. The Whiskeys, though are a tougher call. I have Whiskey LWBs, too, and I had to take a clean cloth and buff off some dark polish when I bought them -- they came "clean" quite easily. Try that, and I bet you'll be happy with the outcome. Even as-is, I'd probably keep the Whiskeys, but it depends on how much of a stretch $700 is for you. If it's pocket change, then who cares, and keep 'em. If it is several months' savings, then it's a personal decision on how much you want them vs. how much it'll bug you to see that every time you wear them.

Keeping the Whiskey should be a good choice. Over time the Whiskey hue all over the shoe should vary and the upper area your worried about may clean off itself or at least polish out to look good. The Ravello would be a tough choice and personal preference whether you could handle the difference, that is a hard pair to find : /