***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[Organika]

Would like to hear opinions before a purchase. Out of these three shoes, LHS, Full strap, Tassel, which do you prefer for casual/work, yet everyday use. If the tassel is the most formal of the three, ordinarily it would still be worn with denim/casual clothing?

 

[Alcibiades]

Whiskey chukka and ravello lhs

 

[PhiPsi32]

I'll settle for a black shell balmoral captoe. Had a pair on order. Just got notified that the order came in sans my special order size. Turns out that the shoes were damaged during fabrication and couldn't be delivered (after a six month wait). They were going to be my first pair of shell. Seems like a bad omen to me.

 

[Psyched2]



I'll settle for a black shell balmoral captoe.  Had a pair on order.  Just got notified that the order came in sans my special order size.  Turns out that the shoes were damaged during fabrication and couldn't be delivered (after a six month wait).  They were going to be my first pair of shell.  Seems like a bad omen to me.

Nope, it's just Alden's way of hooking you in. Their reinforcement schedule is worse than gambling.

 

[PhiPsi32]

They're not doing a good job. I'm ready to defect to Carmina and Viberg.

 

[NAMOR]



They're not doing a good job.  I'm ready to defect to Carmina and Viberg.

lol

 

[Edmund K]

I'll settle for a black shell balmoral captoe. Had a pair on order. Just got notified that the order came in sans my special order size. Turns out that the shoes were damaged during fabrication and couldn't be delivered (after a six month wait). They were going to be my first pair of shell. Seems like a bad omen to me.

Did Alden only damage your pair? or the whole batch is gone? I am really sorry to hear that. It sounds like they're making experimental art piece.

 

[PhiPsi32]

Uh, I'm not sure. It was part of a stocking order for Alden NY. They didn't mention any other pairs that weren't delivered. In my case, I asked for a special size, and they only ordered one pair in that size.

 

[MickCollins1916]



I'll settle for a black shell balmoral captoe.  Had a pair on order.  Just got notified that the order came in sans my special order size.  Turns out that the shoes were damaged during fabrication and couldn't be delivered (after a six month wait).  They were going to be my first pair of shell.  Seems like a bad omen to me.

Uh, I'm not sure.  It was part of a stocking order for Alden NY.  They didn't mention any other pairs that weren't delivered.  In my case, I asked for a special size, and they only ordered one pair in that size.

Sucks, man. Sorry to hear this.

If it's any consolation, a similar thing also happened to me recently. I preordered the #4 and black saddle shoe from J. Gilbert last year. After a lengthy wait, and being charged for the shoes (followed by a second lengthy wait, and a series of emails over the course of months containing weird excuses), J. Gilbert finally had to tell me mine was the only pair in the order Alden didn't deliver because they were damaged. Apparently, there was some issue with color variation such that the pair didn't meet Alden's high quality standards - snicker - and they weren't going to be able to make a second pair for me. So, after a long saga, I got my money back, but missed out on those saddles I coveted.

J. Gilbert was fine, but I wasn't real impressed with Alden in that instance, since J. Gilbert apparently had a tough time prying ANY info out of Alden about my order to share with me. Doesn't put the black shell bals on your feet, but at least you know you're not alone in that experience.

 

[sazon]

Ravello Captoe from Alden DC, in bad lighting, but you all know the drill on these

 

[kolecho]



Ravello Captoe from Alden DC, in bad lighting, but you all know the drill on these

What last are those beauties on?

 

[sazon]

These are on the Plaza last.

 

[BIG WONG]

Whiskey Wednesday

 

[Don L]

J Gilbert #8 NST's today

 

[Alcibiades]



They're not doing a good job.  I'm ready to defect to Carmina and Viberg.

I've looked at the Carmina thread a bunch of times, but I haven't placed an order as E widths don't appear to be offered in most lasts and the MTO orders being taken overlap a lot with my Alden collection. I guess I'm lucky in that I can walk into Alden NYC or call up Alden DC/SF and get 9.5E or 10E in most models somehwat easily, and I can preorder those sizes in Leffot runs. I'm going to suggest a balmoral captoe shoe in shell cordovan on that thread now, but I haven't seen much demand for it.