The Official Alden Thread for 2022 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Shawnc]

All the talk about rare shell is interesting but for me, whenever I have the occasion to hang out with friends, I always seem to reach for 8. NYE dinner at Eddie Merlot’s with wife and friends and an old favorite…..

Happy New Year Gents!

 

[smfdoc]

Happy new year forum pals. As for many, it is a rainy day. Old jeans and CXL seem right for the weather.

 

[JSO1]

All the talk about rare shell is interesting but for me, whenever I have the occasion to hang out with friends, I always seem to reach for 8. NYE dinner at Eddie Merlot’s with wife and friends and an old favorite…..

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Happy New Year Gents!

smooth as merlot

 

[mdubs]

Happy New Years! Alden Ravello Shell Cordovan LHS.

-Mike

 

[Shawnc]

smooth as merlot

Ha, I like it Jeff. Much appreciated my-man. Happy New Year!

Happy New Years! Alden Ravello Shell Cordovan LHS.

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-Mike

As close to perfection as humanly possible Mayor. Well done and Happy New Year!

 

[JUAN MANUEL]

Picked up one final pair for 2021 today. It’s a rare treat to actually buy shoes in person as there aren’t many Alden deals close to me. The color of this Ravello run is spectacular.
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Congratulations! One of the best ways to finish / start a year.

 

[mdubs]

Ravello
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Wow dude, way to start this thread off with pure fire! Amazing boots.

Cheers to 2022 with Color 2

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I see that you are matching DV’s submission and raising him a #2! Looks great J and look forward to seeing them this year!

Welcome to 2022 forum pals. I had to do something to get on page 1.

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Doc, those saddles are just perfection. Enjoy them my friend!

I will be strong and wait until 2022 to wear these new suede and Chromexcel saddles on commando from Alden of Madison. THIS pair of shoes is, to me, what Alden is all about. Impeccable craftsmanship, ultra-traditional styling... and everyone who sees them will smile. They will bring a little bit of fun and elegance wherever they go.

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Some great thoughts and hard to disagree! Those saddles are just perfect. Enjoy them my friend all year long and beyond!

End of 2021 with Dr Jones u-tips:
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Happy New Year, everyone!

Oskrusa, those Dr. Jones boots are looking just superb. A great color and an always amazing pattern on the Plaza!!

Goodbye 2021!

Those Wholecuts are just rocking CSL! Looking superb and a great sendoff!

Picked up one final pair for 2021 today. It’s a rare treat to actually buy shoes in person as there aren’t many Alden deals close to me. The color of this Ravello run is spectacular.
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J, those are just another level. Such a fantastic model and the execution is next level awesomeness! Enjoy those in good health!

Happy 2022 gentlemen...

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FT, those Whiskey Wingtips are looking absolutely stunning. The Color on those are just next level! Enjoy them my friend!

-Mike

 

[audog]

Nothing rare, nothing spectacular, just waiting for more rain and then snow to arrive on New Years day!

 

[mdubs]

My modest Alden plan for 2021 was completed with the acquisition of the All-Weather Walkers and the 1493 suede chukka which brought in the New Year. (2021 was definitely the Year of Suede for me as the 1493’s were 1 of 5 pair of suede boots/shoes acquired over these last 12 months).

The plan for 2022 is to start out with the Indy 405 and let’s see where it goes from there as Alden continues to have me under its magic spell over these last 20 years or so.

To get the ball rolling, on 12/30, I emailed Alden SF asking them to send me a couple of different sizes of 405s to try on.

The magic of Alden..
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and the magic of cast iron
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(thankfully these shell steaks didn’t come out tasting like shell leather. )

Not that I would’ve been able to tell the difference by the time dinner was ready.

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Happy New Year’s Day to you all. ?

JG, glad that your alden plans worked out in 2021 and I hope that you have a great 2022! That is some superb looking flavors right there! I hope that you enjoyed them! Those Chukkas are looking just superb on you!

Happy New Year Alden Army! First car wash in 2022 with my u-tip chukka in Arabica Lux leather.

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For a second, I thought those were icicles on your car! But glad to see it’s a healthy wash making it happier. Those Chukkas are looking superb and hope that you have a great day in them!

All the talk about rare shell is interesting but for me, whenever I have the occasion to hang out with friends, I always seem to reach for 8. NYE dinner at Eddie Merlot’s with wife and friends and an old favorite…..

View attachment 1729165
Happy New Year Gents!

Those #8 Splits are looking superb and definitely a fantastic choice! I hope that you had a great evening out last night!

Happy new year forum pals. As for many, it is a rainy day. Old jeans and CXL seem right for the weather.

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Those CXL Gunboats are always looking truly superb on you! Great looking shoes and a great way to start off the new year Doc!

Nothing rare, nothing spectacular, just waiting for more rain and then snow to arrive on New Years day! View attachment 1729383

Dog, those boots are looking truly superb and have a great color on them! I hope that you wear them in good health and warmth in 2022!

-Mike

 

[James1051]

Wow, '22 is off to a strong start here on the OAT! including but not limited to these great saddle oxfords

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Nice pick up, Joe. Gotta get a saddle ox in '22

Happy New Year, shoe guys!

 

[audog]

Dog, those boots are looking truly superb and have a great color on them! I hope that you wear them in good health and warmth in 2022!

Thanks Mike!!! these are TSM seconds due to the tiger stripe on toe of left boot, I think they are modified last, but fit just great, so don't care about last, one of my more comfy boots.

 

[mdubs]

January: Your Alden Plans for the New Year
Gentlemen, believe it or not, but 2022 is upon us! So, I am restarting the monthly topic discussion idea and will put a valiant effort into doing a better job of keeping the momentum with this than I ended up doing last year!

To that extent, the first topic is intended to discuss your thoughts or ambitions with your shoe collection in 2022. Are you planning to buy more pairs or let go of some? Looking for particular models or open to what the Alden-verse generates. Let's share and maybe make some connections that you may not have made otherwise...

There is no rush on this, you have all month! So take the time that you need to put together your strategy! Please "Reply" to this Posting, for easier differentiation of responses to the monthly topic.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Mike

 

[OldTown]

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January: Your Alden Plans for the New Year
Gentlemen, believe it or not, but 2022 is upon us! So, I am restarting the monthly topic discussion idea and will put a valiant effort into doing a better job of keeping the momentum with this than I ended up doing last year!

To that extent, the first topic is intended to discuss your thoughts or ambitions with your shoe collection in 2022. Are you planning to buy more pairs or let go of some? Looking for particular models or open to what the Alden-verse generates. Let's share and maybe make some connections that you may not have made otherwise...

There is no rush on this, you have all month! So take the time that you need to put together your strategy! Please "Reply" to this Posting, for easier differentiation of responses to the monthly topic.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Mike

I plan to buy a chamois boot of some kind. So far I'm thinking earth color chamois PTB but not opposed to a CTB. Assuming I can even find one that is.

I also plan to buy a natural CXL boot but I may just buy the Rancourt Byron boot instead as it's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for.

 

[serbarristan]

View attachment 1729685

January: Your Alden Plans for the New Year
Gentlemen, believe it or not, but 2022 is upon us! So, I am restarting the monthly topic discussion idea and will put a valiant effort into doing a better job of keeping the momentum with this than I ended up doing last year!

To that extent, the first topic is intended to discuss your thoughts or ambitions with your shoe collection in 2022. Are you planning to buy more pairs or let go of some? Looking for particular models or open to what the Alden-verse generates. Let's share and maybe make some connections that you may not have made otherwise...

There is no rush on this, you have all month! So take the time that you need to put together your strategy! Please "Reply" to this Posting, for easier differentiation of responses to the monthly topic.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Mike

2021 was a big Alden year for me, the current plan for 2022 is much lighter. Though we all know how that goes! I have three open preorders, including the Ealdwine Sedona smooth chamois Indy, and my primary target other than those is a versatile snuff boot.

Couple weeks left on my Madison Workshop model below, and if that doesn't fund I will likely put a deposit down on the B&M snuff Plaza Indy. Happy New Year!

 

[Shawnc]

View attachment 1729685

January: Your Alden Plans for the New Year
Gentlemen, believe it or not, but 2022 is upon us! So, I am restarting the monthly topic discussion idea and will put a valiant effort into doing a better job of keeping the momentum with this than I ended up doing last year!

To that extent, the first topic is intended to discuss your thoughts or ambitions with your shoe collection in 2022. Are you planning to buy more pairs or let go of some? Looking for particular models or open to what the Alden-verse generates. Let's share and maybe make some connections that you may not have made otherwise...

There is no rush on this, you have all month! So take the time that you need to put together your strategy! Please "Reply" to this Posting, for easier differentiation of responses to the monthly topic.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Mike

Initially upon reading this I thought of setting a goal of getting down to 5 and 5 but that’s simply an unreasonable goal with no real thought behind it other than I end up with a round number. However I do think that at my stage in my career setting a goal of 15 pairs of high-end footwear seems both reasonable and appropriate. Over the next few weeks I’m going to take serious thought and plan on how to get there. One of the more interesting things will be to see how the final distribution between shoes and boots turns out to get to the 15. Not shooting for an even split. Initially I’ll just grab a combination of my favorites combined with what I wear the most and see how it lands.