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

[audog]

Because CXL shows battle scars the best?

Yep. Honestly, I like the feel of it. I can't explain in any better than that.

 

[JSO1]

I love shell boots and shoes. I love suede boots and shoes. But, if I was told you could only have one pair of boots or shoes for the rest of your life, they may not be this pair, but I'm pretty certain I'd choose CXL. View attachment 1608255

i have very few pairs in CXL but i absolutely love the ones i have

 

[audog]

i have very few pairs in CXL but i absolutely love the ones i have

I know I bitched about damage to shoes/boots first time I wear them, should have qualified that to things like shell and scotch grain and calf. CXL actually looks better, to me, with graining and some scuffs and such. I think I'm crazy

 

[Darkishhaddock]

i have very few pairs in CXL but i absolutely love the ones i have

I’d love to see what you consider your top 3 cxl pairs from your collection.

 

[barutanseijin]

Yep. Honestly, I like the feel of it. I can't explain in any better than that.

I think the CXL LHS are the most comfortable version. I like the look, too.

(Not that it’s stopped me from acquiring a bunch of LHS in shell)

 

[JSO1]

I’d love to see what you consider your top 3 cxl pairs from your collection.

honestly only these two:

AOC-105 brown CXL indy

AOC-99 natural CXL saddle nst blucher (i designed this one so i'm biased)

 

[audog]

honestly only these two:

AOC-105 brown CXL indy

AOC-99 natural CXL saddle nst blucher (i designed this one so i'm biased)

The saddle is one of the best CXL's out there, you know the story of my pair. Brown Indy is no slouch either.

 

[JSO1]

Please DO NOT leave or I will be alone and whereas you have been here 10 years, I have only been here a few months. I will never have as many pairs of shoes as anyone on this thread and it is not because I cannot afford them. I have always tried to live a simple life and for the past 25+ years, I was the guy who only had 2 pair of nice dress shoes; 1 brown and 1 black. I often also had a causal brown suede PTB and a Dirty Buck but they were always the crappy quality throw away kind.

My 9503 and 9794 are rather new so give me some time before the city sidewalks have their way with them and then we can be kindred spirits. As you may know, I am also working on getting some calfskin and/or CXL shoes so give it a few weeks for me to get them, wear them, have them ruined by city sidewalks, and then I can start posting pictures of my beat up of shoes so you will not feel so bad*.

It is not that I do not care for my shoes, but all of them will get permanent "city patina" soon enough.

Here is a little something to keep you occupied for now...


* And yes, while I especially appreciate almost all the shoes @mdubs posts [as well as others], I die a little more each time when I notice how "pristine" they are compared to mine. Not picking on him but rather all the suburbanites who do not actually "walk" in their shoes.

we get it -- you have enough money to buy as many shoes as anyone else on the thread but you don't because you're a humble denizen of new york city with a small apartment (despite being able to afford a larger one) who walks or takes the subway everywhere. you like wearing the shoes you have, that's great, but you don't need to come on here and be all holier than thou to guys like Mike who make this community what it is. we put up with your constant sizing novellas and indecision over which shoes you should try (and inevitably return) next, the least you can do is be nice.

 

[Vocans]

Natty cxl indy and unlined lhs would both be on my list too

 

[JSO1]

The saddle is one of the best CXL's out there, you know the story of my pair. Brown Indy is no slouch either.

it also helps that both of these pairs ended up with fairly tight grain. i don't love the look of super loose grain on CXL.

 

[serious_ed]

Hi all - I'm new on the forum, but been a lurker for the past few years. Glad to meet everyone!

 

[icasio]

Color 4s just landed. Not too shabby.

 

[JSO1]

Color 4s just landed. Not too shabby.
View attachment 1608280

they look great!

 

[stook1]

honestly only these two:

AOC-105 brown CXL indy

AOC-99 natural CXL saddle nst blucher (i designed this one so i'm biased)

Love those saddle NSTs. I've tried two pairs of traditional saddles in the past -- a vintage shell two tone hanover and a vintage shark florsheim and could not seem to get either pair into my rotation for various reasons.

I am pretty confident that the nst saddle would do it for me. I didn't realize you were responsible for the design. Well done, sir!

 

[scurvyfreedman]

That's the 80s style DateJust both my father and uncle have and why I wanted a more modern variation of the same theme. These are my sport and non-sport watches (purchased new many years ago from authorized dealers): 1994 Explorer II Polar 40mm and 2010 DateJust 36mm.

View attachment 1608249

Midsize watches deserve more hype. Since about 15 years ago everything is 42mm and larger. 36mm is the perfect size on many wrists.