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

[Bakes11771]

If any of you follow the Leffot Instagram account, those are my whiskey PTB pictured...

I had to "unfollow" because of all the obnoxious food selfies.

 

[MrDV]

Alpine nst

 

[MrDV]

Allen edmonds are very nice I've owned about 10 pairs. I haven't bought a single pair since I discovered Aldens.

 

[mcarthur]



Great colour and shine on your LHS's Uncle.

nephew,
thank you

 

[sacafotos]

If I buy Alden shell WT boot, I'm almost positive it will be on Plaza. Is that a boot I can wear with denim and nicer slacks?

I like the Barrie on commando, but it doesn't have the same versatility.

 

[mcarthur]

whiskey lhs
sans socks

 

[thebeebs]

If I buy Alden shell WT boot, I'm almost positive it will be on Plaza. Is that a boot I can wear with denim and nicer slacks?

I like the Barrie on commando, but it doesn't have the same versatility.

I own the Plaza WT boot on commando in Color 8, from J. Gilbert, and it is my favorite Alden boot. (And I own a fair number of exotics: Color 4 captoe boot, Ravello WT boot, Cigar Pitt boot, Whiskey chukka boot, etc.)

Versatile and works with everything except suits IMO.

 

[thebeebs]

I am certainly in the vast minority here, but I just can't do shiny shoes, sockless with shorts. I've tried my whiskey LHS sockless, and just can't pull it off. Maybe it's b/c I live in Los Angeles, and we're not a preppy town. Bless you all.

 

[rydenfan]



Alpine nst

These look great! Is that the recent Citi Shoes run?

 

[Burzan]

Four ways in which AE competes favorably with Alden -

(1) Leaving Dalton aside, at least four AE models are as good as if not better than their Alden counterparts:

Strand medallion cap toe
MacNeil LWB
Leeds PTB
Dundee chukka

(2) All can be individually MTO’d through SF without upcharge in three different colors of Horween shell (as well as a basically infinite array of soles, edge colors, welts, etc.), and turnaround is generally a month or less.

(3) Seconds are pretty easy to obtain and have gone as low as $299 recently.

(4) AE’s customer service is as good as I have encountered in ANY context, not just shoes.

I agree with pretty much all of this. Most of my AE shell has been at the $299-$399 range and I feel like they offer amazing value at that price point.

Here are my style preferences so far, though will likely change over time:
AE Dundee Chukka
AE Strand
AE McAllister
Alden PTB
Alden LWB



I really prefer the look of my truffle cordovan McAllisters compared to the Alden shortwing.

 

[sacafotos]

@thebeebs

I'm still deciding between the WT or NST color 8 boot on Plaza. I have too many Indy/NSTs, so I'm leaning WT.

 

[mdubs]

Go with the WT.

 

[borderline]



A majority of the credit goes to borderline and Bakes. I just copied their old post and updated it a bit and verified all the links worked and updated the broken ones.

Thanks for updating this. Would be better if it were more accessible.

 

[Burzan]

@thebeebs

I'm still deciding between the WT or NST color 8 boot on Plaza. I have too many Indy/NSTs, so I'm leaning WT.

Go with the WT.

WT on Plaza is gorgeous.

 

[MrDV]

I am certainly in the vast minority here, but I just can't do shiny shoes, sockless with shorts. I've tried my whiskey LHS sockless, and just can't pull it off. Maybe it's b/c I live in Los Angeles, and we're not a preppy town. Bless you all.

+1. hard to do shiny shoes, sockless with shorts in san diego as well. I will get there with time.

These look great! Is that the recent Citi Shoes run?

thank you ryden. yes recent purchase from citi. difficult for me to pass on alpine + nst + brass + commando.

I agree with pretty much all of this. Most of my AE shell has been at the $299-$399 range and I feel like they offer amazing value at that price point.
Here are my style preferences so far, though will likely change over time:
AE Dundee Chukka
AE Strand
AE McAllister
Alden PTB
Alden LWB



I really prefer the look of my truffle cordovan McAllisters compared to the Alden shortwing.

really nice examples, your brown strands and mcallisters look great.