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

[fitchottie]



I just pre-ordered the Burnished Tan (Cognac) Calfskin Wing Tip Boots from J. Gilbert; does anyone have any pics of them in the wild?
Thanks -

I just won those on ebay......I will let you know once i get them... I can take some pictures.

 

[mdwsta4]

Picked up my first pair of Alden Indy 403 a few weeks ago. Extremely comfortable to wear and no break in period for me. Have already put a decent amount of miles on them with no issues. Have also received numerous compliments on them. Can't believe it took me this long to get a pair!

 

[g.michael]



Alden Whiskey LWB

Nice shoe--interesting that the issue of the missing perf appears on this pair as well.

 

[seer]

Picked up my first pair of Alden Indy 403 a few weeks ago. Extremely comfortable to wear and no break in period for me. Have already put a decent amount of miles on them with no issues. Have also received numerous compliments on them. Can't believe it took me this long to get a pair!

I love that CXL leather....

 

[mcarthur]

...

Alden Whiskey LWB

nephew,
enjoy wearing your good looking whiskey lwb

 

[Alcibiades]

Alden #8 LHS

Dammit, so upset I can't wear van lasted shoes

Have you tried sizing up a width?

Yeah, didn't work... My instep is just too high, every step I took hurt. I'm gonna take Mac's advice and try the Aberdeen lasted full strap

 

[mcarthur]



Yeah, didn't work... My instep is just too high, every step I took hurt. I'm gonna take Mac's advice and try the Aberdeen lasted full strap

first try you regular size and if does not fit properly go up a half size

 

[ambivalence]

Those Alden #8 LHS looks so good... might be my next pair or the tassel loafers...

anyway guys which lwb? Ravello, whiskey or cigar? for a casual outfit.. matching it with jeans, chinos

 

[HorseHide]



Yeah, didn't work... My instep is just too high, every step I took hurt. I'm gonna take Mac's advice and try the Aberdeen lasted full strap

You and I are in the same boat re the Van. I had a pair of the Aberdeen full straps and I ended up dumping them. The vamp is so low on the full strap (and the heel is a bit wide on the Aberdeen anyway) that I found myself slipping out of the shoe with every step. I don't have the same problem with other Aberdeen lasted models (including several cap toes and a full complement of NSTs) but they are all bluchers. Maybe a calf or suede (and maybe a waterloc sole) would have a little more "give" but the shell full straps didn't work for me.

I'm planning on checking out the RL model.

 

[abam]

Those Alden #8 LHS looks so good... might be my next pair or the tassel loafers...
anyway guys which lwb? Ravello, whiskey or cigar? for a casual outfit.. matching it with jeans, chinos

I went with Whiskey, but i'd suggest Cigar/Ravello. Whiskey is a little less practical, but nonetheless beautiful. If I could make the decision again, I'd probably go with Cigar.

 

[NotClever]

Uncle, nice looking ravello monks! I really enjoy seeing them.
Speaking of everyone's favorite uncle, while I can get some of my Aldens to look pretty great via the Mac method, some of them just persist in looking lived in no matter what i do - dents, dings, scratches and the like.
One of them is my natural CXL plain toe boots, which i beat to hell pretty consistently and have all but given up babying in any way.
Anyone else have this issue? Some of my shell shoes (the ones i wear to death, anyways) seem to have dings/dents/nicks on them too that no amount of Mac method-ing can cure. Anyone else in the same boat? If so, do you consider it a problem or just part of the charm of the shoes?

This is conjecture on my part, but I believe the reason the mac method works is because shell, and to a lesser extent CXL, are already very oily leathers. Polish adds some oil (and possibly wax) to leather, which primes the fibers in the leather lay such that the shoe shines when buffed. I believe shell is basically already primed to shine, so you just need to do the part of a shoe shine that brings out the shine in the lather. CXL is similar, but I think it can only really be brought to a glow, a la calfskin leather with creme polish.

For similar reasons, I don't think the mac method can do much for more than a scuff or shallow ding. If it's shallow enough that rearranging the oils in the leather can fill it in/cover it up, you're good to go, but otherwise you'll need to either live with it or use a polish that will fill in the ding.

 

[zippyh]

Yeah, didn't work... My instep is just too high, every step I took hurt. I'm gonna take Mac's advice and try the Aberdeen lasted full strap

You and I are in the same boat re the Van. I had a pair of the Aberdeen full straps and I ended up dumping them. The vamp is so low on the full strap (and the heel is a bit wide on the Aberdeen anyway) that I found myself slipping out of the shoe with every step. I don't have the same problem with other Aberdeen lasted models (including several cap toes and a full complement of NSTs) but they are all bluchers. Maybe a calf or suede (and maybe a waterloc sole) would have a little more "give" but the shell full straps didn't work for me.

I'm planning on checking out the RL model.

You mean the Rancourt for Ralph Lauren loafers?
Just a warning but those are pretty low vamp too.

 

[dm2703]

I can confirm that my example of whiskey LWB is missing that perf.

 

[Alcibiades]



You and I are in the same boat re the Van. I had a pair of the Aberdeen full straps and I ended up dumping them. The vamp is so low on the full strap (and the heel is a bit wide on the Aberdeen anyway) that I found myself slipping out of the shoe with every step. I don't have the same problem with other Aberdeen lasted models (including several cap toes and a full complement of NSTs) but they are all bluchers. Maybe a calf or suede (and maybe a waterloc sole) would have a little more "give" but the shell full straps didn't work for me.
I'm planning on checking out the RL model.

FWIW, my tassel loafers in 10E (Aberdeen) are among my best fitting Aldens (I wear 10D or 9.5E in barrie). I would imagine the full strap is similar but I need to try it first

I can confirm that my example of whiskey LWB is missing that perf.

Just checked my year old #8 longwings, they have the same perf missing on both pairs. Never noticed it, so it hasn't detracted from my enjoyment of the shoe.

 

[sfactor23]

I just pre-ordered the Burnished Tan (Cognac) Calfskin Wing Tip Boots from J. Gilbert; does anyone have any pics of them in the wild?
Thanks -

I just won those on ebay......I will let you know once i get them... I can take some pictures.

Great!!! Thanks!