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mdubs

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Happy Memorial Day. Allen Edmonds Navy Shell Cordovan Tassel. Navy and Red Argyles. LBM Linen Blend Trousers.

Allen Edmonds Navy Shell Tassels - 2018-05-28 - 1.jpg


-Mike
 

peppercorn78

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E339F747-EBE9-4FFD-A1CC-E95F848B416E.jpeg
 

savvysartorial

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Hello, been a while since I stopped by! Got married and moved across the country so I've been a little busy. :tongue: I believe it was posted, already but since AE was bought again, I was told they put the MTO program on hold for the time being. I was not given a time frame if (or when) they will restart the program :censored:

My sales rep (Kristle) is no longer with the company since the Jeffersonville store closed. She suggested I work through the Mebane, NC store (I'm not in NC), but I have seen a lady named Ashley mentioned. Should I get in contact with her?

I posted many moons ago about a black shell Fifth Avenue and they finally came to me last month after about six months of mishaps at the factory :brick: I'll try to get photos attached here sometime soon. They really turned out great with my options!

Sorry for the long winded post, but the one shoe I am after big time is a natural shell strand... Unobtanium? I know Mike the mayor has one and I always see photos of it online on various sites.

Cheers
 

madhat

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Hello, been a while since I stopped by! Got married and moved across the country so I've been a little busy. :tongue: I believe it was posted, already but since AE was bought again, I was told they put the MTO program on hold for the time being. I was not given a time frame if (or when) they will restart the program :censored:

My sales rep (Kristle) is no longer with the company since the Jeffersonville store closed. She suggested I work through the Mebane, NC store (I'm not in NC), but I have seen a lady named Ashley mentioned. Should I get in contact with her?

I posted many moons ago about a black shell Fifth Avenue and they finally came to me last month after about six months of mishaps at the factory :brick: I'll try to get photos attached here sometime soon. They really turned out great with my options!

Sorry for the long winded post, but the one shoe I am after big time is a natural shell strand... Unobtanium? I know Mike the mayor has one and I always see photos of it online on various sites.

Cheers
Yes. Ashley is very good. I'm in Texas and buy everything from Kristen in NJ. Interested to see how your pair came out!
Goooooood luck with the natural shell. Contact Ashley, give her your size, and she'll see if she can find anything hidden away. Otherwise, hope against hope that someday we get a trunk show or MTOs open back up. Or, you'll be looking to other companies to fulfill your natty shell needs!
 

savvysartorial

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Yes. Ashley is very good. I'm in Texas and buy everything from Kristen in NJ. Interested to see how your pair came out!
Goooooood luck with the natural shell. Contact Ashley, give her your size, and she'll see if she can find anything hidden away. Otherwise, hope against hope that someday we get a trunk show or MTOs open back up. Or, you'll be looking to other companies to fulfill your natty shell needs!


Thank you very much for the details! Where is Ashley located? A vote for Kristen? I was in Cincinnati and bought my MTOs from Kristle in Jeffersonville, having never met in person. I am in St. Louis now. There is an AE store and also a few Alden retailers (boo hiss) that I may check out for new styles.

It's a shame because Alden's answer to the Strand just doesn't compare. I know that folks say they do some shoes better, but the AE Strand is a sight to behold!
 

jet-stream

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Hello, been a while since I stopped by! Got married and moved across the country so I've been a little busy. :tongue: I believe it was posted, already but since AE was bought again, I was told they put the MTO program on hold for the time being. I was not given a time frame if (or when) they will restart the program :censored:

My sales rep (Kristle) is no longer with the company since the Jeffersonville store closed. She suggested I work through the Mebane, NC store (I'm not in NC), but I have seen a lady named Ashley mentioned. Should I get in contact with her?

I posted many moons ago about a black shell Fifth Avenue and they finally came to me last month after about six months of mishaps at the factory :brick: I'll try to get photos attached here sometime soon. They really turned out great with my options!

Sorry for the long winded post, but the one shoe I am after big time is a natural shell strand... Unobtanium? I know Mike the mayor has one and I always see photos of it online on various sites.

Cheers

Ashley is at the Charleston SC store. She and Kristen at Paramus are often and widely recommended. I can vouch for Ashley’s awesomeness personally.

Looking forward to seeing the 5th Ave!

I think the strands that @mdubs has are walnut shell (IIRC). I have some in natural and wore them yesterday:
3EAAFEF3-6E71-4094-BABF-5978046B8090.jpeg

Ashley found these for me, by the way...
 

savvysartorial

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I do however, want to see about Alden's unlined LHS in shell... That seems like a grail shoe. The Shoe Mart has a few special ones, but Alden seems like a mystery sometimes. AE seems to have bar none customer service and Alden and special ordering from them seems like quite a daunting task.

Thanks and sorry for my rambling.
 

savvysartorial

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Ashley is at the Charleston SC store. She and Kristen at Paramus are often and widely recommended. I can vouch for Ashley’s awesomeness personally.

Looking forward to seeing the 5th Ave!

I think the strands that @mdubs has are walnut shell (IIRC). I have some in natural and wore them yesterday:
View attachment 985420
Ashley found these for me, by the way...

Oh my.... :nodding: Those are nice!! It is really a shame they don't offer the Fifth Ave in shell, but it looks oh so good. I'll get photos up soonish. Been preparing for a large professional exam. Alden makes a cap toe balmoral (Fifth Ave) equivalent that looks fantastic. I'll give Ashley a call!!


Is the natural shell the closet shade to AE's walnut in calf? That's what I am after. A light shade that really pops. I have some unline Walnut Shell Dalton's I got off a member here and they are great but I wanted something lighter!
 
Last edited:

madhat

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Oh my.... :nodding: Those are nice!! It is really a shame they don't offer the Fifth Ave in shell, but it looks oh so good. I'll get photos up soonish. Been preparing for a large professional exam. Alden makes a cap toe balmoral (Fifth Ave) equivalent that looks fantastic. I'll give Ashley a call!!
When you talk to Ashley/Kristen/Jay they all will tell you the condition of the shoes before you buy, and you can pretty well trust them to let you know of anything that might turn you away.

Alden is another animal, especially if you aren't a D width. I don't think they're doing natural unlined shell make ups these days, and you'll have to get on a list to have a chance to purchase in a couple years if they are... I'd argue that rare shell might be even harder to acquire new from Alden than AE was before the MTO shutdown. You're best bet on that front is to find a used pair. Be prepared to pay for them though...
 

mdubs

The Mayor of Aldensville
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Ashley is at the Charleston SC store. She and Kristen at Paramus are often and widely recommended. I can vouch for Ashley’s awesomeness personally.

Looking forward to seeing the 5th Ave!

I think the strands that @mdubs has are walnut shell (IIRC). I have some in natural and wore them yesterday:
View attachment 985420
Ashley found these for me, by the way...

I have Strands in Walnut Shell, Natural Shell, and Garnet Shell... :) I formerly had a pair in Brown Shell, but sold them when I got an Alden Cigar Shell version.

Walnut Shell
AE Walnut Shell Strands - 2018-01-16 - 1.jpg


Natural Shell
Allen Edmonds Natty Shell Strands - 2018-04-09 - 1.jpg


Garnet Shell
Allen Edmonds Garnet Shell Strands - 2018-05-04 - 1.jpg


-Mike
 

savvysartorial

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When you talk to Ashley/Kristen/Jay they all will tell you the condition of the shoes before you buy, and you can pretty well trust them to let you know of anything that might turn you away.

Alden is another animal, especially if you aren't a D width. I don't think they're doing natural unlined shell make ups these days, and you'll have to get on a list to have a chance to purchase in a couple years if they are... I'd argue that rare shell might be even harder to acquire new from Alden than AE was before the MTO shutdown. You're best bet on that front is to find a used pair. Be prepared to pay for them though...

I am a D width, 12D in AE. My AE shell loafers are all 11.5D. I would go for a traditional color (burgundy or cigar/whiskey) in the unlined LHS from Alden. Really just want a lined natural shell shoe :fistbump: Not too picky, right?
 

savvysartorial

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I have Strands in Walnut Shell, Natural Shell, and Garnet Shell... :) I formerly had a pair in Brown Shell, but sold them when I got an Alden Cigar Shell version.

Walnut Shell
View attachment 985424

Natural Shell
View attachment 985425

Garnet Shell
View attachment 985426

-Mike

Those are the ones!! The walnut shell matches my Dalton shells exactly. Bought from someone who had them on the original run. I'll have to get a photo up, but it may be some time. The natural shell is exactly what I am after. Wheeling and fudging. Those garnets are from Canada, right? It's really a shame, I would like some more exciting colors of shell because I basically own all the regular AE shell shoes in various combinations!
 

M2511

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I am a D width, 12D in AE. My AE shell loafers are all 11.5D. I would go for a traditional color (burgundy or cigar/whiskey) in the unlined LHS from Alden. Really just want a lined natural shell shoe :fistbump: Not too picky, right?

Garnet was offered to O'Connors in Canada but it was utilized during the last trunk show in the US as well just not advertised. I got a pair of cornwallis, leeds, and bradley done in the garnet. As it pertains to a natural loafer, you can always look at rancourt. Crockett & Jones does a very nice whisky shell loafer called the Harvard II. Order that directly from the UK though as the NYC store is more expensive even after exchange rate.
 

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