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

Alcibiades · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by TheWGP

Thought this thread might appreciate these photos. Finally got around to photographing my complete "rainbow of shell" in LHS. Yes, it's not a "true" rainbow, since half are Brooks Brothers and half are Alden, but the colors are all there... at least until somebody does a #4 LHS special makeup... Tom, you didn't hear that!

Sorry for the somewhat overcast lighting, but that's what passes for sunlight this time of year, and it's brighter than it has been for awhile, actually.

From left to right: BB black, Alden cigar, BB #8, Alden mahogany, Alden ravello, BB whiskey.

And a closer shot:

LHS is the most underrated Alden shoe

scb · Mar 14, 2011

so I got my whiskey longwings a few weeks ago but didn't get around to wearing them until today. I commented when I got them in this thread about how the color on the left shoe was 2-tone and posted a picture. people said it would even out

since today was the first time I wore them, it was really the first time i saw them outside in natural light. the 2 colors are pretty striking in natural light.

again, is this normal?

Neilius · Mar 14, 2011

The point is, the shoe is supposed to be an "all-weather walker," which is just nonsense.
It's a great sole as long as you don't wear it on wet pavement.

Jorge · Mar 14, 2011

SCB, that doesn't seem right. YES I know the cordovan absorbs the dye differently, but ALDEN is dealing with a lot of leather, I think they should be able to get a pair of shoes to match better. I could see two pairs not looking alike but one shoe not matching it's mate is a qc issue imho.
Not bashing Alden, I'm a 20 plus year customer (cordovan and calf shoes) of the company, they just seem not to be dealing well with their renewed popularity.

ChrisGold · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by borderline

Tripped over a rock in the office today and scuffed the top of my cigar PTBs. Was skeptical of the "just brush it" repair tip but this is how it looked after 20 seconds of brushing. Kind of amazing. I'll do more when I wax them eventually, as you can see some scuffs that didn't totally brush out.

With that kind of scuffing, you may also want to employ the "rub real hard with your thumb" technique. That and a bit of wax and no one but you will be able to tell.

ChrisGold · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by wj4

On another note, those who have cordovans...do you guys always pre order? The only 2 that I was able to get right away were #8 and cigar. Whiskey, ravello, and black are pre ordered for me. I don't mind the wait however.

I actually rarely pre-order. There are so many styles that pop up at Shoemart and other places that I tend to buy as they appear. I do have a couple things on pre-order with Sherman Brothers, because they are my local store and I like to support them.

ChrisGold · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by scb

so I got my whiskey longwings a few weeks ago but didn't get around to wearing them until today. I commented when I got them in this thread about how the color on the left shoe was 2-tone and posted a picture. people said it would even out

since today was the first time I wore them, it was really the first time i saw them outside in natural light. the 2 colors are pretty striking in natural light.

again, is this normal?

That's a bit excessive. I also wish that some of these issues were caught at the retail level. Why not pull aside a pair that looks like that and hand them back to your Alden rep? Besides the obvious, which is that they do not want to lose the profit on a pair of cordovans.

mediahound · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by ChrisGold

That's a bit excessive. I also wish that some of these issues were caught at the retail level. Why not pull aside a pair that looks like that and hand them back to your Alden rep? Besides the obvious, which is that they do not want to lose the profit on a pair of cordovans.

As customers, we should not accept those. The more customers who start sending those back, the less it will be tolerated by the retailers and it will then get back to Alden.

If a customer accepts delivery of shoes like that, then the retailer and Alden get away with it and will continue to push the limits of what they think they can get away with.

makewayhomer · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by scb

so I got my whiskey longwings a few weeks ago but didn't get around to wearing them until today. I commented when I got them in this thread about how the color on the left shoe was 2-tone and posted a picture. people said it would even out

since today was the first time I wore them, it was really the first time i saw them outside in natural light. the 2 colors are pretty striking in natural light.

again, is this normal?

yes that's bad, but more importantly I finally got to see whiskey with khaki! I think it actually looks nice

A.L.Z. · Mar 14, 2011

For the Trubalance last (Indys, 405s, 403s):

Is a size 11EE a longer shoe (as well as a wider shoe) than 11E, than 11D?

Or are the lengths of all 3 the same? Only difference in width?

Please let me know if you have had experience iwth Trubalance sizes and know the answer.

wj4 · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by ChrisGold

I actually rarely pre-order. There are so many styles that pop up at Shoemart and other places that I tend to buy as they appear. I do have a couple things on pre-order with Sherman Brothers, because they are my local store and I like to support them.
With Shoemart, it is kind of tricky because it doesn't indicate any pre-order. You have to call and verify the shoes are in stock prior. My black and whiskey cordovans are on pre-order from Shoemart.

mediahound · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by A.L.Z.

For the Trubalance last (Indys, 405s, 403s):

Is a size 11EE a longer shoe (as well as a wider shoe) than 11E, than 11D?

Or are the lengths of all 3 the same? Only difference in width?

Please let me know if you have had experience iwth Trubalance sizes and know the answer.

I don't think there is any length difference if all the shoes are the same number size like above. If you go to a different width, only the width changes from what I understand.

A.L.Z. · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by mediahound

I don't think there is any length difference if all the shoes are the same number size like above. If you go to a different width, only the width changes from what I understand.
OK, thank you. Are you absolutely sure (from your own personal experience) that there is no length difference, or is that just your understanding (like mine)? I don't want to waste any more money, you see...

CTYGGG · Mar 14, 2011

Dr. Jones

mediahound · Mar 14, 2011

Originally Posted by A.L.Z.

OK, thank you. Are you absolutely sure (from your own personal experience) that there is no length difference, or is that just your understanding (like mine)? I don't want to waste any more money, you see...

No, I'm not absolutely sure.

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

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Streetwear Featured products

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON:

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