First pair of Allen Edmonds Shell Cordovan shoes - Unsure about the width.

[J-a-x]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on Style Forum!

I recently became interested in owning a pair of shell cordovan shoes (partially from wearing shell cordovan watch straps and loving the material). I bought my first pair on eBay (great deal) and put them on and they unfortunately feel a bit tight.

I bought plain toe bluchers in ravello brown with the Barrie last. I tried on a shoe with the Barrie last once and found that I needed a half a size smaller, but also my foot slipped in it a bit and I thought I could go for a little less wide too. I also wear "11 C" Allen Edmond Strands so I thought that a little narrower than average was about right. The ones I ended up getting were AA/B but I think when I ordered it I thought it was just plain B. Now I am worried they are too narrow. I've never seen C in Alden and I thoguht B was the only narrow shoe I could find, and it seemed like too good of a deal to pass up, but now I am wondering what I should do.

I guess my question is, will they stretch to accommodate my feet at all? I can move my toes and my heels are right but in the middle, at the widest part of my foot it feels a bit snug. Not impossibly snug, just a little bit.

Unfortunately the seller said "returns not accepted" on eBay. I can plead with him and see what he says but in the case that he won't accept a return, does anybody have any recommendation? I wonder if I should re-sell on here, or re-sell on eBay, or if there's a way I could have a cobbler stretch just the center part of the shoe. Does anybody have any ideas?

Jackson

 

[lodemia]

I've noticed that for me, shell feels more narrow because there's not as much give as in calf, lamb or deer. This results in shell shoes "feeling tighter" because of the lack of stretch in the natural material.

Which brings me to this: If you're going to buy used shell off of eBay, it will benefit you greatly to go to a store and try it on first in shell, so that you know what size/last fit your feet comfortably.

For example, I measure and wear a 13B Allen Edmonds, but my Alden shell (9015) are 13 B/D. B is the heel, D is the ball of the foot.

Hope this helps in the future.

If you got a good enough deal on the shoes, Alden can recraft them on a larger last ($169), but you should call them to confirm this is what you want to do, and that you want your shoes rebuilt.

 

[troika]

Which last are they on? Alden Barrie is a wide last to begin with, so if you have narrow feet it would necessitate a more aggressive narrowing of the last.

As the poster above stated, shell doesn't stretch as much as any other leather.

 

[J-a-x]

Thanks guys. It's true Barrie last. There's a cobbler in town who can stretch them a half size. I actually feel like they're fine in the toes and heel and itsnjust sort of the middle width that needs more room. I've read both that shell doesn't stretch and hat shell does stretch so I'm a bit confused but the cobbler said he can stretch shell. Will it ruin the finish of the leather? Any other reason not to try this before I consider a re craft?

 

[lodemia]

Sure why not. They're already yours.

 

[J-a-x]

I took them to get stretched. One shoe came out of the stretcher absolutely perfect (whew) the other one came out still a bit tight so it got a mother round of stretching. I'll pick it up soon and let you guys know how it went. I was unsure about whether to stretch because I didn't know if it would damage shell but apparently the shoemaker I took it to said it should be fine.

 

[troika]



I took them to get stretched. One shoe came out of the stretcher absolutely perfect (whew) the other one came out still a bit tight so it got a mother round of stretching. I'll pick it up soon and let you guys know how it went. I was unsure about whether to stretch because I didn't know if it would damage shell but apparently the shoemaker I took it to said it should be fine.

It'll be fine. People say shell doesn't stretch because it's the least stretchy leather, but it absolutely does stretch and mold to your feet over time.

I also never understood why people baby shell so much even though it's the toughest and most resilient leather. They'll wear their vibergs before their shell aldens even though they were the same price

 

[tunadubby]



I took them to get stretched. One shoe came out of the stretcher absolutely perfect (whew) the other one came out still a bit tight so it got a mother round of stretching. I'll pick it up soon and let you guys know how it went. I was unsure about whether to stretch because I didn't know if it would damage shell but apparently the shoemaker I took it to said it should be fine.

Would love to hear more when they come in. Thanks!

 

[J-a-x]

I got them back and the stretch really seemed to work.The leather looks just as good as before but they fit much more comfortably.

I should mention they are Aldens not Allen Edmonds. I got two pairs of shoes that month - one Alden and one AE and the Alden is the shell cordovan pair I am talking about not the AE. The wires must have gotten crossed in my brain when I wrote this.