The Official Alden Thread for 2024 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[tuna roll]

Color 8 "Naval Boot" in the backyard while manning the grill.
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Bloody juicy patina!

 

[Encore]

Indy

 

[Vincent George]

Faded 8 (Yenni’s Captoe Boot)

 

[Edwinnn]

Hi All,


Long time lurker and decided to make an account since I need some advice on sizing for Aldens. Since I live in The Netherlands it's hard to find an Alden dealer. I'm currently awaiting a brannock device at home but in the meantime I think it would be worthwile to get sizing advice on a pair of alden wingtip boots on the barrie last I have in arabica lux.

The Wingtip boots are size 11 US D/B

My current sizing in other boots/shoes is as follows:

- Crockett & jones - connaught 2 / Last 397 - 10,5 UK E (with dress socks)
- Crockett & jones - cavendish 2 / Last 325 - 10 UK E (with dress socks, tight on right foot toes so still breaking the shoe in)
- Crockett & Jones - islay / Last 365 - 10 UK E (with boot socks) / tried 10,5 UK E, but it ended up to loose/floppy with boot socks
- Crockett & jones harvard 2 / Last 376 - 10,5 UK E feels unsupportive after break-in / 10 UK E has little toe room and might fit with dress socks after break-in (didn't want to risk it though). This last might not be for me.
- New balance made in usa 990v3 - 12 US D (Might try an 11.5 US D in the near future)
- Red wing / 8 last - 11 US D - Tight fore foot, took lot's of break-in in but can be worn comfortable with boot socks all day now
- Alden 976 longwing blucher in dark brown calfskin / Barrie last - now these are interesting. Online these were marked as 10.5 UK E and the markings in the shoe are 10.5 E/C. I'm not sure if Alden marks shoes ment for UK dealers in UK sizing or if it's an 10.5 US E/C. These fit great with dress socks although a bit close but I believe these will break-in nicely.

Some remarks about my foot:

- 29cm long
- Slightly wide (I believe I'm between a E and D on a brannock, but will check once I get the device)
- Low volume forefoot
- Right foot slightly bigger then my left foot
- Low to medium arches
- Low instep
- Skinny ankles (I have problems with gaps closing around the ankles if the boot has a small lace gap space)
- Brannock size: ????? > I always believed it to be 11.5 US D / E for heel to ball and 12 US D / E for foot length, but I will check once the brannock device arrives.

I'v also attached some pictures of my feet in the boot to show where the ball of the foot sits in the boot.

Any sizing advice on the Alden barrie last or other Alden lasts is welcome! My biggest confusion lies in the fact that Alden longwing blucher fits so nicely (although with dress socks)

Thanks in advance!

 

[rosenkruez]

Trubalance 13D is perfect for my foot.
Barrie 13D works fine too. (TB better)
Would I be able to wear 13D in Plaza (suede) ok? Or would it be too small/tight?

 

[sazon]

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These look awesome!

 

[sazon]

Maiden Voyage of the 'Neptune' Black Shell Cordovan Indys with flat welt on Commando sole from Brick & Mortar, Seattle. A wait of little over two years from deposit to delivery which is more than for a rare shell 😀
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Congrats! Looking great.

Did Alden ship them with those round braided laces?

 

[shahtirthak]

Congrats! Looking great.

Did Alden ship them with those round braided laces?

No, they came with thin flat black laces which I replaced with these Alden braid round laces.

 

[shahtirthak]

Maiden Voyage of the Ravello LWB on Barrie from Ealdwine.
On the 2nd step I get the crease, don't know how so many here manage to get no crease at all...

 

[slows2k]

Maiden Voyage of the Ravello LWB on Barrie from Ealdwine.
On the 2nd step I get the crease, don't know how so many here manage to get no crease at all...
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Dont stress it. LWBs look better once creased and broken in some. Otherwise they just look like huge gunboats. Those are especially pretty with brass eyelets. Wear them without care!

 

[Hisheirness23]

Maiden Voyage of the Ravello LWB on Barrie from Ealdwine.
On the 2nd step I get the crease, don't know how so many here manage to get no crease at all...
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Wish I knew the secret, but the important thing is to wear and enjoy them! Love this shade of Ravello!

 

[JTMD]

Maiden Voyage of the Ravello LWB on Barrie from Ealdwine.
On the 2nd step I get the crease, don't know how so many here manage to get no crease at all...
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Show me one pair of shells that don't get rolls let alone the "many" you mention. Your foot bends, you have weight, you add pressure and the shell rolls...it's the nature of the beast. 😅. . Now if your idea of wearing shoes is to take them out of the box once a year and put them on while sitting on the sofa watching TV...you'll probably avoid getting rolls. 😝

 

[Markintosh]

Maiden Voyage of the Ravello LWB on Barrie from Ealdwine.
On the 2nd step I get the crease, don't know how so many here manage to get no crease at all...
View attachment 2276871 View attachment 2276873 View attachment 2276875

Fantastic!!!!! Congrats - a work of art!!!!! I really like the multi-colored heal stack.

Like others have said, don't worry about the roll you get in cordovan, it's impossible to not have a roll in Cordovan shoes, you can roll them out with a deer bone (which I don't do), or use an ebony stick (which I use), but as soon as they go back on your feel they will crease again. Many of the pictures posted are of brand new shoes, so it's really deceptive, and those pics of new shoes get posted over and over...what makes me a little nutty is when both shoes don't crease the same way...this is what happened to my LWB in color 8, but no matter, I love them so much...you have to learn to embrace the cordovan roll...thanks for posting these, I'm waiting to find a special makeup similar to what you have here..it's my bucket list shoe...

Here is a picture of a pair that I have that's been worn 15 to 20 times.

 

[Vincent George]

Happy WTW

 

[JTMD]

Happy WTW


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I need to get more Alden wingtips. Hard to keep posting the 3 I have. Especially when I don't always want to wait until Wednesday to wear them anyways. 😆