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

[Man with Apple]



My Modified last PCT boots and I are experiencing sequestration related travel delays.

Relief is coming soon: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...e-votes-unanimously-to-fix-faa-furloughs?lite

 

[mcarthur]



Uncle,
Sadly, I have the same problem.

nephew,
sorry to learn

 

[mcarthur]



Finally got my Alden NST Whiskey Shell on Barrie last...back today from TSM. They sent them to Alden to get a flaw fixed where the heel met the sole and last. Great job, looks awesome, fast turn around and now I have officially become a member of the fine Whiskey club! See Ya, Steve

nephew, looking good wear in good health

 

[FrankCowperwood]



Relief is coming soon: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...e-votes-unanimously-to-fix-faa-furloughs?lite

"Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013"

Can we get them to fast track an "improving my chances of an upgrade act of 2013?" Anything would be better than what I get, which is bupkis.

 

[mcarthur]



I'll play the ravello game.

nephew,
i like your wt, enjoy wearing

 

[mcarthur]



Uncle, just curious, does the AE three eyelet chukka (Dundee), work for you?  AE has had some nice looking shell offerings in the Dundee but I have never tried them..

nephew,
i have no experience with the three eyelet chukkas

 

[felixkcma]

A no.8 day!

 

[docalden2013]

whats the consensus with sizing if 11.5D? would 11E possibly work in a barrie lasted shoe?

Hi kwhitelaw,

I'm not sure if my experience would generalize to the 11/11.5 sizes, as my foot is smaller than yours. However, facing a parallel dilemma (my shell, calf and suede lwbs were all 8.5D and the shoe of interest was an 8E), I ended up taking a chance on the Citishoes whiskey lwb's mentioned a couple days ago on this thread and am now pleased to report the pleasant surprise of finding out that the 8E was just fine. Voltaire at Citishoes indicated that the difference in length between an 8E and an 8.5D is negligible ("just a few millimeters"). Before pulling the trigger, I tried to make sure I thought about the factors that might manifest themselves after the high of finding an exciting shoe. Accordingly, I checked to make sure there was adequate room in the toe box in the event of brisk walking or running (e.g., as one would encounter if trying to catch a subway), no discomfort or tightness upon walking up or down stairs. Voltaire pressed down on my big toe and pinky toe to make sure they were in the right spots. No perceptible rubbing on the pinky side.

Of course, YMMV. The parameters that may be particular to my particular example include: I have relatively wide feet, but a narrow heel.

In my humble opinion, it's worth trying, especially if you won't get killed on return shipping (Kathy at Alden DC, for example, has let me take advantage of free shipping for returns). I was excited about this little experiment, as I actually found the shorter E width shoe more comfy than the longer D width shoes I had always assumed were the exact size my feet required. (The strange thing is that I had the Citi guys measure me with their brannock and they claim I came out a 10C; this made no sense to me, as the AE SAs claim I'm a 9D).

I'm all for trying it and seeing if it works for you. Of course, that may be the sickness talking.

A quick PSA for anyone who is a ~9.5: Voltaire busted out a pair of "Plaza last Ravello shell bal wingtips" that looked to be old/dead stock. Told me I could have them for a significant discount, as in 40% off their list price. I'll see if I can find a pic of it on google images or the thread. The only hesitation I had about them (besides the ill fit for me) was that they had what struck me as slightly strange curlicue-shaped perfs on the vamp. That said, shell is shell...

Either way, kwhitelaw, I hope you find what you're looking for!

 

[docalden2013]

A no.8 day!

I'm a big fan of how the color 8 makes the green pop.

Do fellow colored-laces guys care to share your favorite Alden/lace combos? Dear wife asked me to clean up the mess of laces in the walk-in closet the other day, which led me to wonder which other colors I should pick up.

 

[blue collar]



Lovely shoe BC!  Wear in great health...

nephew,
i like your wt, enjoy wearing

Thanks gents!

 

[blue collar]



Finally got my Alden NST Whiskey Shell on Barrie last...back today from TSM. They sent them to Alden to get a flaw fixed where the heel met the sole and last. Great job, looks awesome, fast turn around and now I have officially become a member of the fine Whiskey club! See Ya, Steve

These are awesome. I've recently tried contacting TSM regarding shipping a pair north of the border but no one has answered. Does anyone know if "Mark" still works there?

 

[docalden2013]

Some quick questions re Alden Leather Defender, which arrived from JCrew today:

- Label claims it will "clean and protect calfskin and genuine shell cordovan." Can I trust that it can indeed be used on shell? (I know it says so, but I'm paranoid about it given that I'm kind of a shoe care newbie)

- Directions are to "Apply Alden Leather Defender to a soft cloth and wipe shoes thoroughly. Let dry. Turn cloth and buff gently. For best results allow leather to dry completely before wearing shoes." Do you fellow Alden Leather Defender users actually follow this procedure? If memory serves well enough, I have a faint recollection of someone instructing us to simply spray the shoe before going out on days rain is predicted. I'd rather go with this on-the-fly method. Shoe care can be time consuming. I'm barely keeping up on my Mac Method basics! (Please don't tell Uncle; I don't want him to be disappointed in me, especially before I post pics of the new whiskeys tomorrow)

- For those of you who don't believe in the Leather Defender, what alternative water protection, if any, are you using and why?

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can offer.

 

[mediahound]



nephew,
i have no experience with the three eyelet chukkas

Mac, do you ever use Reno or Venetian on your shells? How often?

 

[blue collar]

^^^On the topic of laces, does anyone know where i can find Quality Beige laces? I want to change up the look of my shoes but Yellow and Orange are not going to cut it.

 

[docalden2013]

^^^On the topic of laces, does anyone know where i can find Quality Beige laces? I want to change up the look of my shoes but Yellow and Orange are not going to cut it.

How about http://www.shoelacesexpress.com/fashionrounddresslaces.asp ?

Good luck!

Oh, a quick followup question: Are you colored laces-wearing folks ever struggling with shoe dye, etc getting on the laces? I recently removed the yellow laces from my #8 LWBs and found random spots (probably at exactly where the lace enters the eyelets) were stained with eggplant-color. Some of the stains rubbed off with a little elbow grease, but they still linger. Should I launder them? Oxyclean?