The Official Alden Thread for 2022 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[savvysartorial]

10eee here. Special orders and the occasional scores. I would have as many pairs as @audog if I were a d width!

I’m a C width on dress makeups so it keeps my wallet safe most of the time as well

 

[Shawnc]

Just recently got a new phone with the best camera I’ve ever had but darn if I can snap a good photo with it!

Coincidentally I wore my Ealdwine boots this past weekend before we got the dark news.

Monday cigar goodies and then given the very sad news about our friend, @jpm1 I wore the Savvy/Harvard wings from Ealdwine to honor our friendship and Jim’s creativity.

While I never got to meet Jim in person, we had many conversations regarding shoes, life, politics, and just general banter over the phone. I am thankful to have known him and have certainly learned a lot from him over the past few years.

A wonderful Irish blessing describes my feelings better than I can write and a prayer for peace for Jim:


May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand



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Quite appropriate Savvy on a few levels. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim years ago as he actually sold me my first new pair of shells, sublime pair of walnut Daltons when I was in Chicago. Had never met him and was still in the clueless stage on shells. He was so incredibly patient and engaging that I am certain that I brought the boots as much due to his kindness as anything as that was my most expensive pair of footwear at that time. The scripture you quoted is just perfect. Additionally, I have always thought that the Savvy/Harvard wings is about as fine a design as Alden has recently released. It is the only somewhat dressy shoe that continues to tug at my purse strings even though I know I would get very little use out of them. A true testament to Jim's creativity and dedication.

Nicely done my-man.

 

[M635Guy]

Jim was a kind, generous and warm soul. I "met" him here well before he moved to my area, and had the pleasure of his company a fair bit, though travel in the 2nd half of 2019 and the lockdown meant I didn't get to hang out nearly as much as I wanted in the last 2.5 years.

He was only 44.

I have lots of reminders of Jim, not the least of which are my Ravello Wingtip boots, He texted me one morning at work:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim: Hey, Cigar longwings at TSM
Me: Bad timing for me. The only thing that could get me off the sidelines would be Ravello WTB

<less than 1 hour later>

Jim: Ready to get off the sidelines?
Me: <expletive>. Ordered.
------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't think I can say it any better than @sazon

Times like this remind us that, while we all love Alden shoes, at the end of the day its the relationships and friendships we make along the way that are most important and meaningful.

I am grateful for the all of the wonderful friends I've made in this Alden journey. I appreciate you all.

Anyone who wants to help his wife at this obviously-challenging time can find the GoFund me by searching his name and GoFundMe.

 

[smfdoc]

It is wingtip Wednesday. For some reason I believe suede "looks" warmer than calf or shell. I am sure it will help fight the cold.

 

[AHS]

AHS, you are looking great in those Whiskey PTBs. One of my all-time favorite models! You have a great plan going on there and glad to hear that you found the happy point for your collection to be at!! I am looking forward to seeing your incoming WT Boots and look forward to seeing your exotic LWBs and the others! I totally appreciate the strategy to just simply wear them all, that is what we get them for after all!

Have a great 2022!

-Mike

Thanks, Mike! Your counsel and thoughts are always appreciated.

 

[mdubs]

Whiskey Wednesday. Alden Whiskey Shell Cordovan Penny Loafer.

-Mike

 

[audog]

Wingtip Wednesday Ealdwine Humus Suede boots. On a different note, is any one else getting annoying pop ups from bogus sites on SF this morning?

 

[Don L]

 

[Hisheirness23]

Got a sad update in my inbox just now that Jim had passed yesterday AM. May his spirit live on and his journey to the other shore be peaceful. Also want to take this moment to say thank you to the entire community here for everything you've done to rally behind him and Matt.

 

[chipshot]

Will be missing you Jim.. my father’s name..

 

[chipshot]

Jim was stalwart here.. I cried after reading this.. was such a good person..

 

[Dearborn]

Cigar Minitankers on the Barrie.

H. Stockton. These are really starting to grow on me and I'm thinking if I should wear them soon.

 

[M635Guy]

I dusted off my Ravello Wingtip boots (though not as well as I thought...) to wear today in honor of Jim, who I blame...er is responsible for my having the chance to own them.

From now on, these will be called my Jim Boots.

He was a Grail of a guy.

 

[audog]

I dusted off my Ravello Wingtip boots (though not as well as I thought...) to wear today in honor of Jim, who I blame...er is responsible for my having the chance to own them.

From now on, these will be called my Jim Boots.

He was a Grail of a guy.

Jim boots, I like that...He, and Mac, deserve a special place here on the
Alden thread.

 

[Sheepdog]

Cigar Minitankers on the Barrie.

H. Stockton. These are really starting to grow on me and I'm thinking if I should wear them soon.

Those look great! Glad to see what they look like in the wild.

I called Stockton's immediately after seeing their short-lived IG story, and was told I was on the list for those. 4-6 weeks go by with no communication, so I called and found out through some goof-up that I was not on the list after all.