THE OFFICIAL ALDEN THREAD FOR 2020 - SHARE REVIEWS, SIZING, ADVICE, AND PHOTOS.

[smfdoc]

I was surfing Ebay and found that our good friends in Islamabad offering a "split tie" (I guess they mean 'toe') ankle "brogue" boot for just $159. Just so many things wrong with this, the absence of brogue being the least of the problems. The buyers are going to be so disappointed when their box arrives and they do not actually receive some Alden shell NST boots shown in the picture.

 

[galileo]

Looking good!

slightly darkened now sadly

 

[madhat]

I was surfing Ebay and found that our good friends in Islamabad offering a "split tie" (I guess they mean 'toe') ankle "brogue" boot for just $159. Just so many things wrong with this, the absence of brogue being the least of the problems. The buyers are going to be so disappointed when their box arrives and they do not actually receive some Alden shell NST boots shown in the picture.

View attachment 1481501

I'm really curious as to what you would receive, if anything.

 

[Thrift Couture]

slightly darkened now sadly

Just look at it as character. Gives you a reason to wear the crap out of them. On the way to looking amazing with wear and age.

 

[jpm1]

Barrie Lady Calf Wingtip Boots

 

[Alcibiades]

Whiskey Wednesday

 

[mdubs]

Whiskey Wednesday. Alden Whiskey Shell Cordovan Monks.

-Mike

 

[audog]

Well, not Whiskey Wednesday (at least not until this evening) so Wing tip Wednesday instead

 

[woofmang]

No whiskey here, either. and in fact,

Spoiler: Not even Aldens

But Happy Wingtip Wednesday anyway!

 

[NYCTechNerd]

Hi all-

I am new to SF (long time lurker but newly registered) and this thread. I currently own the following and am looking to expand into more casual footwear:
- Alden 971 x Brooks Brothers straight tip bluchers - black calf
- Alden 972 x Brooks Brothers straight tip bluchers - walnut calf
- Alden 9695F x Brooks Brothers penny loafers (not LHS but not flex like current model) - black calf
- Alden 9697F x Brooks Brothers penny loafers (not LHS but not flex like current model) - brown suede
- AE Wilbert NST Brown calf
- AE Wilbert NST Dark Brown CXL
- Carmina 531 Derby/PTB - brown suede
- And Meermin Snuff SuperBuck NST blucher on the way....

I have gone through the first 150 pages in this thread. I did not read every post but rather skimmed ones that seemed interesting and viewed almost all of the shoe and boot pictures. I covered from January through mid-March. I plan to continue on this path until I catch up to the current era. For now, I have a few questions which I hope others would be willing to help answer:

I was surprised that it seemed boots were almost 50% of what was posted. Is that because most people wear boots as often as shoes or was it just the time period (late winter)?

What is a "King Wing"?

Does anyone have any idea what lasts my AldenxBB use (the shoes are circa 2011)? I have read they could be Aberdeen, Copley, Van, or even Snap but no fit information on the last one.

I really like lined PTBs so I am considering both a PTB Natural Chromexcel 9501 because I understand they may be gone forever very soon. Is there any truth to that or is it just a bad rumor?

I also like lined Chukkas and am considering a Chukka Boot Snuff Suede D4707 and/or Chukka Boot Brown Chromexcel 13781C from Alden Madison.

I will probably not get all 3 at once (my wife would have a nervous breakdown as she is supposed to be the one with the shoe collection in our relationship) so which 2 would round out what I already own that are shown above? My work/personal life is moving more towards casual wear (even pre-pandemic) and less business casual (and suits).

How do you all keep our shoes so clean and in such good shape? I have lived in urban areas and either walked and/or taken public transportation to work most of my life and my shoes simply get beat up no matter how careful I am so what is the secret to all these pictures of shoes in pristine condition (not judgmental, really looking for the magic answer)?

 

[vnguyen_md]

Hampton Wingtips for Wingtip Wednesday

 

[Texasmade]

How do you all keep our shoes so clean and in such good shape? I have lived in urban areas and either walked and/or taken public transportation to work most of my life and my shoes simply get beat up no matter how careful I am so what is the secret to all these pictures of shoes in pristine condition (not judgmental, really looking for the magic answer)?

Own a bunch of shoes so they don't get worn that often. If you only wear each pair once a month, they'll take forever to get beatup and dirty.

 

[NYCTechNerd]

Own a bunch of shoes so they don't get worn that often. If you only wear each pair once a month, they'll take forever to get beatup and dirty.

Good idea but this strategy does not lend itself well to urban apartment living.

And truth be told, I have had the 4 AldenxBB for almost 10 years but the others all less than 18 months.

 

[Vincent George]

Hampton Wingtips for Wingtip Wednesday View attachment 1481679

Just excellent. Whose makeup?

 

[Texasmade]

Good idea but this strategy does not lend itself well to urban apartment living.

And truth be told, I have had the 4 Aldens for almost 10 years but the others all less than 18 months.

In that case then have one or two pairs as your dirty pair for go anywhere do anything and keep all of your other shoes as your clean shoes to wear for special occasions.

Also, suede doesn't need as much upkeep as calf or shell. I only own 2 pairs of Aldens and both are suede.