The Official Alden Thread for 2019 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Nobleprofessor]

I have previously confessed to jumping on a new pair of shoes and wear them immediately. As we say in the South, I would jump on them "Like a duck on a June bug." I told myself this time would be different. I now had whiskey LWBs that took years to find. I would "put them in the vault." I would be one of those guy we occasionally see who say, "Oh yeah, I have a pair of those somewhere in the closet. I haven't worn them yet but I will eventually pull them out and wear them." I admire those guys. Self control I never had. I would not jump on these grail shoes that arrived on Tuesday. People would admire me. So here they are. I am glad I made it this long. Mission accomplished.

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I wouldn't be able to resist those either. Spectacular shoes! I love Color #8, but the other colors are so interesting and rich and so hard to find!

What is the most rare color? #4?

 

[darkclassic]

That is funny to read, I am the exact opposite. I like the look of new shoes so much that I will buy a pair and sit on them for way too long waiting for "just the right" occasion to finally get them out. As soon as I have had them out once I am good to go, but that initial wear that makes them "not new anymore" is tough for me.

As of this morning I had 5 pairs of boots in my closet that have never been worn and one that has been worn once. Two are for sale, but the other three are/were just waiting for their initial wear someday. One pair I have had for a full year!

All that to say...

New boot day for me today! Bought these AoC Indys about 6 months ago and they are finally getting their initial wear today. I bought them to be a "go to" casual boot but they looked so good when I got them that I had a hard time wearing them. Now that they have been out of the closet, looking forward to getting them settled in.

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I have the same 'issue' you do - 7 pair in the vault.
Those Indy boots are exceptional, congrats.

 

[madhat]

I wouldn't be able to resist those either. Spectacular shoes! I love Color #8, but the other colors are so interesting and rich and so hard to find!

What is the most rare color? #4?

Mahongany is pretty rare. I'd say #2 is more rare than 4

 

[mdubs]

Happy hump day, gentlemen. Ravello chukkas today.

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Natty CXL Tankers. They are a bit darker/richer IRL.

Happy wingtip Wednesday forum pals. It is raining in LA and it seemed a good time to go with scotch grain on commando to fight off the dampness. They look great with jeans.

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Color 8 Cap Toe Medallions from Alden Madison for today.

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Let’s go

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Thursday Davis boot View attachment 1293224 View attachment 1293225

Yesterday: AoC-37 saddle
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Today Epaulet snuff WTB
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First pictures of my whiskey LWBs that have yet to be worn.

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It will be interesting to see how they change color with time. The 2 year old MacNeils on the right are actually natty shell and should be lighter than whiskey, but that is clearly no longer the case. Ah, patina.

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Started my Alden collection in August of 2018, took me this long to do it but I am happy to announce I am officially part of the rare shell club! I was really hoping for something in whiskey and finally had something come up on ebay in my size for a decent price. New to me whiskey shell LWBs. They need some work to smooth out the rolls a bit and maybe a cleaning and conditioning, but they aren't too bad as is.

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When I first pulled them out of the box I thought the seller might have goofed and called Ravello shoes Whiskey. But once I saw them in the sunlight I knew they had to be Whiskey. Crazy how much they change based on lighting conditions.

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DC Grant Ravello Caps
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It wouldn't be a day at home, with the dogs, without changing footwear at least 2 or 3 times. AoC Natty boots for the late afternoon evening. I wish I could figure out how to keep Natty boots this color, but I know they will darken with age/wear/time. I just love the "out of the box" Natty color. View attachment 1293508 View attachment 1293509

View attachment 1293868 Cigar at sunrise.

Made it to Boot Day. Broke out the Mr. G specials
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Not quite sure what you mean by standard eyelets. I bought these @ TSM about 6 or 7 years ago. They are definitely all eyelets as part of the original makeup, not an after-market change by a cobbler. Hope this info helps.

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Maiden voyage for Cigar LWBs from @steveyoo1983 ...

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My gosh those are fantastic! Either you or an assistant are an amazing photographer! Those pictures look like they belong in a professional publication. I’m guessing Alden doesn’t have a picture that looks that good.

Awesome pants too (the 2.5 inch cuff is always cool).

My picture and my shoes are going to pale in comparison especially because I’m taking it in my office with my phone.

But, I do really love these new Alden NST in a pebble grain that I rarely see. View attachment 1293898 View attachment 1293899

Man, some gorgeous cigar posted today.
Natty CXL on grant
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Catching up...
From yesterday: TSM Cigar Indys

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A little something different from B+M today.

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Nothin too fancy. Jet Black LHSes for Dr.'s office visit. Finally able to get my foot into a shoe after a bad turf toe from Turkey Bowl w/ the much younger nephews. Wish this office vist was about a stubbed toe but not so lucky. View attachment 1294087

That is funny to read, I am the exact opposite. I like the look of new shoes so much that I will buy a pair and sit on them for way too long waiting for "just the right" occasion to finally get them out. As soon as I have had them out once I am good to go, but that initial wear that makes them "not new anymore" is tough for me.

As of this morning I had 5 pairs of boots in my closet that have never been worn and one that has been worn once. Two are for sale, but the other three are/were just waiting for their initial wear someday. One pair I have had for a full year!

All that to say...

New boot day for me today! Bought these AoC Indys about 6 months ago and they are finally getting their initial wear today. I bought them to be a "go to" casual boot but they looked so good when I got them that I had a hard time wearing them. Now that they have been out of the closet, looking forward to getting them settled in.

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Those are all just fantastic here these past two days guys! A beautiful showing all across the board. Nishant, I really like Steve’s Cigar LWBs on the Commando. Pretty cool. Congratulations to those who recently scored those lovely new Whiskey LWBs! Have a great Friday gents!!!

-Mike

 

[mdubs]

Family shot, the Indy boots View attachment 1293237

Wow, AuDog, an amazing family photo of your Indy Boots. Really cool to see all of the variations offered by the various materials. Fantastic and looking forward to seeing more!!!

-Mike

 

[mdubs]

I wouldn't be able to resist those either. Spectacular shoes! I love Color #8, but the other colors are so interesting and rich and so hard to find!

What is the most rare color? #4?

Color #2 has only been run twice to my knowledge. Back in 2014.

Color #4 had a number of runs, approximately 20, back around the 2012 time frame and hasn’t appeared since.

Mahogany was around back in the formative days of Alden using exotics appearing on both the AF-1 and AF-2 made by AoC back in the late 90’s and early 00’s. There was a temporary re-appearance of it last year with AoC and B+M making small batches of it. So it’s pretty stinking rare as well.

Hope that this helps!!!

-Mike

 

[Nobleprofessor]

Color #2 has only been run twice to my knowledge. Back in 2014.

Color #4 had a number of runs, approximately 20, back around the 2012 time frame and hasn’t appeared since.

Mahogany was around back in the formative days of Alden using exotics appearing on both the AF-1 and AF-2 made by AoC back in the late 90’s and early 00’s. There was a temporary re-appearance of it last year with AoC and B+M making small batches of it. So it’s pretty stinking rare as well.

Hope that this helps!!!

-Mike

Seriously I am in awe of your knowledge of this. I don’t know this much detail about my kids.

 

[audog]

Wow, AuDog, an amazing family photo of your Indy Boots. Really cool to see all of the variations offered by the various materials. Fantastic and looking forward to seeing more!!!

-Mike

Would have had a few more pair, but sold them off due to fit and, just not wearing often enough, but it's a good start

 

[audog]

Color #2 has only been run twice to my knowledge. Back in 2014.

Color #4 had a number of runs, approximately 20, back around the 2012 time frame and hasn’t appeared since.

Mahogany was around back in the formative days of Alden using exotics appearing on both the AF-1 and AF-2 made by AoC back in the late 90’s and early 00’s. There was a temporary re-appearance of it last year with AoC and B+M making small batches of it. So it’s pretty stinking rare as well.

Hope that this helps!!!

-Mike

Anyone have a photo of something in color #2??? I've seen photos of 4, own 8's but never even heard of color 2.

 

[chipshot]

Dog, I think Mike has #2 LHSes

 

[audog]

Dog, I think Mike has #2 LHSes

If anyone does.......it's him
Maybe he will post a photo. I don't think I will ever get a pair of something in color 4, and 2 seems like hunting for the Holy Grail, and I don't have Professor Jone's notebook.....

 

[Vocans]

To my knowledge, amaretto and mocha are about as rare as color 2. I know of only two runs of each, though there may have been more made for overseas markets. But, Color 8 is called king for a good reason in my book!

 

[GGMac]

If anyone does.......it's him
Maybe he will post a photo. I don't think I will ever get a pair of something in color 4, and 2 seems like hunting for the Holy Grail, and I don't have Professor Jone's notebook.....

Check out his IG account or his Alden of San
Diego site. He’s got pics of both the color 2 LWB’s and the LHS.

 

[serbarristan]

Color #2 has only been run twice to my knowledge. Back in 2014.

Color #4 had a number of runs, approximately 20, back around the 2012 time frame and hasn’t appeared since.

Mahogany was around back in the formative days of Alden using exotics appearing on both the AF-1 and AF-2 made by AoC back in the late 90’s and early 00’s. There was a temporary re-appearance of it last year with AoC and B+M making small batches of it. So it’s pretty stinking rare as well.

Hope that this helps!!!

-Mike

Very interesting. Do you know if certain shades are exclusive to Alden? I’ve seen whiskey from C&J and cigar from I believe Viberg, but haven’t seen ravello elsewhere. I just received unlined Amaretto loafers from a Carmina GMTO but sadly have to send them back due to quality issues.

 

[zippyh]

I remember reading that #2 is the same stuff that Carmina calls Rubi/Ruby. It's pretty regularly available from them.
(You'd think #2 would be a shade of brown though.)