The Official Alden Thread for 2016 - Share reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[blame canada]

Hi all,
I’d be grateful for advice on a seemingly botched factory repair job on my 6-month-old Indy’s. I recently noticed stitching coming undone on the outside of the upper of the left boot. I mailed the boot to the Alden factory for repair. The result is pictured here circled in red (frames 1-4). From the top (1-2) it looks messy and loose threads are apparent. From the side (3-4) you can see how the upper was sewn flush—rather it was pulled back slightly creating a hump and exposing the original thread holes (3). Frame 5 shows the (clean) right boot for comparison.
My plan is to seek to return the boots to the retailer given the original factory defect (non-secure stitching).
But I’m curious—is this being excessively picky? Is it unrealistic to expect the repair to look close to the original?
Thanks,
BC

 

[Kahuna75]

@blame canada looking at it that close makes it look bad...a shot of the whole boot would be more helpful. Unless it is a HUGE retailer like J Crew...I would not take those back if I was the store. The store would have been my first place to try. Not all repairs can look original they can not re-create stitching from a put together boot that was done with flat leather originally.

 

[mdubs]



Hi all, I’d be grateful for advice on a seemingly botched factory repair job on my 6-month-old Indy’s. I recently noticed stitching coming undone on the outside of the upper of the left boot. I mailed the boot to the Alden factory for repair. The result is pictured here circled in red (frames 1-4). From the top (1-2) it looks messy and loose threads are apparent. From the side (3-4) you can see how the upper was sewn flush—rather it was pulled back slightly creating a hump and exposing the original thread holes (3). Frame 5 shows the (clean) right boot for comparison. My plan is to seek to return the boots to the retailer given the original factory defect (non-secure stitching). But I’m curious—is this being excessively picky? Is it unrealistic to expect the repair to look close to the original? Thanks, BC

Spoiler

Frankly, I would just send them to Aram at Ah Ones shoes. He will do them super clean and quick for cheap. He fixed the stitching on a few of my shoes for me. Unless you have a fantastic relationship with the retailer they will probably tell you they are worn boots with regular wear and tear. However, being nice and politely asking never hurts. That typically goes much farther than being rude or whining (not saying you are or would, just general advice). -Mike

 

[mdubs]



Color 8 Alt Wein x Epaulet

Spoiler

Those are growing on me. Darn it. Haha. I have always been a big Semi-Brogue fan though and prefer it's clean lines associated with it being a closed balmoral form.

-Mike

 

[Hill]



Frankly, I would just send them to Aram at Ah Ones shoes. He will do them super clean and quick for cheap. He fixed the stitching on a few of my shoes for me.

Unless you have a fantastic relationship with the retailer they will probably tell you they are worn boots with regular wear and tear. However, being nice and politely asking never hurts. That typically goes much farther than being rude or whining (not saying you are or would, just general advice).

-Mike

I second this. I've taken boots, shoes, and a leather bag in, and Aram has done a great job with all of them.

 

[larryr]

New day, same pants, different shoes. Black shell LWB

 

[chenm0416]

Probably been asked to death, but I'm looking to purchase a shell blucher in the Barrie last and could use some sizing advice. Below is what I own:

Allen Edmonds 65 Last: 7.5D
Meermin Hiro: 6.5UK
Wolverine 1000 Mile - 7D
RM Williams McQuarie - 6.5F
Viberg 2030: 6.5
Carmina Inca: 6.5UK
Tricker's W2298 5 Fitting: 6.5UK

 

[Kahuna75]

Probably been asked to death, but I'm looking to purchase a shell blucher in the Barrie last and could use some sizing advice. Below is what I own:

Allen Edmonds 65 Last: 7.5D
Meermin Hiro: 6.5UK
Wolverine 1000 Mile - 7D
RM Williams McQuarie - 6.5F
Viberg 2030: 6.5
Carmina Inca: 6.5UK
Tricker's W2298 5 Fitting: 6.5UK

I am shocked that you drop a full size from AE 65 last to Viberg 2030....I take same length size in both. I also take the same size in Barrie...I measure 13E and take a 12e(blucher) and 12eee (closed lace) in AE 65 and I take a size 12 in Viberg 2030 and I take a size 12 Barrie

 

[sleepyinsanfran]

I am shocked that you drop a full size from AE 65 last to Viberg 2030....I take same length size in both. I also take the same size in Barrie...I measure 13E and take a 12e(blucher) and 12eee (closed lace) in AE 65 and I take a size 12 in Viberg 2030 and I take a size 12 Barrie

one reason is that sizing scales from smaller to larger sizes differently by lasts/makers

 

[larryr]



Probably been asked to death, but I'm looking to purchase a shell blucher in the Barrie last and could use some sizing advice. Below is what I own:

Allen Edmonds 65 Last: 7.5D
Meermin Hiro: 6.5UK
Wolverine 1000 Mile - 7D
RM Williams McQuarie - 6.5F
Viberg 2030: 6.5
Carmina Inca: 6.5UK
Tricker's W2298 5 Fitting: 6.5UK

I've been looking at some Vibergs on the 2030 last, from what i've read it's your Barrie size.

 

[Don L]

 

[csmitty]

Anyone miss out on the EP snuff suede plaza wingtip in 11.5D? I'd love to work a deal for someone on transferring the balance.

 

[Kahuna75]

Quote: Interesting...had not thought of that.

 

[chrisefi]

Cigar captoes on this beauty of a day

B-E-A-utiful. Are these DC or AoM? I love it!

Anyone miss out on the EP snuff suede plaza wingtip in 11.5D? I'd love to work a deal for someone on transferring the balance.

Doh! I have a 10D preorder that I'm trying to swap out due to sizing. Good luck!

 

[Fawkes007]

New day, same pants, different shoes. Black shell LWB

Nice! Just got mine a couple of weeks ago! Have yet to take them out of the living room.