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

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday. The last of the rare shell makeups I was fortunate enough to acquire has arrived. The Ravello Tanker. View attachment 2258555 View attachment 2258557

These are beauties

 

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

Cigar LHS. Yes, those are turquoisey sox.

Superb colour on the shell

 

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

Maiden voyage for these Medallion Cap Toe Blucher Boots in Ravello Shell Cordovan I picked up during my travels. Who says souvenirs have to be some tacky figurine gathering dust on the shelf? 😅

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Really nice 👍

 

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

Got these jumpers in 8 shell cordovan back in May and just gave them their maiden voyage a couple weeks ago. Have had them out a few times since then and find them quite enjoyable. I do somewhat wish they were a bit higher so I could wrap the extra laces around them as we did in the Army versus having them hang down...but I'm sure I'll get over it. 🤪. I'd certainly be happy to pick up the same model in a different color shell (should I ever happen upon them).

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Very nice 👍

 

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

In the spirit of why not both, whiskey longwings and C&J Pembroke/Marlow (aka the Warlow).
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These are both gorgeous @zippyh . Between the teo, which is a better brogue do you think in terms of the design and construction?

 

[slows2k]

Hey all, picked up my first pair of Alden suede loafers (6221L) in 8.5D.

Normally wear a 9D in AE, sizing guide recommended a half size down. Tried these on yesterday when they arrived and my pinky toe is visibly bulging out.

Never had this issue before. Assuming with no structure that these will break in and that will become less noticeable?

I had Rancourt custom make a moc in 8.5D that is almost too loose now after a year of wear. Are these the same?

Heel is nicely snug. I called Alden and the guy advised a 9C. Feels like a more narrow width on a shoe that’s already narrow enough to have this bulge would be a bad idea, no?

Figured I’d ask this group what you think. Keep and break in or send back? I also bought a 9D to compare, but it is too loose in the front of the foot. If it stretches at all, it would be way too loose.


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I have the same shoes and they will definitely stretch with wear. however, that does appear to be too tight at the pinky toe and it'll probably always bulge some. my initial thought would be to go to an E width in the same size, but that would also make the heel a little wider. If you like the heel width and dont want that to change, going up a size and down a width would probably be the best move.

Honestly though, LHS is tricky to size. If you can, I would order both the 9C and 8.5E, keep the best fitting, and send the other back. I decided not to buy LHS unless I could try them on first since they can vary some from run to run and material to material.

 

[tuna roll]

Hey all, picked up my first pair of Alden suede loafers (6221L) in 8.5D.

Normally wear a 9D in AE, sizing guide recommended a half size down. Tried these on yesterday when they arrived and my pinky toe is visibly bulging out.

Never had this issue before. Assuming with no structure that these will break in and that will become less noticeable?

I had Rancourt custom make a moc in 8.5D that is almost too loose now after a year of wear. Are these the same?

Heel is nicely snug. I called Alden and the guy advised a 9C. Feels like a more narrow width on a shoe that’s already narrow enough to have this bulge would be a bad idea, no?

Figured I’d ask this group what you think. Keep and break in or send back? I also bought a 9D to compare, but it is too loose in the front of the foot. If it stretches at all, it would be way too loose.


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How much room is there between your big toe and the tip of the shoe?

Hard to say from these pictures, but it seems the widest part of your foot doesn’t align with the widest part of the shoe. It looks like your foot is a bit further ahead.

With Aldens, going up half a size and down a width gives you more length (~0.5cm) while maintaining the width. And it changes the position of your feet inside the shoes, moving them back 0.5cm. This could be beneficial in your case here.

All guesswork of course. I’d buy a pair in 9C to try. Just make sure they are returnable.

 

[TennesseeWill]

How much room is there between your big toe and the tip of the shoe?

Maybe a quarter inch or a little more. Every loafer I’ve ever worn (which is a high number over 25~ years of being old enough to choose loafers) I’ve had to fit a little snugger to accommodate the stretch with extended wear.

These feel like all the loafers over the years at the start before you stretch them out. If not for the bulge, I’d have no qualms about keeping them.

A quick google says a C width is a custom order that takes 6-8 months to arrive. Is that true or do the brick and mortar stores stock C width for popular models?

If it is that long, I may just try to break these in. Money isn’t a factor here, but that’s a little too long to wait. If it’s closer to 2-3 months generally, that’s feasible.

Thanks for the advice so far! Really do appreciate it.

 

[CLH03]

Maybe a quarter inch or a little more. Every loafer I’ve ever worn (which is a high number over 25~ years of being old enough to choose loafers) I’ve had to fit a little snugger to accommodate the stretch with extended wear.

These feel like all the loafers over the years at the start before you stretch them out. If not for the bulge, I’d have no qualms about keeping them.

A quick google says a C width is a custom order that takes 6-8 months to arrive. Is that true or do the brick and mortar stores stock C width for popular models?

If it is that long, I may just try to break these in. Money isn’t a factor here, but that’s a little too long to wait. If it’s closer to 2-3 months generally, that’s feasible.

Thanks for the advice so far! Really do appreciate it.

Places will usually have c widths. Call or check stock on the store website.

 

[Youx33]

Happy Sunday ☀️

 

[Humpty_Dumpty_Rises]

Happy Sunday ☀️

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That loafer in black looks loafisticated 👌 (a.k.a. sophisticated)

 

[Markintosh]

Hope everyone is having a great Saturday. The last of the rare shell makeups I was fortunate enough to acquire has arrived. The Ravello Tanker. View attachment 2258555 View attachment 2258557

Awesome!!! Love the split toe!!!

 

[tuna roll]

Maybe a quarter inch or a little more. Every loafer I’ve ever worn (which is a high number over 25~ years of being old enough to choose loafers) I’ve had to fit a little snugger to accommodate the stretch with extended wear.

These feel like all the loafers over the years at the start before you stretch them out. If not for the bulge, I’d have no qualms about keeping them.

A quick google says a C width is a custom order that takes 6-8 months to arrive. Is that true or do the brick and mortar stores stock C width for popular models?

If it is that long, I may just try to break these in. Money isn’t a factor here, but that’s a little too long to wait. If it’s closer to 2-3 months generally, that’s feasible.

Thanks for the advice so far! Really do appreciate it.

Maybe try TSM's Seconds, they do store off widths but availability is of course limited.

BTW here's my Yuketen blucher, with unlined, very soft CXL uppers. Definitely a buldge there at the pinky toe, but since the upper is so soft and flexible (similar to Alden's unlined suede), it doesn't bother me at all. So I guess it's normal. I'd say try the 9C if you can and choose what's more comfortable for you.

 

[Markintosh]

Happy Sunday ☀️

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Fantastic - I have these, they look so good with grey jeans and a black cardigan sweater...

 

[slows2k]

A quick google says a C width is a custom order that takes 6-8 months to arrive. Is that true or do the brick and mortar stores stock C width for popular models?

If it is that long, I may just try to break these in.

Usually Alden of SF carries c widths in their most popular loafers, esp the snuff LHS. Alden of DC may as wel, and their stores pull from one another when necessary.

Your loafers look to be the 6221L, a variation of the classic snuff LHS 6243F. SF does not carry 6221L in c width, but they do stock 6243F in c width, and sizes not in their inventory may be sourced from DC if they are available there. If you’re married to the 6221L then custom seems like the only choice, but it may be worth giving the 6243 a shot.