***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[TommyB]

Spoiler

Keep in mind that the captoe boot at the SF store is on Barrie ......I have a pair and love them

FWIW: I am a 10 C/D in both overall length and arch length on the Brannock, with a low/mid arch and smaller instep. The AE Dalton boot in a 10D fits me perfectly...While a 9.5D grant (4060) fits me about as good as I can get. The instep in the 9.5D grant is still a touch large for my taste, but it's not uncomfortable or overly ill fitting. Subsequently, I have a 10.5D grant lasted, cigar cap-toe boot that I put a super feet dress insole in help 'snug up' and it fits just as well as the 9.5D grant and feels great in terms of my overall foot comfort.

Alden SF is not the place to try the Grant on as they don't stock it. As mentioned, they do a special cap toe on the Barrie Last.

-Mike

Thank you all for your input. Wasn't aware of that Alden SF's captoe boot is on Barrie. Seems like I'll just have to go the old trial and error way.

 

[M635Guy]

I need help deciding between NST color8 boot from shoemart (dark edges and leather sole) and B&M NST boot (antique edge and commando sole). I am looking for the pair which will be more versatile in business casual env. where I generally wear slacks and sport coat.
I'm leaning towards the Shoemart version but B&M's version also looks really good. Any help is appreciated..

There are lots of folks here with far more refined sartorial sensibilities than I have, but I'll throw in my $0.02: What direction is your workplace heading in terms of dress? Which end of the business casual spectrum does it lean now?

Especially at this price point, I tend to talk the long view with acquisitions like this. If it is is:
- Middle or conservative/formal and trending consistent or back toward formal, I'd go dark.
- Middle and consistent I'd pick either - probably lean toward the antique.
- Middle or casual and trending consistent or more casual, I'd go antique.

My tech-industry workplace is getting pretty casual (we're old-school, East Coast tech, so that is new-ish to us). Jeans are more and more common. I think the antique dresses down far more easily, and carries dressing up pretty well. For me, the commando sole doesn't hurt the ability much for them to dress up in a business casual environment unless it leans pretty hard toward the more formal end of the spectrum.

But generally I'm going to buy the one that makes me smile more...

 

[JSO1]



There are lots of folks here with far more refined sartorial sensibilities than I have, but I'll throw in my $0.02:  What direction is your workplace heading in terms of dress?  Which end of the business casual spectrum does it lean now?  

Especially at this price point, I tend to talk the long view with acquisitions like this.  If it is is:
- Middle or conservative/formal and trending consistent or back toward formal, I'd go dark.
- Middle and consistent I'd pick either - probably lean toward the antique.
- Middle or casual and trending consistent or more casual, I'd go antique.  

My tech-industry workplace is getting pretty casual (we're old-school, East Coast tech, so that is new-ish to us).  Jeans are more and more common.  I think the antique dresses down far more easily, and carries dressing up pretty well.  For me, the commando sole doesn't hurt the ability much for them to dress up in a business casual environment unless it leans pretty hard toward the more formal end of the spectrum.

But generally I'm going to buy the one that makes me smile more...  

Even law and finance firms (except maybe the most conservative NY firms) are drifting to the more casual end. My office was full business just 10 years ago, and is now peppered with men wearing jeans (usually on Friday). Many women wear high boots, and a lot of men wear chinos every day that really only differ from jeans in their color.

While I wouldn't wear Indy boots to my office, or perhaps not suede long wings except in the midsummer, I don't have any qualms about wearing commando soled shell boots or antique edged longwings.

But then again, most men here wear terrible rubber soled Clarks or Cole Haan stuff. A few gents wearing AE, but I haven't seen anyone else in anything better than that. Such is the world of $40-60 shoes we live in.

 

[BenLeaman]

DC Cigar Captoes

Glad I'm going commando with these scummy airport floors.

 

[Gabru]

I'd say your instinct is right on the dark edge with slacks and blazers. The antique edge is all the rage but I'm thinking of downsizing a couple as they aren't as versatile and I work in a fairly casual business environment.

My vote is for black welts for workplace environment, that said, I love my Antique Welt #8 NST Boots. Dress for success and leave the fun stuff for the weekend or super casual day at the office.

I agree with this.

-Mike

Thanks guys , for casual purpose I generally wear suede boots/shoes exclusively. These NST boots will definitely see more office use.

There are lots of folks here with far more refined sartorial sensibilities than I have, but I'll throw in my $0.02: What direction is your workplace heading in terms of dress? Which end of the business casual spectrum does it lean now?

Especially at this price point, I tend to talk the long view with acquisitions like this. If it is is:
- Middle or conservative/formal and trending consistent or back toward formal, I'd go dark.
- Middle and consistent I'd pick either - probably lean toward the antique.
- Middle or casual and trending consistent or more casual, I'd go antique.

My tech-industry workplace is getting pretty casual (we're old-school, East Coast tech, so that is new-ish to us). Jeans are more and more common. I think the antique dresses down far more easily, and carries dressing up pretty well. For me, the commando sole doesn't hurt the ability much for them to dress up in a business casual environment unless it leans pretty hard toward the more formal end of the spectrum.

But generally I'm going to buy the one that makes me smile more...

Even law and finance firms (except maybe the most conservative NY firms) are drifting to the more casual end. My office was full business just 10 years ago, and is now peppered with men wearing jeans (usually on Friday). Many women wear high boots, and a lot of men wear chinos every day that really only differ from jeans in their color.

While I wouldn't wear Indy boots to my office, or perhaps not suede long wings except in the midsummer, I don't have any qualms about wearing commando soled shell boots or antique edged longwings.

But then again, most men here wear terrible rubber soled Clarks or Cole Haan stuff. A few gents wearing AE, but I haven't seen anyone else in anything better than that. Such is the world of $40-60 shoes we live in.

Thanks for breaking it down for me, I'd say it's more like Middle and more towards formal. No jeans/Chinos in office as my work is more client facing but then I also don't need to wear a tie.
JSO1 rightly said the above in bold, that's very true in my case also.

I think, I could live with the Antique edge but personally less prefer commando sole with dress trousers. But unfortunately no one does the NST boot with Antique edge and leather sole AFAIK.

Shoemart NST is on its way to me now and will see how it looks in person. Thanks for the help...

 

[JR Magat]

Well, USPS has been stepping up their game this xmas season. Got an EARLY delivery that included my B+M 8 Grant wingtip boots

Did a quick looksy before heading to work, and I'm happy with how they turned out; will admire them more when I get home! Needless to say, I think the Leffot 8 Tankers will need to find a new home if anyone is interested in a size 8D (Barrie), let me know!

 

[AML225]

Not sure if these are available, but some place overseas had some grant lasted, plain cap-toe natty CXL boots on Commando - https://www.facebook.com/essentiale...3281620399278/903529633041141/?type=3&theater. Might try contacting them to see if they still have any available (if I remember right, they don't, but it's worth a shot to send them a quick message on facebook).

For non-Alden recommendations you might like Truman Boot Co. They have a very Viberg aesthetic, but are a few hundred dollars cheaper. http://www.trumanboot.com/shop/boots/natural-cxl/ You can customize them with a captoe via the drop down options towards the bottom of the page. You can also pick different sole, and a few other options. You can google reviews for them - I've heard nothing but good things about them. Several reviews posted in reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt if you search there.

Thank you for the tip! I'll do some investigating!

I have a couple random questions:

1. On the Leffot cap toe boots I originally posted, the cap has the row of circular cutouts, what is this called? Another shoe styling term I'm not sure of is the zig-zag cut edges such as on Alden's LWBs, what is that called?
2. My 403 indy boots are in need of a resoling (the black heal has worn through to show the nail heads), however there are several places where the sole is detaching from the leather uppers, is this also fixed in the resoling process? These boots have been worn extremely hard for 4-5 years. What's the correct way to go about getting these resoled/repaired from Alden?
3. My 403s have been extremely versatile, through regular use and cleaning they have become almost like a color #8 chromexcel. The color and shine of them made it very easy for me to dress them up (with some nice chinos and a button down) or wear them casually. In the absence of natty chromexcel cap toe boots I'm thinking about picking up the natural chromexcel indy boots. Will these be as versatile?

 

[JSO1]

Thank you for the tip! I'll do some investigating!

Question about terminology: On the Leffot cap toe boots I originally posted, the cap has the row of circular cutouts, what is this called? Another shoe styling term I'm not sure of is the zig-zag cut edges such as on Alden's LWBs, what is that called?

Circular cutouts as referred to as "broguing" or "perforations". The cap-toe broguing is referred to, as a whole, as a "perforated cap toe."

The zig-zag cut edges of the wings are called "pinking".

 

[AML225]

Circular cutouts as referred to as "broguing" or "perforations". The cap-toe broguing is referred to, as a whole, as a "perforated cap toe."

The zig-zag cut edges of the wings are called "pinking".

Excellent, thank you! Now that you mention it I've seen the term "perf. cap toe" plenty of times, guess it never stuck.

 

[zippyh]

The zig-zag cut is also known as gimping.

 

[Don L]

OM Hampton Cigar SWB

 

[chipshot]



AOM Hampton Cigar SWB Superb combo!

 

[z8k1n]

PSA: ending soon (not mine)

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/301817945648

I wonder how much a bnib pair would sell for? ; )

 

[gsgleason]

I took these for a fellow forum member who will soon be the proud new owner of the Color 8 NST boots from Leffot which were a tad too big for me. He asked to see some shots to view this new darker color 8 that everyone has mentioned lately.

The best part of the new model is the thickness of the shell. It's seriously twice the thickness of the Citishoes variety pictured (comparing the unlined tongues). I had some JCrew PCTs that were thick as well, though not as much as this, and they were an absolutely great pair because they had nice rolls without all the small wrinkles that thinner shell gets. I wish my color 8 unlined dovers had thick shell like this. Heck I wish all my shell models had thick shell like this...

Natural diffused light:


With flash:

 

[HenryIII]

DC Cigar Captoes

Glad I'm going commando with these scummy airport floors.

Looking good Ben! How do you find travelling through airports with the boots? I may wear a pair for our holiday trip.

AOM Hampton Cigar SWB

Fantastic make-up Don! Always enjoy when you post these beauties.