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

[Alcibiades]

Leffot has the navy CXL Greenwich boots on crepe up for preorder. I highly recommend these. I have worn them once a week since purchase, very comfy and sharp at the same time.

 

[Dbc0919]



I use Kiwi Mid-Tan on Ravello. Seems to be the color that matches the best.

There is a very red mahogany Saphir paste wax that I used once or twice unsuccessfully on ravello/color 4 (now I don't use any Saphir paste wax on cordovan, only cordovan creme)

I agree with this. A third alternative is Saphir cordovan cream in neutral.

FWIW, Alden itself recommends this.

Thanks all for responding. I heard that Alden recommended Brown for Ravello but it seems likely to me that brown was recommended because all they had was brown, color #8, black and maybe tan, though I thought tan has been introduced fairly recently. I just can't imagine putting the brown used for cigar on reddish ravello.

 

[Gianni Cerutti]

It seems like a ravello kind of day...

I remember getting these, wearing them around the house, and noticing that a crease formed on the captoe. It bothered me at first, but now it adds to the character. Super comfortable boots. I'm glad I jumped on this order before the shortage.

I agree with you on comfort. I also I have a couple and I have to say I do not have rivals.

 

[inmamy]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting here, although I have long admired the knowledge and passion of all the regulars on this thread. I just purchased my first pair of Aldens(!)--the cigar shell PTBs from Frans Boone--and I come to seek your wisdom. The shoes are in generally great condition--soles pretty much pristine, and the uppers mostly great too. However, the creasing in the toes area looks a little weird to me, because the leather looks like it has deteriorated. It looks and feels dry and rough, very different from how cordovan is supposed to. I know one of the appeals of cordovan is that it creases differently from calf, and there are subtle variations in color to be expected. But this seems different. I don't know how to describe it more specifically, so below are some quick close-up pics I snapped.

Also in the same photos, you can see that there's a little area near the laces where the surface of the leather appears to have peeled off(??) Again, I've never seen this with cordovan. In essence, my questions are: (1) what is going on here? Something to be concerned about/should I talk to the seller? (2) Is it possible to restore the trouble areas to what they're supposed to look like? If so, how?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tifosi]



Hi all, This is my first time posting here, although I have long admired the knowledge and passion of all the regulars on this thread. I just purchased my first pair of Aldens(!)--the cigar shell PTBs from Frans Boone--and I come to seek your wisdom. The shoes are in generally great condition--soles pretty much pristine, and the uppers mostly great too. However, the creasing in the toes area looks a little weird to me, because the leather looks like it has deteriorated. It looks and feels dry and rough, very different from how cordovan is supposed to. I know one of the appeals of cordovan is that it creases differently from calf, and there are subtle variations in color to be expected. But this seems different. I don't know how to describe it more specifically, so below are some quick close-up pics I snapped. Also in the same photos, you can see that there's a little area near the laces where the surface of the leather appears to have peeled off(??) Again, I've never seen this with cordovan. In essence, my questions are: (1) what is going on here? Something to be concerned about/should I talk to the seller? (2) Is it possible to restore the trouble areas to what they're supposed to look like? If so, how? Thanks in advance!

I don't like the look of those at all. If that wasn't disclosed to you at the point of sale, I'd try to return them. I know I would. These is nothing normal about that. Welcome to the thread!

 

[FENWAY]

^ That doesn't look good

 

[Bakes11771]

Contact Frans Boone, see if they can send them back to Alden for refinishing.

 

[Shawnc]



Hi all, This is my first time posting here, although I have long admired the knowledge and passion of all the regulars on this thread. I just purchased my first pair of Aldens(!)--the cigar shell PTBs from Frans Boone--and I come to seek your wisdom. The shoes are in generally great condition--soles pretty much pristine, and the uppers mostly great too. However, the creasing in the toes area looks a little weird to me, because the leather looks like it has deteriorated. It looks and feels dry and rough, very different from how cordovan is supposed to. I know one of the appeals of cordovan is that it creases differently from calf, and there are subtle variations in color to be expected. But this seems different. I don't know how to describe it more specifically, so below are some quick close-up pics I snapped. Also in the same photos, you can see that there's a little area near the laces where the surface of the leather appears to have peeled off(??) Again, I've never seen this with cordovan. In essence, my questions are: (1) what is going on here? Something to be concerned about/should I talk to the seller? (2) Is it possible to restore the trouble areas to what they're supposed to look like? If so, how? Thanks in advance!

First of all, congrats on a great score. I love the FB PTB Cigars with the exposed eyelets. A sweet shoe. Having said that, I would not consider what your pics display to be a part of the subtle color variations often found in shell. If it were me I would contact FB and provide them with the same pics you posted here.

 

[inmamy]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions so far, folks. Much appreciated. I'll definitely contact Frans Boone with photos. I'm just confused as to how the rest of the shoe can be completely pristine (I mean, the soles are crepe, so it'd be easy to see any wear, and it looks like they've been worn once or twice max) while the leather in specific spots gets like this...

 

[mtc2000]



Thanks for all the advice and suggestions so far, folks. Much appreciated. I'll definitely contact Frans Boone with photos. I'm just confused as to how the rest of the shoe can be completely pristine (I mean, the soles are crepe, so it'd be easy to see any wear, and it looks like they've been worn once or twice max) while the leather in specific spots gets like this...

This is likely to be the glazing starting to wear off prematurely. Alden applies a glazing to most of the shell Cordovan shoes, giving that instant, out-of-the-box shine.

Alden is able fix that kind of issue, by applying more of that stuff.

I am seeing a trend of heavy application of that glazing on the more recent production. In part, as an attempt to even out the natural color variations in Cordovan. Good or bad, I am not sure.

 

[mcarthur]



Excellent Ravello medallion cap toes and argyles Uncle.

nephew,

thank you

 

[mcarthur]



nephew,

thank you

 

[MiniW]



^^^^

awesome collection! where'd the shortwing boots come from, look like ravello or whiskey?

Ravello, shoemart bootmaker edition

 

[ClassyCanuck]



ravello plaza

OUTSTANDING!!!!

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Quote: Paste wax and Saphir reno/VSC serve very different purposes. Paste wax once or twice per year is certainly appropriate to try and maintain color and clean up scuffs and scars. Reno and VSC are meant to moisturize and clean; also good a couple of times per year depending on how often you wear your shell cordovans.