The Official Alden Thread for 2023 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Connemara]

UPS just dropped off these Cigar Shell Cordovan LHS loafers from Sherman Bros. What I am most excited for with these are not the fact that they are Cigar, but rather that they feature the tall vamp (was told this was referred to as "Madison fit") which greatly improved my heel slippage when buying my normal Barrie size on Van last. All of my other Alden Van last loafers are half size smaller than Barrie cause I have low instep and flat feet, which make for unwearable heel slip.
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Here are some comparison shots with my other Van last loafers that are size 8D compared to these which are 8.5D. Notice how much higher up the vamp is on the Cigar loafers.
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Nice! Are those somewhere on Sherman’s website? I don’t see them.

 

[Hisheirness23]

Nice! Are those somewhere on Sherman’s website? I don’t see them.

These were pre-ordered from last August. Handsewn make-ups are taking extremely long for the factory to produce.

 

[Connemara]

These were pre-ordered from last August. Handsewn make-ups are taking extremely long for the factory to produce.

I heard that there were only three employees trained on hand sewing, and one recently retired. I bet the delays will get even worse.

 

[Franky]

I heard that there were only three employees trained on hand sewing, and one recently retired. I bet the delays will get even worse.

Seems a very trainable skill no?

 

[ac106]

Seems a very trainable skill no?

I think the problem is finding people who want to do it

 

[sterlingindigo]

UPS just dropped off these Cigar Shell Cordovan LHS loafers from Sherman Bros. What I am most excited for with these are not the fact that they are Cigar, but rather that they feature the tall vamp (was told this was referred to as "Madison fit") which greatly improved my heel slippage when buying my normal Barrie size on Van last. All of my other Alden Van last loafers are half size smaller than Barrie cause I have low instep and flat feet, which make for unwearable heel slip.
View attachment 2066973
View attachment 2066975
View attachment 2066977
View attachment 2066979
View attachment 2066981
View attachment 2066983

Here are some comparison shots with my other Van last loafers that are size 8D compared to these which are 8.5D. Notice how much higher up the vamp is on the Cigar loafers.
View attachment 2066999
View attachment 2067001

Insanely envious 💚

 

[rosenkruez]

Do you have to have significant purchase history to be on a rare shell list at those retailers? I usually go for special make ups like todd snyder, j crew etc so it’s kind of hard to get on those lists from shoemart, sherman etc, if that’s the case.

 

[CLH03]

Do you have to have significant purchase history to be on a rare shell list at those retailers? I usually go for special make ups like todd snyder, j crew etc so it’s kind of hard to get on those lists from shoemart, sherman etc, if that’s the case.

Anybody can get on the shoe mart list by emailing them. As for everyone else, I think you have to have some sort of purchase history. Retailer dependent though.

 

[smfdoc]

Happy Saturday forum pals. 975s for a meeting.

 

[Cskarev]

My first pair of Alden shoes/boots
Alden 4015HC Tobacco Reverse Chamois
Love them!

 

[Alcibiades]

I was at Alden Madison Avenue recently, the guys there were saying they expect to start ordering more machine stitched LHS due to the issue with the handsewns

 

[barutanseijin]

I was at Alden Madison Avenue recently, the guys there were saying they expect to start ordering more machine stitched LHS due to the issue with the handsewns

Those would be LMS, not LHS and will lack some of the charm of the handsewn loafers.

 

[Hisheirness23]

Do you have to have significant purchase history to be on a rare shell list at those retailers? I usually go for special make ups like todd snyder, j crew etc so it’s kind of hard to get on those lists from shoemart, sherman etc, if that’s the case.

Purchase history is one thing, but it's really about establishing a relationship with these shops. Many ways to build a relationship: through purchases, through communication, through shop visits. And as always, you cannot get what you do not ask for.

Each shop is different with some requiring a previous purchase while others are as simple as requesting to be added to their rare shell list. Even being in the right place at the right time has paid off. Ultimately, it's about building relationships with others here and the Alden retailers. Like any other hobby community, the friendships created through our shared interests in shoes & boots has been at the core of my Alden journey.

 

[rosenkruez]

Purchase history is one thing, but it's really about establishing a relationship with these shops. Many ways to build a relationship: through purchases, through communication, through shop visits. And as always, you cannot get what you do not ask for.

Each shop is different with some requiring a previous purchase while others are as simple as requesting to be added to their rare shell list. Even being in the right place at the right time has paid off. Ultimately, it's about building relationships with others here and the Alden retailers. Like any other hobby community, the friendships created through our shared interests in shoes & boots has been at the core of my Alden journey.

Anybody can get on the shoe mart list by emailing them. As for everyone else, I think you have to have some sort of purchase history. Retailer dependent though.

Thank you for the info. It’s unfortunate that there are no retailers available where I live so I’ll have to try my luck with emails at best.

 

[bde]

I just picked up a custom order from Alden, and this is what the heel looks like. Does this compromise the shoe? Should I return this?

I can't tell if the rubber heel was installed wrong, or the entire heel was cut wrong.