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

commodorewheeler · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by wj4

Wow, those look great!

I just peeped them on LS's website. Too bad the BH branch doesn't carry them. I would love to see the quality in person. I may buy those as I really like the shape. Sans the monks, the only other pair of shoes I plan on buying is a pair of navy Tricker's. Price is surely a lot more than Aldens, but I don't mind paying for quality.

If you live in Southern California, why not visit the John Lobb store in Costa Mesa?

Tricker's are actually comparable to Alden in price.

Originally Posted by wj4

Zippy,

Where do you buy your C&Js from? Aside from Barneys, I know of no place that carries them instore.

Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers both have some of their shoes made by C&J.

CTYGGG · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by Two Shoes

I posted about a month ago with a pair of 10E Rough Roys that were too big for my feet. I returned them for the next-closest-down size which was a 9D. The length on the big toe seems ok but the outside of my foot feels kinda jammed and my little toes feel kinda jammed. How much will these stretch?

On my next pair of Aldens (Turbalance last) should I go up a size or just increase the width?

Also, I have a history with boots where my foot eventually bulges out the side, to the point where the outside edge of my foot falls on the little raised ridge that connects the sole to the upper (see pic), making it uncomfortable to walk and making the boot, eventually unwearable. Would going to an E width alleviate that? What is the danger in erring on the wide side?

The difference in a D width to an E width is 3/16ths of an inch. When sizing up in width the heel size also increases, for example a 9 B/D to a 9 C/E. This leaves you the possibility of the heel being too wide for you. From what you have said I would either go to a wider size or size up a 1/2 size to alleviate the width problem.

zippyh · May 17, 2011

Some cool suede Indys on crepe soles at the Bureau.

thebunk · May 17, 2011

Looking for a good all purpose long wing shoe and am leaning towards the J Crew tobacco calf shoes. I already have a pair of black calf wingtip boots (Epaulet) and preordered a pair of Ravello Cordovan wingtip boots (Epaulet). Wondering if I should wait though and get a pair of cordovan long wings instead of settling for J Crew shoes. Arrrg, decisions.

Any thoughts? As I mentioned earlier, I am heading to NYC next month.

Pastor · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by thebunk

Looking for a good all purpose long wing shoe and am leaning towards the J Crew tobacco calf shoes. I already have a pair of black calf wingtip boots (Epaulet) and preordered a pair of Ravello Cordovan wingtip boots (Epaulet). Wondering if I should wait though and get a pair of cordovan long wings instead of settling for J Crew shoes. Arrrg, decisions.

Any thoughts? As I mentioned earlier, I am heading to NYC next month.

I have the J Crew tobacco LWBs and they get more wear than any of my others long wings. I wear them with jeans, kahkis, and have even worn them with a summer suit.

pebblegrain · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by Two Shoes

I posted about a month ago with a pair of 10E Rough Roys that were too big for my feet. I returned them for the next-closest-down size which was a 9D. The length on the big toe seems ok but the outside of my foot feels kinda jammed and my little toes feel kinda jammed. How much will these stretch?

On my next pair of Aldens (Turbalance last) should I go up a size or just increase the width?

you went from 10E to 9D, you fucked up

Joenobody0 · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by pebblegrain

you went from 10E to 9D, you fucked up
+1 You went from a 10E to a shoe nearly equivalent in width to a 10B. When you consider that you also dropped one full length, it's shocking that you can even get your foot into that shoe. It just goes to show how ****** the 10E shoe fit to begin with. Stop buying expensive shoes until you know what you're doing.

mikecch · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by commodorewheeler

Tricker's are actually comparable to Alden in price.

+ 1. Actually, where I am (no Tricker's or Alden dealers here), Tricker's actually come cheaper compared to Alden.

Alcibiades · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by thebunk

Looking for a good all purpose long wing shoe and am leaning towards the J Crew tobacco calf shoes. I already have a pair of black calf wingtip boots (Epaulet) and preordered a pair of Ravello Cordovan wingtip boots (Epaulet). Wondering if I should wait though and get a pair of cordovan long wings instead of settling for J Crew shoes. Arrrg, decisions.

Any thoughts? As I mentioned earlier, I am heading to NYC next month.

I think the J Crew tobaccos are best seen as an all purpose longwing. Since they are in chromexcel and cost less than cordovan, you may not fuss over them as you would a pair of whiskeys. Yet they are as sturdy as any Alden and can look very handsome when cleaned up, polished, etc. You can wear em out to bars, wear em in the rain, wear em with khakis, denim, dress pants, etc. It's like a more refined version of an all-weather walker

geoffmartin17 · May 17, 2011

I ordered those brown grain red brick sole longwings from Frans boone - will report with pics once they arrive.

Two Shoes · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by Joenobody0

+1
You went from a 10E to a shoe nearly equivalent in width to a 10B. When you consider that you also dropped one full length, it's shocking that you can even get your foot into that shoe. It just goes to show how ****** the 10E shoe fit to begin with.

Stop buying expensive shoes until you know what you're doing.

Lol that's fukin funny. Stopped by B&S lately? Nobody here knows what they're doing.

How else go about finding the right size? Try on shoes, ask questions, see what feels right.

Clearly, the 10E was huge on my foot. You can see the pics in my first post on the topic. It was the result of ****** sizing recommendations given to me by a local Alden retailer after measuring my foot- didn't have any Trubalance lasts to try on. The 9D was the next closest size down when I returned the 10E and it fits fine except I'm worried about the width. Hence, my question about going up a size vs increasing the width. My wallet is fine and I'm buying more Aldens. Sizing help is appreciated.

Joenobody0 · May 17, 2011

Why don't you fly to a retailer that knows what the **** they're doing instead of asking a bunch of people on the internet what you should do?

Alden in SF would be able to at least get you into a shoe one standard deviation from your true size.

makewayhomer · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by Two Shoes

How else go about finding the right size? Try on shoes, ask questions, see what feels right.

I would probably just concentrate on the bolded. I don't understand how you went from 10E to 9D.

borderline · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by Joenobody0

Why don't you fly to a retailer that knows what the **** they're doing instead of asking a bunch of people on the internet what you should do?

Alden in SF would be able to at least get you into a shoe one standard deviation from your true size.

Most people don't comprehend what it is like to live hundreds of miles from any store that carries Aldens. Sometimes you just have to take your chances (hopefully with a chance of returning them before you realize your feet are getting crushed).

On another topic, there's a pair of natural CE PTB's (9.5) on B&S, but that posting has the worst example of thread bumping I have seen. Not the fault of the original poster, but still annoying.

Why are responses like this to B&S posts considered acceptable?
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...00#post4473800

PorterInjax · May 17, 2011

Originally Posted by borderline

Most people don't comprehend what it is like to live hundreds of miles from any store that carries Aldens. Sometimes you just have to take your chances (hopefully with a chance of returning them before you realize your feet are getting crushed).

On another topic, there's a pair of natural CE PTB's (9.5) on B&S, but that posting has the worst example of thread bumping I have seen. Not the fault of the original poster, but still annoying.

Why are responses like this to B&S posts considered acceptable?
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...00#post4473800

Couldn't agree more. I've only sold a few things on the forum but it pisses me off to no end when your thread gets bumped to page 2 in no time at all due to the BS on B&S. Wish the mods would try to curtail this a bit but I realize it would be difficult.

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