The Official Alden Thread for 2025 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice, and Photos.

[Markintosh]

Two pairs of longwings that I’ve been considering for a while, and have added to my cart over and over… does anybody have either of these? I’d love to see some real-life photos!

I love the vibrant colors, brass eyelets, antique edges and commando soles. Honestly my work environment is so casual these days that I could wear these anytime. And as I mentioned in a previous post, soles that hold up to the slushy, salty sidewalks in a Chicago winter are really appealing to me.

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The Pinehurst pair is stunning!!!! I would order that in a second if they had it in my size. The eyelets and the antique edge and the brown in the heel stack - if they do this make up again I would be first in line ordering it for myself. For me it’s really cool because it looks like color2 but it’s calf so it’s a little cheaper. My only disappointment would come is if they showed up and the color looked dramatically different than it did from that picture. The other thing is is if you get them, they have some grain in it and if you polish your shoes yourself sometimes when you have grain leather, it’s better to have a pig bristle brush - sometimes the polish can get stuck In between the grain and build up.

 

[SailingIvy]

Loved these at Pitti Uomo. Other models weren't that interesting tho...

 

[BAK]

I have been on the waiting list with B&M for the restock of their makeup of these navy suede LWBs on leather soles for like 5 years now, since before covid. It's a shame no one makes these shoes in navy suede anymore; they're really special!

If you'd settle for a pair with commando sole Claymore Shop announced a pre-order on their IG story yesterday: Navy Suede LWB, antique reverse welt, commando sole, brass eyelets. You'll need to message their IG or call them direct.

 

[WineAndShoes]

My shoe collection by large measure is complete.

Don’t you hate that feeling…?

 

[Markintosh]

Don’t you hate that feeling…?

I do - but I’m to the point now where I have shoes that are like new, worn three or four times, and I’ve had them for three or four years. I get a lot of pleasure however looking at the various make ups that people buy that post pictures here - I’m hard to fit so these special make ups are almost never available to me so I really enjoy looking at the different things that people are picking up.

 

[sazon]

Ocho Indys.
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I know you've got some older models @zippyh - are these machine stitched?

 

[zippyh]

I know you've got some older models @zippyh - are these machine stitched?

Yep. According to the date code they were made in Feb 2007.

 

[Shawnc]

Two pairs of longwings that I’ve been considering for a while, and have added to my cart over and over… does anybody have either of these? I’d love to see some real-life photos!

I love the vibrant colors, brass eyelets, antique edges and commando soles. Honestly my work environment is so casual these days that I could wear these anytime. And as I mentioned in a previous post, soles that hold up to the slushy, salty sidewalks in a Chicago winter are really appealing to me.

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I can’t take my eyes off of the pair from Brogue. Fortunately (I guess) Mack doesn’t have my size. Though I did scratch an itch with another pair from him that I should be taking delivery of sometime next week [sigh]. Downsizing due to impending retirement is simply not working out as planned………

If you'd settle for a pair with commando sole Claymore Shop announced a pre-order on their IG story yesterday: Navy Suede LWB, antique reverse welt, commando sole, brass eyelets. You'll need to message their IG or call them direct.

Thanks so much for this. I’ve never been one to follow trends but I will admit that I am stumped by what seems to be a popular opinion regarding the wearability of blue suede shoes. I am interacting with the shop and I like the spec’s and will likely get on the preorder later today. The brass eyes make me a little nervous but I really would like some blue suede and would prefer a long wing.

 

[slows2k]

If you'd settle for a pair with commando sole Claymore Shop announced a pre-order on their IG story yesterday: Navy Suede LWB, antique reverse welt, commando sole, brass eyelets. You'll need to message their IG or call them direct.

Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately i'm not a commando sole person. the double leather with antique reverse welt is the one I'm after. I appreciate the info tho!

 

[Vincent George]

Thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately i'm not a commando sole person. the double leather with antique reverse welt is the one I'm after. I appreciate the info tho!

You could be a wild man and have them re-soled immediately .

 

[Shawnc]

You could be a wild man and have them re-soled immediately .

Wanna hear something crazy? This is exactly what I’m thinking about……..

 

[slows2k]

You could be a wild man and have them re-soled immediately .

Wanna hear something crazy? This is exactly what I’m thinking about……..

You guys must be tired of burning money in the fireplace for heat, haha. I'm not quite in a place where I can spring for a pair of $700 shoes and add another $200 on top for the sole to be replaced immediately. In the future, maybe, but not quite yet...

 

[Junglejack]

Wearing a pair today that really does seem like a kinda oddball makeup. They are LHS (or at least they are handsewn), but on the plaza last. While the sand version is pretty easily found (3452UF), the chocolate brown ones I have are labeled M2203uf.

Purchased them in England and not sure if maybe they are a European makeup perhaps.
Here is the listing for them.

My gf calls em my “pilgrim shoes” owing to the toe and honestly when I ordered them I assumed they were on the van last. That said, compared to my snuff suede LHS on the van last, I do like the heel lockup on the plaza.

 

[Vincent George]

Does anyone have suggestions for stores that carry interesting makeups in 12.5D trubalance? I have a fantastic plain toe shell color 8 I bought from Alden of Carmel in 2022 but they seem to be out of business now?

Most places I look just have stock Indy models or make only 12 and 13 — which is surprising to me given most people are sizing down 0.5 on trubalance. And many more places (brick and mortar; ealdwine) seem to produce great models but don’t even offer a 12.5 for preorder. To be fair i haven’t gone out of my way to email those shops and ask if they could slot in a single 12.5, but I'm curious what any of you in my size or generally odd sizes with low online stock usually do.

Hey, Bro—

Someone listed these on the Reddit Goodyear Welt Buy/Sell/Trade thread today.

Alden - Indy Boot - 12.5D - TruBalance Navy Suede NeoCork Sole $299

Not my listing, FYI.

https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/s/XVWyDdB5k6

 

[slows2k]

Okay, maybe a wild question but this has to be the best place to ask: anyone had luck shrinking their suede LHSs a little bit?

I have a pair of the snuff in my standard van/barrie size but after a couple years they’re just a bit too loose with my medium weight socks, making them less secure than I’d like when wearing. Wondered if I could put them on and soak them in water to see if they’d tighten up a bit since they’re unlined. Kind of like people do With STF denim.

Thoughts anyone?