The Official Alden Thread for 2018 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Allen Dreadmon]

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

Second pair of Alden shoes. Alden for J Crew chocolate brown, LWBs... my beaters for rainy days. Could use a little tlc.

 

[Watchman1]

Wow. The pants are coming awfully close to being as great as the shoes. Where from, may I ask?

Thank you Sir.

They are genuine Harris Tweed and I procured them from the UK...

Cheers!

 

[madhat]

View attachment 1088883

Great boots. Are those the S&M cream flannels? My pair arrives tomorrow...

 

[Shawnc]

Quick question:

Why does Alden not offer brown shell as a standard makeup like Allen Edmonds does? It doesn't really seem like a "rare" color. Is Alden's cigar shell that much different than AE's standard brown shell? I have a pair of each and they seem really close in color and tone.

I love Alden and rarely criticize them but this question has puzzled me since my first introduction to fine footwear. I have heard others say there is a difference (olive/green undertones???). I have cigar, rancourt espresso and AE brown and the differences are imperceptible to most eyes. Seems to me that shell suitable for color 8 would also be suitable for cigar. Given that and the way we all get excited when cigar becomes available would lead me to conclude that it is simply Alden's way of creating demand by treating a basic color as exotic.

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

^^^I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[Don L]

Great boots. Are those the S&M cream flannels? My pair arrives tomorrow...

Thanks and no, these are ones I had made at Luxire. Very heavy and only for the coldest of days..

 

[smfdoc]

Suede for the day.

 

[Mallaig]

Everyone likes comparison photos. I had the CJ and Trickers out for photos to post for sale I took some shots with my Aldens.

View attachment 938330
L-R Cigar Indy size TB last 9 D, Original Tanker 9D 379x last, Captoe Grant 9.5D, Trickers 4497 last 9 5 width, Coniston 8,5 E (335 last I think), Alden Wingtip 9E Barrie last
another view:


View attachment 938329

Hi. I'm curious about the sizing of the Coniston vs the Trickers. Does the size 8.5 Coniston have a similar fit to the size 9 Trickers 4497 ? I have a pair of size 9 width 5 Trickers Stows which is a good length for me but requires thicker socks because of the roomy toe box.

 

[Vocans]

Quick question:

Why does Alden not offer brown shell as a standard makeup like Allen Edmonds does? It doesn't really seem like a "rare" color. Is Alden's cigar shell that much different than AE's standard brown shell? I have a pair of each and they seem really close in color and tone.

I love Alden and rarely criticize them but this question has puzzled me since my first introduction to fine footwear. I have heard others say there is a difference (olive/green undertones???). I have cigar, rancourt espresso and AE brown and the differences are imperceptible to most eyes. Seems to me that shell suitable for color 8 would also be suitable for cigar. Given that and the way we all get excited when cigar becomes available would lead me to conclude that it is simply Alden's way of creating demand by treating a basic color as exotic.

Nick Horween has confirmed that both Cigar and Ravello are Alden exclusives. I know other makers offer cigar shell cordovan but it doesn't start out as Horween's Cigar. Given that they're Alden exclusives, I imagine they're produced in much lower numbers than Horween's other shell offerings. I'm not sure it necessarily has anything to do with Alden artificially constraining supply or a lack or pristine shells.

For what it's worth, most of my AE brown shell is considerably darker than my Cigar, though I do have one pair of AE brown that's very similar.

 

[Akeem]

Nick Horween has confirmed that both Cigar and Ravello are Alden exclusives. I know other makers offer cigar shell cordovan but it doesn't start out as Horween's Cigar. Given that they're Alden exclusives, I imagine they're produced in much lower numbers than Horween's other shell offerings. I'm not sure it necessarily has anything to do with Alden artificially constraining supply or a lack or pristine shells.

For what it's worth, most of my AE brown shell is considerably darker than my Cigar, though I do have one pair of AE brown that's very similar.

It may be that the names "cigar" and "ravello" are Alden exclusives. But it's clear that they could produce cigar shells in mass quantities if they so desired. Just like other brands can mass produce Birkin bags or Daytonas if they so desired.

 

[Shawnc]

Quick question:

Why does Alden not offer brown shell as a standard makeup like Allen Edmonds does? It doesn't really seem like a "rare" color. Is Alden's cigar shell that much different than AE's standard brown shell? I have a pair of each and they seem really close in color and tone.

I love Alden and rarely criticize them but this question has puzzled me since my first introduction to fine footwear. I have heard others say there is a difference (olive/green undertones???). I have cigar, rancourt espresso and AE brown and the differences are imperceptible to most eyes. Seems to me that shell suitable for color 8 would also be suitable for cigar. Given that and the way we all get excited when cigar becomes available would lead me to conclude that it is simply Alden's way of creating demand by treating a basic color as exotic.

^^^I was thinking the exact same thing.

Nick Horween has confirmed that both Cigar and Ravello are Alden exclusives. I know other makers offer cigar shell cordovan but it doesn't start out as Horween's Cigar. Given that they're Alden exclusives, I imagine they're produced in much lower numbers than Horween's other shell offerings. I'm not sure it necessarily has anything to do with Alden artificially constraining supply or a lack or pristine shells.

For what it's worth, most of my AE brown shell is considerably darker than my Cigar, though I do have one pair of AE brown that's very similar.

Not to beat a dead horse (pun intended) but I took this pic a week ago when I decided to sell my Rancourts. I've heard NH's explanation but again, tough for me, and certainly anyone who is not a regular visitor of this site, to see the difference.......

 

[CasuallyWorked]

Not to beat a dead horse (pun intended) but I took this pic a week ago when I decided to sell my Rancourts. I've heard NH's explanation but again, tough for me, and certainly anyone who is not a regular visitor of this site, to see the difference.......

View attachment 1088953

Looks identical

 

[Vocans]

It may be that the names "cigar" and "ravello" are Alden exclusives. But it's clear that they could produce cigar shells in mass quantities if they so desired. Just like other brands can mass produce Birkin bags or Daytonas if they so desired.

Yes, except in the case of Birkin bags or Daytonas the manufacturers aren't constrained by a supplier with limited raw materials (Horween) who ultimately decides how many and of which colors raw shells are turned into.

 

[Akeem]

Yes, except in the case of Birkin bags or Daytonas the manufacturers aren't constrained by a supplier with limited raw materials (Horween) who ultimately decides how many and of which colors raw shells are turned into.

My sources tell that the same shells used for color 8 are the same for cigar. Which means someone can choose to make more cigar if they wanted to. Why else would AE and Crockett and Jones have a constant supply of brown cordovan boots and shoes?