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Wingtip boots?

Originally Posted by 100 yrs

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All day wear causes pain in the two toes on the outside of both my feet. When I tried them on in the store, the overall length was good but the toe area was pretty snug. I just figured they'd stretch out to be a cozy yet comfy fit. Not so. For reference, the Indy boots are an 8.5, both of my feet measure at a 9, each slightly on the narrow side, but with a heel to ball measurement closer to a 10.

Trubalance has a lot of toe room. You definitely have the wrong size. Stretching can't add length.The shoes are too short if you have narrowish feet, your heel to ball measures 9.5-10, and your toes need to be curled up to draw them on. You might need a 9 or a 9.5. If the 9 or 9.5 is just too wide, try a narrow width or switch to a boot on a long narrow last.

Originally Posted by Labjt

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Hey folks. First time poster here. If I am doing this wrong, let me know...

I have been looking at getting some Alden's for some time now, but I get overwhelmed with the choices.

I generally wear a button up with a pair of khakis or the occasional jeans. Pretty casual workplace.

Any thoughts? I have been thinkink about an indy boot, but also love wingtips...

Appreciate the help.

sounds like we dress similarly for work. i am finding natural CXL goes with a lot of my wardrobe. im wearing some at the moment so heres an example:

Originally Posted by Dewey

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Trubalance has a lot of toe room. You definitely have the wrong size. Stretching can't add length.The shoes are too short if you have narrowish feet, your heel to ball measures 9.5-10, and your toes need to be curled up to draw them on. You might need a 9 or a 9.5. If the 9 or 9.5 is just too wide, try a narrow width or switch to a boot on a long narrow last.

Thanks for the quick, sincere replies guys. I guess deep down I knew I had the wrong size, but was hoping to avoid selling/rebuying. I feel pretty dumb for getting the wrong size, I tried them on before I bought them for goodness sakes!

Dewey, what do you mean by the phrase "draw them on"? Just want to understand the lingo...

I'm thinking my toes are short relative to the overall length of my foot - meaning a shoe that fits me well from my heel to ball might have some extra room at the toe end. I've mostly gotten by in shoes where the fit can be very forgiving such as sneakers or desert boots, so it's turning out to be an experience nailing down sizing on these guys.

Originally Posted by Labjt

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Hey folks. First time poster here. If I am doing this wrong, let me know...

I have been looking at getting some Alden's for some time now, but I get overwhelmed with the choices.

I generally wear a button up with a pair of khakis or the occasional jeans. Pretty casual workplace.

Any thoughts? I have been thinkink about an indy boot, but also love wingtips...

Appreciate the help.

brown wingtip boots works with everything thats where i started now i have almost 20 pairs of alden good luck.

Question about the various tan coloured calfskins used by Alden: What is the difference between tan vegano, burnished tan, cognac, and walnut? Are these all just different names for the same calfskin? My eyes fail to distinguish one from another, although they seem to vary from a ravello-like hue to a rich shade of orange.

In my experience, they're all the same. Very misleading. Just as an FYI, you forgot chestnut.

Originally Posted by 100 yrs

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longtime lurker, first post...

I need some advice on my Indy boots (405, chromexcel). I've had a them for a few of months and have probably worn 20-25 times. All day wear causes pain in the two toes on the outside of both my feet. When I tried them on in the store, the overall length was good but the toe area was pretty snug. I just figured they'd stretch out to be a cozy yet comfy fit. Not so. For reference, the Indy boots are an 8.5, both of my feet measure at a 9, each slightly on the narrow side, but with a heel to ball measurement closer to a 10. Even though I'm old enough to probably have a handle on this by now, I'm still learning about good fit, and in the future will pay more attention to how the shoe feels heel to ball not just heel to toe. It seems I have two options:

1. Suck it up and sell the boots and try a 9. The store I got them at didn't have any in stock so I couldn't try them on. (Sub-question - whats the going rate on a used pair of indy boots these days? Paid $435 retail for them. I know it depends heavily on wear, but say a months wear with the typical scuffing)

2. Take to a cobbler and have them stretched. Based on a tip found in this thread, I emailed Alden and asked their advice. They replied saying I could send them to them and they could stretch them for me, but not much other info was given in their reply. I've already found a cobbler in Seattle than was recommended by a good boot store which would charge $8 to do it. I'm leaning towards the local option because that way I can go in and try them on and show the guy where the stretching is needed. Anyone had any experience getting boots stretched? Can they add a smidge in length as well as width? My worry here is that if this doesn't solve my problem, I'll have more trouble trying to resell.

So, advice? Opinions? I really like the shoes, the quality is super, and would like to make this work. Thanks in advance

It's worth taking the time to find the right size. I don't think stretching will do the trick.
Good news is you can sell them on Ebay. I recently got $230 for a pair
Good luck!

So I'm thinking about getting my first pair of cordovan shoes. I definitely want either a wingtip or a long wing. I'm thinking that I'll go with color #8, because I love the way that ages (well, from what I've seen in pics).

I'm not really sure how to decide between the LW and wingtip, though. I'm also not sure if I should go with the the BB wingtip, which I believe is on the Plaza last, or the shoemart version, which it says is on the Tremont last (not one I hear mentioned often).

Thoughts? Experience? Advice?

kylelovesyou - my first pair of Aldens was model 974 on the Grant last from the Madison Avenue shop, and I have no regrets. It's an extremely versatile shoe that keeps getting better with each wear. Because it doesn't have the imposing gunboat proportions of the longwing, it's probably an easier transition from whatever you're currently wearing. The only thing that turns me off about the Brooks Brothers model is the metal eyelets - I prefer the standard unadorned type (I think it's called a blind eyelet?).

I am unfamiliar with the Tremont last. What's strange is that this model appears to be offered on both the Tremont (see also here) and Grant lasts. I really like the shape of Grant last, and I find it runs about 1/4 to 1/2 size large. If this is your first pair of Aldens it may really help to try it on in person. I was not located near an Alden retailer and waited about six months until I would be in NYC to purchase them, and I'm glad I did it in person.

Originally Posted by 100 yrs

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Dewey, what do you mean by the phrase "draw them on"? Just want to understand the lingo

I just meant put them on.

Originally Posted by kylelovesyou

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So I'm thinking about getting my first pair of cordovan shoes.

Get them on the last that fits you the best?

Originally Posted by Morgan

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kylelovesyou - my first pair of Aldens was model 974 on the Grant last from the Madison Avenue shop, and I have no regrets. It's an extremely versatile shoe that keeps getting better with each wear. I am unfamiliar with the Tremont last. What's strange is that this model appears to be offered on both the Tremont (see also here) and Grant lasts. I really like the shape of Grant last, and I find it runs about 1/4 to 1/2 size large. If this is your first pair of Aldens it may really help to try it on in person. I was not located near an Alden retailer and waited about six months until I would be in NYC to purchase them, and I'm glad I did it in person.

This will be my second pair of Aldens. As far as trying them on, that is in part why I was thinking of checking out the BB pair (http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...=&sectionsize=.

I guess that the more I think about it, the more the issue becomes whether to choose longwings or wing tips.

Depending on what BB store you visit, they may have these sweet longwings in stock. Black, not #8, but definitely on the Grant last.

And I love these.

color 8 pt boot

Originally Posted by Morgan

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Depending on what BB store you visit, they may have these sweet longwings in stock. Black, not #8, but definitely on the Grant last.

And I love these.

Yeah I saw those yesterday, those are awesome.