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

[zazaza]



Disagree. CXL creases like hell, which drives me nuts. My boots looked like a 100 year old man after 5 wears. And thats with diligently using trees and Saphir Reno....

If that's the case then i'm envious, Sir.
I buy/wear boots like that so I can put them through their paces and not worry about upkeep.
I like chromexcel for its suppleness, resiliency, and how it shows its age with wear.
I love how it's dignified (brush it and it comes back), and rugged all at the same time.

 

[Roguls]



If that's the case then i'm envious, Sir.
I buy/wear boots like that so I can put them through their paces and not worry about upkeep.
I like chromexcel for its suppleness, resiliency, and how it shows its age with wear.
I love how it's dignified (brush it and it comes back), and rugged all at the same time.

I am referring only to aesthetics; I agree with the quality of the leather. We're going to have to agree to disagree, because I found nothing dignified in the almost comical creases the cxl developed almost immediately.

 

[zazaza]



Uh, disagree again. Curmudgeon mode.
J. Crew has slowed production for all of the other vendors - who have far superior makeups - to a halt. I have their PT Tobacco Calf Boot, and it is nice, but all the makeups I've gotten from LS, Moulded, Anatomica, Leffot, Unionmade, Alden on Madison and Shoemart were better. Think of how excellent Alden of DC and SF makeups are. These are all small, traditional shoe/clothing shops, that obviously take the time to think up some different and exciting makeups. J.Crew has a big bank account and is somehow *corrupting* Alden. It's sad how infrequently you'll see new arrivals pop up at these shops while J.Crew has a shitload of their *okay* makeups in stock....

I agree to a certain extent, but respectfully disagree.
while J Crew undoubtedly puts a dent in the production schedule of alden, so many of the wonderful makeups from the boutiques you mentioned are in fairly exotic leathers. So, even if someone had the capital to place orders on a mass scale as j-crew does there really isn't enough material (such as exotic shells) to fulfill such an order.

I agree that J Crew has a number of middle of the road makeups, but others, such as the chomexcel indy and #8 shell chukka and captoe boot, are pure utility and pretty well thought out from a supply/demand standpoint.

Furthermore, Alden has been around for awhile and they wouldn't work with a retailer such as J Crew if it didnt make sense. (anecdotal evidence of them not agreeing to supply retailers within a certain proximity of eachother here in boston leads me to make such a statement)
The way I see it, they hedge deals with big companies such as J Crew so that they can expand their production, this allows them to keep up with the demand from those smaller boutiques with innovative ideas.

I look back a few years ago and there were just so many shops carrying alden. J Crew has been dealing with them for a few years now, and it's been during this time that a lot of these smaller boutiques have blown up. I can't dismiss that as mere coincidence.

 

[sevenfoldtieguy]



Disagree. CXL creases like hell, which drives me nuts. My boots looked like a 100 year old man after 5 wears. And thats with diligently using trees and Saphir Reno....

 

[meso]



J.Crew has a big bank account and is somehow *corrupting* Alden.

You mean like a stranger with candy?

The delay sucks, I agree, and I'm hardly a huge J crew fan but I'm not sure blame for that can be placed entirely on them.

Alden has to stay in business somehow.

 

[Kai]

Casual Friday: All-black calfskin Indy boots with commando sole from Alden of Carmel.

 

[BootSpell]



Disagree. CXL creases like hell, which drives me nuts. My boots looked like a 100 year old man after 5 wears. And thats with diligently using trees and Saphir Reno....

I am referring only to aesthetics; I agree with the quality of the leather. We're going to have to agree to disagree, because I found nothing dignified in the almost comical creases the cxl developed almost immediately.

If that's the case then i'm envious, Sir.
I buy/wear boots like that so I can put them through their paces and not worry about upkeep.
I like chromexcel for its suppleness, resiliency, and how it shows its age with wear.
I love how it's dignified (brush it and it comes back), and rugged all at the same time.

I am in the CXL camp. While I love Alden's regular calfskin, I also like to have their CXL boots as well. To me, the creases only add character and cxl's patina is wonderful after some good wear. CXL also has a very nice tactile feel to it. Dare I say almost sensual?

 

[stevent]

I have CXL quoddies and did have yuketens. For that kind of shoe it's great. For my 403s, I'm mixed. It's nice to have the oilier leather so there's less care, but I get random scratches that look terrible until I clean the shoe up

 

[blake3030]



Disagree. CXL creases like hell, which drives me nuts. My boots looked like a 100 year old man after 5 wears. And thats with diligently using trees and Saphir Reno....

8 months into my pair of CXL indys and they're nothing like what you're describing,

 

[balmoralsoccer]



Yea, I'm not saying Alden DC should be tarred and feathered. But I'm not necessarily happy that it happened.
Anyways, here's a contribution to the thread.
My Context Roy boots, favorite things for casual Friday.

can you remind me why they are called Roy boots?

 

[FENWAY]

Pretty sure they're named after someone affiliated with Context...maybe the owners Father. Great boot...love mine

 

[blue collar]



new from J.crew. #8 LWB, eyelets, antique edge, crepe sole

LOVE the eyelets and the entique edge...but crepe?!?

 

[blue collar]



Casual Friday: All-black calfskin Indy boots with commando sole from Alden of Carmel.

WOW I really like these. So much better than the standard black indy.

 

[blue collar]

Is the leather on Alden's calf offereings cut (shaved) as thick as say the chromexcel or cordovan offerings? I have calf shoes from other shoe companies but don't always love how "thin" the calf feels. I like how robust the cordovan/CXL feels.

 

[sellran]



Pretty sure they're named after someone affiliated with Context...maybe the owners Father. Great boot...love mine

All this talk of Roy boots made me decide to wear mine today. These are from the first run at Context a few years ago (when they were made on the Barrie last). They were my first Aldens and I loved them so much they were followed by about 10 more.