THE OFFICIAL ALDEN THREAD FOR 2020 - SHARE REVIEWS, SIZING, ADVICE, AND PHOTOS.

[audog]

Dog, those Full Straps are looking superb. Very nice with the casual stylish socks and the rich blue denim.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike, have all these loafers/saddles in the closet...so have decided to wear a different pair as evening wear every day.

 

[mdubs]

what's the favorite of the bunch? I would guess Ravello Jones based on what I've read.

Akeem, wow that is a very hard question. It is like picking your favorite child. Before getting them, I would have said hands down that it was going to be the Ravello Dr. Jones. But there is some darn stiff competition. The Ravello V-Tips are just exquisite and before this year, they weren’t even an option, their construction is somewhat fascinating and the Brass hardware is on point. Ravello Indy Boots - a boot I hadn’t given much actual thought to as it wasn’t really made before are just truly exquisite. The Whiskey WT Boots are another one that I have really wanted for many years and is truly a remarkable pattern - color combination. Finally, the Alden SF Tobacco Chamois Indy Boots with the Brass Hardware just have a special vibe to them - the way that the Berry Gold thread plays with the Brass and Antique is hard to capture and appreciate in pictures. But, in the end, I have wanted the Ravello Dr. Jones since 2012 and between the color - a remarkable shade of Shell Cordovan, the Indy inspired U-Tip pattern, and the beauty of the Plaza Last, its pretty hard to surpass. So... I would concur with your guess and say the Ravello Dr. Jones.

-Mike

 

[mdubs]

Thanks Mike, have all these loafers/saddles in the closet...so have decided to wear a different pair as evening wear every day.

Sounds like a good plan, my life circumstances are a little harder as my wife has a strict no shoes in the house rule. The only time I is allowed to do it is when they are brand new - and then I get the you got another pair of shoes look...

-Mike

 

[audog]

Sounds like a good plan, my life circumstances are a little harder as my wife has a strict no shoes in the house rule. The only time I is allowed to do it is when they are brand new - and then I get the you got another pair of shoes look...

-Mike

Oh I get that look as well, as I bet a sizable number of us here do also. I am lucky in that the podiatrist said I MUST have footwear on, unless sleeping or bathing. So even though my wife isn't nuts about me wearing shoes in the house, I keep telling her "We live with TWO BIG GOLDEN'S, who track in more stuff than my shoes do". I get buy with it, but I'm also responsible for all the floor care (my choice)

 

[oskrusa]

Sounds like a good plan, my life circumstances are a little harder as my wife has a strict no shoes in the house rule. The only time I is allowed to do it is when they are brand new - and then I get the you got another pair of shoes look...

-Mike

Hey Mike, I feel you. My suggestion is to select a few pairs on different colors, wipe down the soles from a place in the house where she can see you, and tell her that those shoes will be for inside (I picked about 8 pairs).

I started doing that since about 4 months ago and now I can wear some pairs inside, and she does not realize when I sneak a new pair in.

 

[audog]

Hey Mike, I feel you. My suggestion is to select a few pairs on different colors, wipe down the soles from a place in the house where she can see you, and tell her that those shoes will be for inside (I picked about 8 pairs).

I started doing that since about 4 months ago and now I can wear some pairs inside, and she does not realize when I sneak a new pair in.

Sneaky....... I'm glad my my wife has as many, if not more, pairs of shoes/boots than me

 

[Shawnc]

Sounds like a good plan, my life circumstances are a little harder as my wife has a strict no shoes in the house rule. The only time I is allowed to do it is when they are brand new - and then I get the you got another pair of shoes look...

-Mike

Hey Mike, I feel you. My suggestion is to select a few pairs on different colors, wipe down the soles from a place in the house where she can see you, and tell her that those shoes will be for inside (I picked about 8 pairs).

I started doing that since about 4 months ago and now I can wear some pairs inside, and she does not realize when I sneak a new pair in.

This is hilarious guys. My wife has the same rule and trust me Oscar, while your plan and execution seems workable, my wife would see right through it. Former auditor and she doesn't miss a detail .

 

[audog]

This is hilarious guys. My wife has the same rule and trust me Oscar, while your plan and execution seems workable, my wife would see right through it. Former auditor and she doesn't miss a detail .

And I'm so glad my wife grew up on a farm, and had people tracking in all type of farm stuff.....

 

[oskrusa]

This is hilarious guys. My wife has the same rule and trust me Oscar, while your plan and execution seems workable, my wife would see right through it. Former auditor and she doesn't miss a detail .

Oh man, that's tough.
Mine lost count (or does not care anymore), she feels that I am a lost cause.
However, she might be pretending to not know my trick, treating me like a kid, letting me be so proud of myself for the idea (it is like believing in Santa all over again)... she might perfectly know, but I wont ask her.

 

[audog]

Oh man, that's tough.
Mine lost count (or does not care anymore), she feels that I am a lost cause.
However, she might be pretending to not know my trick, treating me like a kid, letting me be so proud of myself for the idea (it is like believing in Santa all over again)... she might perfectly know, but I wont ask her.

The only thing that scares me, is that my wife may look at the retail prices of the boots/shoes and have a heart attack.....

 

[audog]

I've told her that if I pass away, post something on this thread.....all pair $300 (she seems to think I haven't paid more than that per pair)

 

[Shawnc]

My wife has way more expensive tastes than I do. I actually think she liked me getting into this shoe addiction partly (at least hopefully) because it resulted in me upping my style game but moreso because it gave her a pass to indulge her love of shoes, purses, clothes, jewelry........

Buy all the shoes I want. Just don't wear em on the carpet . I can live with that.

 

[audog]

My wife has way more expensive tastes than I do. I actually think she liked me getting into this shoe addiction partly (at least hopefully) because it resulted in me upping my style game but moreso because it gave her a pass to indulge her love of shoes, purses, clothes, jewelry........

Buy all the shoes I want. Just don't wear em on the carpet . I can live with that.

I got rid of all the carpet, area rugs only, hardwood otherwise,

 

[oskrusa]

The only thing that scares me, is that my wife may look at the retail prices of the boots/shoes and have a heart attack.....

Oh man, that's an excellent point.
It seems that my wife does not want to truly know.
She got a hint of pricing when I brought her to the Carmina store in NYC, to get her properly fitted for a pair of Chelsea boots, and then she saw, in disbelief, the price of the exact Carmina shell boots that were on display and that I was wearing.
Of course I, on the spot, had to come up with the stupidest excuse about a steep sale I got them on. She basically rolled her eyes and carried on... which was a nice way to tell me to shut up, which I did.

 

[vnguyen_md]

My wife used to give me crap once my shoes started taking over additional closet space - I told her there are worse things in life to be spending money on other then shoes. (her family in Asia has had a lot of issues with gambling, affairs, mistresses, etc) she thought about it and agreed with me. She's been leaving me to my own devices now!