The Official Alden Thread for 2021 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[stook1]

I agree. It does stretch, but very minimal from my experience.

Shell is not stretchy. In the same size/model, I have found shell versions to be slightly looser [not tighter] than other leathers. This experience is also the general, conventional wisdom among most other forumites from my reading and is reportedly because it is difficult to as tightly pull the shell over the last relative to other leathers. The difference is usually not enough to change sizes unless you are a borderline size to begin with.

The experience described up-thread is more likely slight pair to pair variation, or perhaps inexperience with the stiffness of new shell uppers vs. suede/calf.

As for stretching shell -- as @JSO1 indicated shell can be stretched. I've done it with a pair of C&J loafers purposely using large shoe trees. Is it advisable? Probably not. But it can be done with care and my pair are probably a 1/4 size larger now with a little more room at the instep and ball.

As an aside, there are some calf leathers that I have found to be not really at all prone to stretching. For example, I have an old pair of Rider Dundalks in the reverso leather that was very popular years ago. Not prone to stretching in my experience. Just a pair that is top of mind at the moment. I am sure they could be forced to stretch but I don't see them as significantly more prone to stretch than cordovan.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Saddle day for me too -- I wore these (Ealdwine saddles) all over town yesterday and got a million compliments from people from all walks of life.

 

[James1051]

Saddle day for me too -- I wore these (Ealdwine saddles) all over town yesterday and got a million compliments from people from all walks of life. View attachment 1597028

Those are fantastic

 

[Vocans]

My grail among grails arrived, Color 4 plain toe boots. Not only do I love the makeup but I believe these are the reddest pair of Color 4 that I've received to date.

But there's a very strange flaw with them that I've never seen with any other pair so let's play a game and see who can spot it first. Needless to say they may be on their way to Bedos very soon to get them up to snuff.

 

[smfdoc]

My grail among grails arrived, Color 4 plain toe boots. Not only do I love the makeup but I believe these are the reddest pair of Color 4 that I've received to date.

View attachment 1597093 View attachment 1597094

But there's a very strange flaw with them that I've never seen with any other pair so let's play a game and see who can spot it first. Needless to say they may be on their way to Bedos very soon to get them up to snuff.

Here is my answer. Spoilered so not to ruin the fun for others

Spoiler: The differences in the boots?

It may be my screen colors, but it looks like the right boot has brown pipeing and the left has black. All that aside, dang those are pretty.

 

[Vocans]

Here is my answer. Spoliered so not to ruin the fun for others

Spoiler: The differences in the boots?

It may be my screen colors, but it looks like the right boot has brown pipeing and the left has black. All that aside, dang those are pretty.

We have a winner

 

[madhat]

We have a winner

Nothing a bit off dye can’t fix!

 

[stook1]

We have a winner

That's an odd flaw. My recollection from passively following similar concerns on the viberg thread is that there wasn't a great fix. Hopefully you have better success because it's a gorgeous pair.

 

[jischwar]

That's an odd flaw. My recollection from passively following similar concerns on the viberg thread is that there wasn't a great fix. Hopefully you have better success because it's a gorgeous pair.

Agreed, don't think anyone had luck over with the shell Vibergs that had the wrong color piping

 

[stook1]

Agreed, don't think anyone had luck over with the shell Vibergs that had the wrong color piping

This is out of my realm of knowledge but I think the piping on some shoes is not always leather. I saw this discussed recently by a cobbler (actually, I think it may have been Steve Doudaklian) regarding a piping repair on a vintage shoe. This may explain why the dye didn't work. Let me see if I can find the comment...

nevermind, I was misremembering exactly what I had read... this was the comment

 

[BackInTheJox]

The good thing is, no one should really ever see that part of the boot.

Obviously you shouldn’t have to worry about this on a brand new pair. But in light of no good easy fix, I’d let it be.

(edited for iphone autocorrect errors)

 

[Vocans]

That's an odd flaw. My recollection from passively following similar concerns on the viberg thread is that there wasn't a great fix. Hopefully you have better success because it's a gorgeous pair.

Agreed, don't think anyone had luck over with the shell Vibergs that had the wrong color piping

Steve at Bedos seems to think it should be a pretty easy dye job and I'm not sure why that wouldn't work. People dye entire uppers darker shades all the time

 

[madhat]

Ravello.

 

[Johnniegold]

@Vocans

I like them just the way they are. A uniqueness that only you will ever see (depending on how high you cuff your pants ?).

 

[Don L]

Nobody outside of SF would even notice