Alden lasts and fit

[srivats]

^ You do realize that "sizing advice" is a two way street right? You re also suposed to participate in that process. The the SAs can only help you depending on what feedback you give them as to fit. They are not magicians wearing special x-ray glasses to see your foot through the leather.

 

[srivats]

Originally Posted by Limniscate

So I went to the actual Alden store in SF and got my real sizing.

So I'm a 7.5E in the Leydon, 6.5E in the Barrie and Trubalance, and a 7D in the Plaza.

Wowza ... just read this on the alden thread at SW&D:

Originally Posted by jasonfoote303

I was at the Alden SF store today chatting with Robert and Jim and a kid comes in and says "I'm from out of town and I want to get fitted for every last"

Robert and I looked at each other like "Oh mannnn"

The guys at the shop are willing to accomodate requests like this because they are professional and nice and provide top service, but that is asking A LOT. It takes a long time to get fitted for just one shoe when you consider the different widths.

I am an Alden fan and I get the need to know your exact size, but really? I also get the other side because I sell Aldens now.

All I can say is that dude better post his exact findings on this thread so everyone can benefit!

 

[JayJay]

^^^

 

[Joenobody0]

Originally Posted by srivats

^ You do realize that "sizing advice" is a two way street right? You re also suposed to participate in that process. The the SAs can only help you depending on what feedback you give them as to fit. They are not magicians wearing special x-ray glasses to see your foot through the leather.
I definitely realize it's a two way street, but when someone comes in and says "hey these are my first pair of dress shoes, I'm not sure what they should feel like" the sales agent needs to carry the discussion in whatever way possible. One of those ways is to look at the actual shape of your foot, and to check the positioning on the ball of the foot in shoes. As I said, I'm glad your experience was better than mine, but it doesn't change the fact that I own a pair of shoes purchased in person that are at least two sizes off my correct size. On edit, the other sales agent I've dealt with was Robert.

 

[Roguls]

Originally Posted by srivats

Such are the perils of having feet inbetween a US D and E widths.

All these sizing discussions prove is that our feet are very different and one cannot go by what you read on the fora.

Sri, we have nearly the same feet. I wish my left were not wider than my right; just picked up AE Sohos (9E) that are snug in the left only.

I've got Indy's on order in 9E. It's good to know the Barrie comes in an E width as well (cigar chukka is my holy grail shoe). I need to try on the plaza and leydon to see if 9.5D will work.

 

[srivats]

Originally Posted by Roguls

Sri, we have nearly the same feet. I wish my left were not wider than my right; just picked up AE Sohos (9E) that are snug in the left only.

I've got Indy's on order in 9E. It's good to know the Barrie comes in an E width as well (cigar chukka is my holy grail shoe). I need to try on the plaza and leydon to see if 9.5D will work.

Leydon is a very nice last ... I have a pair of Hawaiian stompers from LeatherSoul that I really enjoy.

I think the Plaza last looks very good on PTBs and captoes without any ornamentation. I regret not trying these when Tom released them last year:

 

[1wb]

Originally Posted by Joenobody0

I've been in the store numerous times. I've dealt with Jim, who seems courteous but unwilling to give definitive sizing advice, and another gentlemen (who used to be a cobbler but I can't recall his name) who told me straight out that he had been told by his manager (Jim) not to give sizing advice (due to liability in the case of a bad fit). To give you some perspective, neither gentlemen checked the position of the widest part of my foot in the shoe. They simply looked at my sock clad foot and said they'd bring me some shoes to try.

They were nice enough and willing to get me whatever I wanted to see, but I wanted expert advice and I did not get it. I purchased my worst fitting pair of Alden's at this store. They are at least 1/2 size to long, one letter too wide, and made on a last that isn't a good fit for me. They were my first pair of shell shoes, so I didn't know what to expect as far as break-in, and they are now almost unwearable.

I'm glad your experience has been better than mine, but I stand by my statement that I've recieved terrible sizing advice. Note that I didn't say terrible service. The service was fine.

+1.5 (that's + 1/2 size too long and one letter too wide on shoes from the SF store) I have had the exact same experience there.

 

[imatlas]

Originally Posted by srivats

Really? I am very very surprised to hear that. Was this advice over the phone or in person? Jim and Larry are terric folks and very knowledgeable in alden lasts and sizing.
Larry (shorter guy only works the SF store on weekends?) gave me very bad advice, and sold me massively oversized shell chukkas (10 E). I wear hiking socks with them, which is actually quite comfortable. Jim (taller guy who works there all the time?) recently told me I should really be in a 9 EEE, and let me try on a pair of his own shoes to prove it. I've ordered a pair of boots in this size and am keeping my fingers crossed until I get them sometime over the Summer.

 

[Limniscate]

Originally Posted by kalanigee

So, if I may ask, what do you measure on a Brannock device?

I'm pretty sure that I measure an 8D on the brannock.

 

[Limniscate]

Originally Posted by srivats

^ You do realize that "sizing advice" is a two way street right? You re also suposed to participate in that process. The the SAs can only help you depending on what feedback you give them as to fit. They are not magicians wearing special x-ray glasses to see your foot through the leather.

Yes I realize it's a two-way street and provided feedback.

 

[LeatherSOUL]

Originally Posted by Limniscate

I'm pretty sure that I measure an 8D on the brannock.

What about arch length? It's just as important as length.

As a true 8D overall, you should be 7.5D Barrie/Trubalance, 8D Leydon, 8D Plaza. So, the 7.5E Leydon makes some sense, but 6.5E Barrie and 7D Plaza make no sense to me.

 

[Limniscate]

Originally Posted by LeatherSOUL

Are you sure about this? Doesn't make sense to me.

I guess I'm not sure, since he could have lied to me. I didn't actually look at the size for each shoe.

 

[Limniscate]

Originally Posted by LeatherSOUL

What about arch length? It's just as important as length. As a true 8D overall, you should be 7.5D Barrie/Trubalance, 8D Leydon, 8D Plaza. So, the 7.5E Leydon makes some sense, but 6.5E Barrie and 7D Plaza make no sense to me.
I'm not sure about the arch length. Well, I can tell you that I own the unlined chukkas in 8D on the Leydon last, and they're definitely too big on me. My foot can slide forward and back in them. However, my feet may have shrunk since the last time I measured them on a brannock because I've been stretching them a lot, and I do a lot of dancing. The actual shoes that I tried on were: The Indy boot (trubalance), PTB (barrie), unlined chukka (leydon), and the plain toe bal (I think) (plaza).

 

[jasonfoote303]

Robert is the tall guy.

It took a while but he got me in the right size the first time I went there. 9E Barrie and Tru-balance.

This thread is making me grateful that I know for sure what size I am!

 

[NewYorkIslander]

Surprised that Modified isn't getting so much love (or discussion) here. I'm generally a 9.5D but the (D in the Modified Last is BY FAR the best fit for me out of any of the Aldens. I wear a 9D (or would if I had any) in the Barrie (tried on the whiskey shell lwb in that size and it fit, just didn't have the $700 at the time) and I have a pair of Cigar NST on the Aberdeen in a 9.5D. I know they're more for the Japanese market, but me loves me some Modifieds! One day I'll try and special order a pair of Ravello LWBs on it.