AE Taunton Chelsea-True to Size??

[fashionnoob]

i'm about to buy this boot:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/18817239/c/60.html

it looks like a nice, sleek, high-quality chelsea. the thing is, the toe area looks quite elongated. i wear a size 12 in all of my US sneakers and boots. should i order a 12 here or a 11.5?

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by fashionnoob

i'm about to buy this boot:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/18817239/c/60.html

it looks like a nice, sleek, high-quality chelsea. the thing is, the toe area looks quite elongated. i wear a size 12 in all of my US sneakers and boots. should i order a 12 here or a 11.5?

i heard it was true to size, but with a looser than normal heel. the guy you need to talk to is jan - he's tried one on.

 

[Borky]

Is this boot of good quality and worth the price? I need some boots pronto, and would want RMW, but I can't figure out the sizing on them. At least you can return zappos easily.

 

[DocHolliday]

E is reliably good. But before you buy, make sure you check out the Tauntons from all angles. There's an odd horizontal join in the leather that I hadn't expected. On Zappos, the pictures are taken such that the join isn't easily visible except in the "Right" and "Front" pictures.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

AE is reliably good. But before you buy, make sure you check out the Tauntons from all angles. There's an odd horizontal join in the leather that I hadn't expected. On Zappos, the pictures are taken such that the join isn't easily visible except in the "Right" and "Front" pictures.


That is strange. Is it only horizontal, or does it also run up the middle front of the boot?

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by grimslade

That is strange. Is it only horizontal, or does it also run up the middle front of the boot?

Runs up the middle of the boot too. It's essentially a large rectangle of leather that's been sewn in place. I'd hope it's not a cost-cutting measure, to allow for the use of smaller pieces of leather, but that's what I suspect it is. Very noticeable in person. Makes the boots look like those leather jackets/purses sewn from leather scraps.

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Runs up the middle of the boot too. It's essentially a large rectangle of leather that's been sewn in place. I'd hope it's not a cost-cutting measure, to allow for the use of smaller pieces of leather, but that's what I suspect it is. Very noticeable in person. Makes the boots look like those leather jackets/purses sewn from leather scraps.

I have the same thing on my Bruno Maglis. It's not really noticeable in action - unless you wear highwater pants. But RMW would be much better.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Runs up the middle of the boot too. It's essentially a large rectangle of leather that's been sewn in place. I'd hope it's not a cost-cutting measure, to allow for the use of smaller pieces of leather, but that's what I suspect it is. Very noticeable in person. Makes the boots look like those leather jackets/purses sewn from leather scraps.

I think it must be that. That, or somehow AE couldn't form the leather up the whole vamp in one piece? Pretty much ruins the boot in my eyes, and I'd thought about getting a pair. No offense intended, and thanks for the warning.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by grimslade

I think it must be that. That, or somehow AE couldn't form the leather up the whole vamp in one piece? Pretty much ruins the boot in my eyes, and I'd thought about getting a pair.

Yeah, I had too. That's why I thought I'd mention it. As NoVa points out, it wouldn't be that noticeable in the wearing, but it's the type of thing that'll bother some folks more than others, especially here on detail-obsessed SF.

 

[grimslade]

Makes me feel better about my RM Williams tho.

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by NoVaguy

i heard it was true to size, but with a looser than normal heel. the guy you need to talk to is jan - he's tried one on.

Actually, Jan has not tried on the Taunton, but he did try on the Delray, which is on the same (new) #8 last. My heel flip-flopped like mad in that one, so I presume the same would be true for the Taunton. I don't know whether to be pleased or not over this. I'd like the Taunton in both its brown and suede iterations, but I don't really need to spend more money on footgear of this type.

At least one other forumite (I think this was on AAAC) did buy the Tauntons but encountered the same problem with the heels. If you have narrow heels, the new #8 and the #2 lasts are best avoided.

 

[Bandwagonesque]

Bump.

Can anyone with the Taunton boot comment on it's fit relative to the PA? With the exception of the loose heel, is the #8 last wider in the ball/midsection of the foot? Is it tight in the top of the foot? Is it also shorter than the PA? If I'm 10D, would a 10D fit me in the length, or would a 10.5D be a better bet?

 

[JLibourel]

The #5 last--the last the PA is built on--is the narrowest last in the A-E lineup. Hence, everything else is going to be wider in a given size.

 

[Briguy]

I have three pair of Tauntons and a Mora (also on the #8 last). They do have a touch of looseness in the heel, but not to the point where comfort is affected. As a point of reference, I am a 8.5EEE in the #8 and #4 last (Byron). The Byron fits well without the looseness of the #8. I cannot wear anything in the #5 last, as it is just too narrow for my foot (even in wide widths).

I do find that the #8 is a tighter fit in the toe area (than the #4 Bryon), but not by enough to make a difference in comfort.