The Shell Cordovan, non-Alden Shoe and Boot Thread

[Saturninus]

I came to the cordovan game long after the golden age of exotic shell colors had come to and end. I see all these beautiful whiskey and ravello shell shoes, and I am eager to find a way to find a pair of my own. I was looking for shoe makers who still regularly make shoes in the lighter shell colors, and I can only find Carmina and Rancourt.

Rancourt's "Caramel" color looks reasonably close to whiskey:

Do you think I'd be happy with this as an alternative to whiskey? Or is this just not the same as the exotic colors of ancient lore?

 

[makewayhomer]



I came to the cordovan game long after the golden age of exotic shell colors had come to and end. I see all these beautiful whiskey and ravello shell shoes, and I am eager to find a way to find a pair of my own. I was looking for shoe makers who still regularly make shoes in the lighter shell colors, and I can only find Carmina and Rancourt.

Rancourt's "Caramel" color looks reasonably close to whiskey:

Do you think I'd be happy with this as an alternative to whiskey? Or is this just not the same as the exotic colors of ancient lore?

don't fret.

I actually don't think it's that much harder to purchase "rare" shell colors than it was 5 or 6 years ago, bc of the # of makers you can order from. Alden is next to impossible but Carmina, EB, Rider - you see cool stuff pop in from there frequently. and if you go to Meermin and Trickers you can get all sorts of crazy colors from non Horween shell producers. The brown that C&J uses for RL and BB might be my favorite color of all and those are not super hard to find.

I have Rancourt x BB Venetian loafers in "tan" shell cordovan and that is close to whiskey.

 

[El Argentino]



I miss my #8 Florsheim LWB dearly. The only reason I sold them is because the fit wasn't quite right.

Yes, the fit is individual - my Florsheims fit much better than any barrie-lasted shoe ever could.

 

[Watchman1]

Gentlemen,

Trust me when I say these words: There is Life outside of Alden exotics...

I own/have owned some of the more rare Alden cordovan models, and I enjoy and cherish them. (As you know)

However, there is a whole wide world of artisans and craftsmen all over the world who often rival and sometimes surpass Alden.

There is good reason why many of the gentlemen here on SF have ventured outside of Aldenland and found great satisfaction.

Again, nothing against Alden at all. I am a dyed in the wool AldenFan.

Nevertheless, EVERY maker has strengths and weaknesses and we ought to strive to appreciate each maker for who and what they are.

Thanks.

 

[Saturninus]

Carmina has emerged has my goto source for non-black / non-burgundy source of horween shell. And I'm in the process of getting something in brown from C&J.

But light shades are elusive. I'll have to wait until Carmina offers an MTO group in model that I like, or go for that rancourt in Caramel

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[mdubs]



X-Post from the C&J Thread. Whiskey Shell Cordovan Harlech's:

Spoiler

Happy Friday!

Looking good Joel, enjoy them!

Navy shell from AE

Spoiler

Those are outrageously awesome! -Mike

 

[mdubs]

I flat out prefer Alden LWBs because of the variety of widths they offer, not many offer B widths on LWB lasts and fit is key.

-Mike

 

[Gabru]

I don't like the balance of the LWB patterns from Carmina and EB. The C&J pattern is better, but still not as nice as the Alden pattern. AE's MacNeil pattern is terrible, but they improved it somewhat with the MacNeil 2.0.

Florsheim's LWB is the granddaddy, and it's the best. Alden's is most similar to it, IMO.

I think it comes down to personal preference, I personally find the Alden LWB clownish even in D width. Few months back I got my hands on fabled Alden whiskey LWB( seconds from shoemart) but didn't like them at all compared to my Macneil and returned those..




Though I really like the NST pattern from Alden, it's better than what a lot of other makers do...

 

[Shouldaville]

My little Vass shell family. Thankfully (for my wallet) these three pretty much cover the shell angle for me.

 

[peppercorn78]

Any chance of getting more pics of the Osloer???

 

[watchidiot]



My little Vass shell family. Thankfully (for my wallet) these three pretty much cover the shell angle for me.

This is awesome! How I wish I got into the Vass game before they stopped producing the lighter shell colors.

 

[watchidiot]



Those are outrageously awesome!

-Mike

thanks Mike!

 

[Shouldaville]

Any chance of getting more pics of the Osloer???

Here's a little closer and more of a side shot (a few in the Vass thread over the last year as well).

 

[sleepyinsanfran]

^ nice! are the chukkas on P2?

 

[Shouldaville]

^ nice! are the chukkas on P2?

Yes, all three are P2. I think it works well for the long wing design and boots.