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

[shaunw]

Quote: Yea, I have the C&J for RL Marlow PTB. It's definitely a superior shoe to Alden and has quickly become my favorite (and most comfortable) shell cordovan shoe......sorry Alden

 

[aldenwear]

Alden is ran ass backwards and their operations are as old as shoe making is a profession. All this about not wanting to grow and sacrifice quality argument is horseshit. They can't even make a decent shoe as it is. their UK counterparts- C&J, Trickers, and even AS benchgrade - make a much better built shoe in similar styles. C&J would mark their shoes as defective if their workers began producing Alden 1st quality work. It's that bad. Alden as business hasn't done anything to justify charging $700 for shoes.

The problem is that demand has risen to such a high level, and their customers so focused on these "rare" shells, for example, that they have turned a blind eye to the fact that other better quality shoemakers are making shell for the same price in any color cordovan in just months. Carmina pumps out ANY color shell (horween) in just months. Every three months you could have a new rare shell.

If Alden was made in china no one here would give them the light of day.

Alden is great but all this noisy drama and waiting for an imperfect $700-$750 shoe, has me feeling like I'm in high school again

Word.

 

[dslonghorn4]



I love those!!  Nice!  Sorry for the stupid question, but I assume that I would have to call to see if they have any of these in my size, correct?  Meaning, they don't have an online site, correct?  Thanks.

I should have clarified. My Ravello LWBs are a makeup from J.Crew.

Alden DC does not have a site and yes you do need to call. Good luck!

 

[ReppTiePrepster]

My "new" Ravello LHS. I picked them up from my PO BOX at 11:40 last night. I was like a little kid ripping into the box.

The socks were picked up on my trip @ the Neiman Marcus flagship in Dallas.

Looks like Texas was a fruitful destination! Congrats my friend and enjoy them often and in great health1

Wearing my black shell 4065's today with some olive. Happy Friday, all!

Well done my friend! Enjoy your cap toe boots and the weekend...

Ravello Friday. Congrats to those who picked up the LWBs from Alden DC!

Nice gunboats Longhorn. I'm guessing those are not of the DC batch as they have the light edge?? Wear in great health and HOOK'em

leffot saddles

You've demonstrated once again the depth of your wonderful wardrobe. Enjoy your saddles and the weekend my friend!

#8 Captoe Boot, RRL selvedge chinos

Looking good in your ALDEN for j crew pct boots. Relax and enjoy them my friend...

Looking for some expertise from the group. What would you recommend to best match/cover up the nick I seem to have gotten on my cigar PTBs?





Much appreciated

Edge dressing cleans them up nicely. Looks like AE's chili would do the trick. Enjoy your good looking PTBs!

 

[zippyh]

 

[rydenfan]

awesome (and dangerous)

 

[bespoken pa]

I have certainly not been afraid to point out Alden's shortcomings in the past. However would I fork over $850 for ravello brixtons, in a second. It kills me to think of giving so much money to a manufacturer that could care less about those who support their brand. None the less I do it anyway. I have posed this question before but how bad does it have to get before people look at other options. Assuming all were available would people consistently choose AE or Carmina over alden shell?

 

[imolazhp_ci]



I have certainly not been afraid to point out Alden's shortcomings in the past. However would I fork over $850 for ravello brixtons, in a second. It kills me to think of giving so much money to a manufacturer that could care less about those who support their brand. None the less I do it anyway. I have posed this question before but how bad does it have to get before people look at other options. Assuming all were available would people consistently choose AE or Carmina over alden shell?

my questions revolves around the shell shortage? why is there a shell shortage when no other company seems to have issues regularly producing shell, carmina, ae, vass, etc. in any and all colors.

 

[crosswound]

Allen edmonds got the lock on the cordovan they are best friends with horween. Its their business strategy to convert everyone to allen edmonds see how readily available the cordovan is for them

 

[imolazhp_ci]



Allen edmonds got the lock on the cordovan they are best friends with horween. Its their business strategy to convert everyone to allen edmonds see how readily available the cordovan is for them

don't know if that's true. i've read alden accounts for 70% of all cordovan business for horween.

 

[Alcibiades]



I have certainly not been afraid to point out Alden's shortcomings in the past. However would I fork over $850 for ravello brixtons, in a second. It kills me to think of giving so much money to a manufacturer that could care less about those who support their brand. None the less I do it anyway. I have posed this question before but how bad does it have to get before people look at other options. Assuming all were available would people consistently choose AE or Carmina over alden shell?

Carmina doesn't appear to offer a lot of its lasts in wide sizes (even via single shoe preorder), so I can't really use them like I have wanted for their sleeker styles. For example I can't order a cordovan double monk strap in a wide size. In contrast, I can get a wide size in Plaza, Aberdeen, Hampton etc pretty easily. They do offer wide sizes on some of their less sleek styles, but for those types of shoes I prefer the look of Alden.

Allen Edmonds could be a good choice over Alden, but shoe for shoe, I think Alden makes a better cordovan product (their calfskin can be equal depending on model, plus their service is excellent). Plus, Alden and AE models just look different even int eh same styles.

 

[bespoken pa]

My theory is this while Alden was dominating the shell market others were stock piling. How many others truly looked at carmina and ae for shell prior to Alden's shortage. I would venture the majority of Alden's business is shell. EG, Vass etc. Produce low numbers of shell offerings and in most cases on a MTO basis. I think AE in particular is seizing a golden opportunity to make up ground on Alden.

 

[cyc wid it]

I've abandoned ship. Down to one pair left - probably the least coveted pair I've owned (black shell cap toe bluchers). Between questionable QC and the availability issues, I'm motivated to shop elsewhere.

 

[Alcibiades]



my questions revolves around the shell shortage? why is there a shell shortage when no other company seems to have issues regularly producing shell, carmina, ae, vass, etc. in any and all colors.

Is Carmina really selling cordovan in a meaningful way outside of Styleforum/Epaulet and a few select stores via MTO? I don't know the answer but I would guess no. Same for Vass, Meermin, etc. Obviously for Styleforum members that can get their needs met by these companies, it's excellent, but that's not a big number. Cordovan is still very much a niche category within a niche category (dress shoes over $400), and it's even more niche for companies outside of Alden and maybe AE.

 

[brp2]



don't know if that's true. i've read alden accounts for 70% of all cordovan business for horween.

Also, just in my experience, I can't say I'm seeing all that much shell being put out by other makers (I have no idea about AE, however). Carmina doesn't show up much here; same for Vass; and, as has been said before, the Brits don't do that much with it. Alden, by way of contrast, has many models featuring it, and it doesn't seem to be that tough to get your hands on any number of black or color 8 models.

At the same time, I find it hard to be annoyed with a manufacturer which has consistently had relatively low production volume continuing with that practice. I'm sure that Alden understands that this incredibly increased demand is just a phase, and to them it doesn't make sense to adapt to it and increase production. That's fine by me.

Of course, increased demand across the board makes what was before a relatively small subset of business (rare shell) that much harder to come by. My dad has worn Alden shell for as long as I can remember, and, until the past five or so years, I used cordovan to refer to both a material and a color as I'd never seen anything but color 8.

It also seems natural to me that Alden, in dealing with the increased demand, would restock their own stores with staples before tending to other retailers and special orders. I'm sure the Alden stores have standing orders. Further, Alden knows those places will be here when this fad passes. All the others, however? That's an unknown.