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

[Shawnc]



Alden x JCrew for a Sunday breakfast. Ravello LWB with Brass Eyelets.

Spoiler

-Mike

My favorite pair of ravello shoes, any style. These shoes are the reason I fell in love with this shade.

 

[tv2177]



How often is irregular LWB in chromexcel available in shoemart?
How much ischromexcel shoes getscuffs and beat up?

CXL is pretty good against elements scuffs and ready to get beat up anytime.

 

[Alcibiades]



That was me (sort of). Citi shoes is the only place that has NST on commando and Barrie last (that I've seen)

Recently saw NST on Plaza from LS (old post) and curious what it looks like top down. The product shots always leave something to be desired.

Anyone have a pair they can show off?

The barrie NST boot on commando soles (AKA tanker boot) is somewhat common. Leffot and Context also stock them on a regular basis. Leffot's version is on an antique sole while Context stocks both black and color 8 versions.

 

[circleslife]

How often is irregular LWB in chromexcel available in shoemart?
How much is chromexcel shoes get scuffs and beat up?

Can tell you from experience. CXL's are like a tank. Beat them up all you want, scuffs go away easy. Also, get it on commando sole if you can. Getting them on irregulars is strictly matter of luck.

 

[Sergey]

Can tell you from experience. CXL's are like a tank. Beat them up all you want, scuffs go away easy. Also, get it on commando sole if you can. Getting them on irregulars is strictly matter of luck.

Is scuff go away independently or I need something to use?
If they are available once in year, than I need a great success. If they are available regularly, then buy them easier.
Commando sole CXL LWB is excellent, but they are rare.

 

[circleslife]

Is scuff go away independently or I need something to use?
If they are available once in year, than I need a great success. If they are available regularly, then buy them easier.
Commando sole CXL LWB is excellent, but they are rare.

I use Venetian and horsehair brushing. It masks the scuffs very well. I have also had success with Red Wing Shoe cream I got from BB. Yes, CXL LWB with Commando are rare. I see versions without the commando sole often. It has become my go to pair.

http://horween.bigcartel.com/products?page=1

 

[intensanity]

What belts do you guys wear with your shells? It seems like shell belts are all split or extremely rare.

 

[mdubs]



What belts do you guys wear with your shells? It seems like shell belts are all split or extremely rare.

Predominantly I wear Shell belts. I have a Whiskey, Cigar, and #8 (new model) belts from Alden. I also have a Burgundy Shell Allen Edmonds belt that I wear with my more aged #8 Alden's. I also have a black/tan reversible belt. The tan/brown works well with Ravello and obviously the Black work with Black Shell. Anyone have a black shell belt??

Horween has made some 1-piece and 2-piece belts in the past versus the traditional 3-piece belts. The 1-piece shell belts are extremely rare as the strip between the two shells have to be up to the Shell quality standards.

-Mike

 

[sacafotos]

That was me (sort of). Citi shoes is the only place that has NST on commando and Barrie last (that I've seen)

Recently saw NST on Plaza from LS (old post) and curious what it looks like top down. The product shots always leave something to be desired.

Anyone have a pair they can show off?

The barrie NST boot on commando soles (AKA tanker boot) is somewhat common. Leffot and Context also stock them on a regular basis. Leffot's version is on an antique sole while Context stocks both black and color 8 versions.

God, the antique edge is sexy. I will eventually replace my Color 8 Indys (Trubalance) with black edge dressing and commando soles.

Still curious how a Plaza last NST looks on someone.

 

[bespoken pa]



What belts do you guys wear with your shells? It seems like shell belts are all split or extremely rare.

Also check out Horweens site sometimes belts pop up on there.

 

[Steel28]



What belts do you guys wear with your shells? It seems like shell belts are all split or extremely rare.

I got Brooks Brothers #8 shell belt. Really like it and it's aging very well.

 

[chrisefi]

What do you guys think of the Unionmade x Alden Color #8 Captoe boots? They're commando sole on Barrie, which I like. Any experience with Unionmade and their Aldens?

 

[Bakes11771]

The Full-Strap loafer definitely has the foxing, but the traditional Alden Tassel does not. It's the distinguishing factor between the Alden and the Alden x BB Tassel.

-M

The foxing on the Full Strap is curved. The Alden x BB Tassel has a squared foxing. I had read that the Alden x BB foxing style was exclusive to BB, then saw it on Alden makeups for other retailers. Just seemed odd to me.

Was gunna say this, but you beat me too it. Basically, BB Tassels have it, alden standard tassels don't, and special tassel makeups may or may not.

I never noticed the square vs curved, so good observation.

 

[smmrfld]

Anyone have a black shell belt??

I have Alden shell belts in black, #8, and cigar. The black one, while likely indistinguishable from the usual black leather by most, shows that subtle finish that is unique to shell.

 

[chrisefi]



Jean's look fine to me. The "better" jeans cost as much, if not more, than tailored pants in the finest fabrics that are custom tailored for the wearer. Bulky for the Jean manufacturers that are able to get the sheep to fork over their (or daddy's and mommy's?) hard - earned cash so foolishly. Mike- being a demonstratedly wise spender of his clothing cash- allocates it to an incredible cordovan stash and not on paying $400 for $2 denim that has purportedly been drenched in a dye vat four time, sniffed by three registered sex offenders after having crossed the crotches of at least three ladies of the night in thee different big city lockups.

Though I would never call someone out like rydenfan did, he's not wrong that you can get affordable denim to do your expensive Shell footwear justice. Gustin Jeans, for example, are handmade selvedge denim in hundreds of fabrics and selvedge Id's. he could get a slimmer fit that cuffs perfectly and the wash/wear of the denim will be according to his use. Gustin is like $90-$120

I havent seen anyone on here recommending or braggin about $700 acid-washed/distressed denim.