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

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chrfi

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The retailer you bought them from might be able to arrange for them to go back to Alden for a recraft. Or another retailer in your area with whom you have a relationship.

Thanks, but the issue here is that there are no local retailers that sell Alden. I bought these from Needsupply (in 2014 I think) and my other Aldens I've mostly bought when travelling in the US. I don't mind the cost of going with Alden recraft, but it's quite complicated to ship a pair of shoes to US to have work made on them - the customs will surely be confused!-)
 

chipshot

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Today’s warm weather shoes
6B9AF136-DB9A-43FF-8713-758E75A0C845.jpeg
 

lcdx22

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Some Ravello and Color 4 comparison... 2 pairs of each. Lots of change lately in the shades.

Ravello and Color 4 from earlier runs. Colors are what you'd expect.

PXL_20210919_200322741.PORTRAIT.jpg

Ravello and Color 4 from latest runs. Ravello is dark and Color 4 is light..making them look pretty close. Ravello actually darker.

PXL_20210919_200310145.PORTRAIT.jpg


Ravello side by side

PXL_20210919_200342453.PORTRAIT~2.jpg


Color 4 side by side
PXL_20210919_200346672.PORTRAIT~2.jpg


All very awesome, but hoping the colors revert back on future runs.
 

jischwar

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Some Ravello and Color 4 comparison... 2 pairs of each. Lots of change lately in the shades.

Ravello and Color 4 from earlier runs. Colors are what you'd expect.

View attachment 1671630

Ravello and Color 4 from latest runs. Ravello is dark and Color 4 is light..making them look pretty close. Ravello actually darker.

View attachment 1671631


Ravello side by side

View attachment 1671628


Color 4 side by side
View attachment 1671629


All very awesome, but hoping the colors revert back on future runs.
That old Ravello is really a lot more bourbon- esque

Edit - referring to the v-tip
 

H. E. Pennypacker

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Definitely try the techniques that you are planning. More likely than not it will solve the issue.

If not, consider that Alden's shell (at least #8 and probably black) can sometimes act differently than conventionally finished shell. I ended up stripping a pair of #8 boots because I was unable to address the sort of finish issue that you appear to have. I'd tried pretty much everything I could think of -- deer bone/spoon, vsc, bick4, insane brushing, and probably other methods (this was a while ago). I'm still not 100% sure what was up but I think it was either an issue with the acrylic finish which caused a rough texture and a whitish look OR it may be that there were oils stuck on the surface of the shell underneath the finish that caused the issue. Not typical but not unheard of either.
You're spot on about my issue, grainy/rough texture that's easily discernible to the touch and it has a whitish look in-between the rolls. I'm hoping it just needs to be conditioned and it'll go away.
 

audog

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You're spot on about my issue, grainy/rough texture that's easily discernible to the touch and it has a whitish look in-between the rolls. I'm hoping it just needs to be conditioned and it'll go away.
Even though Alden seems to put some type of acrylic coating on shell, I still get blooming, so whatever they are putting on is impervious to the natural tendency of shell to bloom. Brush, Brush, brush seems to take care of it.
 

NonChalant321

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20210919_213518.jpg

Spent a nice day in the city (Manhattan). And finally joined the Alden club, officially. And the 986 club. I thought shell would feel stiff at first but i'm surprised how comfortable they are for the first evening. I can't get over amazing Alden's color 8 is in person. I'm looking forward to wearing these for decades.
 

mdubs

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View attachment 1671803
Spent a nice day in the city (Manhattan). And finally joined the Alden club, officially. And the 986 club. I thought shell would feel stiff at first but i'm surprised how comfortable they are for the first evening. I can't get over amazing Alden's color 8 is in person. I'm looking forward to wearing these for decades.

Congratulations on your brand new Alden 986’s. Those are classic for a reason and are a truly superb makeup that can fit several different levels of formality. I hope that you enjoy them in good health for many years and welcome to the Alden Club!

-Mike
 

NonChalant321

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Congratulations on your brand new Alden 986’s. Those are classic for a reason and are a truly superb makeup that can fit several different levels of formality. I hope that you enjoy them in good health for many years and welcome to the Alden Club!

-Mike

Thanks!!

Now about belts...while a dark brown im sure goes fine, is black a no no with color 8?

And to topy or not topy - I've usually added one to my leather soled shoes but have recently heard some arguments against like breathability, balance, and whether it affects Alden recrafting.
 
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smfdoc

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Happy Monday forum pals. Some scotch grain NSTs to make me feel like a country gentleman.

IMG_0742.jpg
 
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