Alden Shoe Company
Pros: Beautiful
Cons: My checking account balance requires me to look on eBay.
87 Replies
Prices have continued to go up in recent years and their skilled labor to do the handsewn moc toe is disappearing but I think they have the best lasts in RTW and a large selection of the most iconic shoes like the Indy, LHS, tassel loafer, 975, etc. also one of the best to do shell imo. So many other brands just suck at it
How is the long wing blucher of alden compared to carmina? The pricing tips me toward carmina as well as qc but something very iconic of the alden last make me indecisive
Imo if you want a American style king wing blucher Alden or vintage are the only ways to go
Grant Stone’s pattern is actually very good too
The Oscar last from Carmina is probably the most “American” but I still think it looks bad
Yeah, carmina is a far more euro shoe; while they do shell really well, it just doesn’t achieve the aesthetics that Alden’s pattern and last does
GS is very good too, yeah, but their Leo last is significantly less “developed” in shape. It’ll be fine short of being an enthusiast, but when you get down to details the differences add up
I hate the Leo last on their boot patterns but the LWBs look pretty good to me tbh
But it’s fun to just sit on an eBay search of 975s in your Barrie size
thanks guys, i prob go alden the. since i figured my barries last with the 9901
Dumping some Alden pics
For anyone wondering the shell LHS pic is whiskey - Ravello - color 4 - color 8 - cigar
this shell rainbow is soooo satisfying
Sad thing is I decide to sell my cigar and whiskey pairs and then a week later the black pair popped up on eBay. I was so close to getting the full lineup lol
How do you like the unlined tassels? I’m constantly going back and forth between them, the normal brown, or a pair from Crockett
Love them! Aberdeen has a slightly better shape but I much prefer the humus suede to the regular brown kid suede. The humus is a bit of a warmer brown and it’s super comfortable. Also big fan of the heel foxing like the BB line had
I second that I like Aberdeen over Crocket’s lasts
Super helpful to hear! There’s something about the regular brown suede and the color of the thread they use for the stitching that always throws me off
I was eyeing the Crockett models from Anglo and the Anthology on the 72 last. I much prefer that shape to what the Cavendish is built on
There’s a humus suede Aberdeen tassel but it has the contrasting natural colored stitching. I tried the LHS version and it never clicked for me.
When the tonal stitch humus tassel dropped it was an instant buy for me (and I rarely buy Alden at retail).
Humus with contrast
Humus with tonal stitch
Vs the standard mocha kid suede
It’s fascinating how that hummus suede changes based on the lighting. I actually feel a bit called by the contrast stitching, but may need to swing through Alden Madison to see if they have it in person
I really liked in but felt like it was harder to pair with tailoring
Fair point! That is the beauty of tassels, they wear nicely with both tailoring and casual wear. One day I’ll bite the bullet
I love my suede pairs but I think black or color 8 shell is the move if you’re just going with one pair of tassels
I try to spread around my leathers for variety, which is why I gravitate towards a dark brown tassel. Black shell would be cool and admittedly highly versatile, but I have such a weird aversion to wearing any black
Oh man I couldn't live w/o my black calf tassels. They're so comfy and easy to wear
There are some brown calf tassels floating around on eBay fwiw
There's a pair in black calf in my size for a great price but I was thinking of holding out for a pair in shell. Do you prefer calf for black tassels?
I do. It's a softer leather but some folks love their black shell tassels. I definitely prefer calf. Feels a bit more rugged and if I wanted to I could polish them up. I also just find shell less comfortable
I think we might be eyeing the same pair haha. If you don’t bite, maybe I will
For black - do you find they’re wearable with dark jeans? I can picture them with grey trousers and even brown cords, but something about jeans throws my for a loop
Very wearable imo!
I didn't need much convincing lol
Dang those look to be in great condition!
Yeah really solid for 100
@JWB sorry if I sniped you lol
Those are in awesome condition! I’ve got mine on a pair in size 9 - maybe I’ll join you
I was eyeing those too lol
I’m team shell only because the price difference on eBay isn’t massive relatively speaking. Good shell is 225-275 and good calf is 125-175
Shoes have arrived. Collection pic
Dang the snuff LHS look MINTY
I wish my snuff pair was that shade! Mine are definitely lighter.
Precious owner used some sort of suede protectant spray on them which darkened the color. Normally I'd say that's silly business but I actually love how the color turned out
great typo
Tempting. My tassels are that shade but my LHS are washed out looking. Might just be an age thing.
My pairs when they were fairly new
The snuff dovers are the only pair I regret selling. I still have my brown suede pair but they snuff version is perfect. Maybe I’ll sell my snuff LWBs and get another pair of dovers
@LeisurelyLoafing @GSH @ll.beansandrice / anyone else in this thread: do you take the same size in the tassels as you do the LHS?
I do but I think loaf doesn't. Would strongly recommend trying on, I believe Aberdeen fits a bit longer and narrower than Van
Appreciate it - saw a pair on eBay I was trying to grab, but haven’t tried on the Aberdeen last before. The closest I have is the Leydon, which i take in the same size as the Van, but Aberdeen is even more long and narrow to your point
Will try to get to Alden Madison at some point then
Depends. In suede and calf same size but I size up for shell
I wear 10E leydon, 10 Barrie, 10.5 van, 10.5 Copley, and 10.5/11 Aberdeen
Double check the model number if possible. I think my black tassels were Aberdeen but they’re on Copley lol
Thanks guys! Was looking at some black calf tassels on the Aberdeen. I typically just adjust the width based on the last so think it’s probably best to just try them on instead of guessing
9E Van / 9E Leydon / 9D Barrie / 9D Trubalance
I’m a 10E brannock but find myself swimming in Alden’s wides. You’ll probably want to check out the wide aberdeens
Could you elaborate on this? Perhaps in comparison to Alden since this is an Alden thread
Not a ton at the present, but the short if it is that Alden’s been around since the 1880’s or so, and did a lot of focus / development / eating up of orthotic shoe production. Their lasts have been super refined to have good shape both aesthetically, as well as orthoticly, granted there’s probably a bit of weird semi-factual science in that early history. Either way, they’ve had like 250 years to get lasts down pat with a lot of it focused on “foot health”, and that’s reflected heavily in both the shapes and comfort of their shoes.
Grant stone is semi-similar in aesthetics, but their lasts are visually less shapely and intentional, and the high-falutin shoe consumer is likely to see a marked difference at the margin.
Chalk it up to 250 years in the trade with a lot of R&D vs like a decade
I made a separate post about my leather shoe woes (https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1224534468992307200) which I won't replicate here but am wondering if anyone has E brannock width and/or high instep, what width do you find yourself gravitating towards on Van and Barrie lasts?
It depends. Some go with an E and some don’t. I’m a 10E brannock with a high instep and 10D Barrie and 10.5D van is perfect for me. I find Alden’s E width to have too much volume in the heel for me
Thanks! I found D width Barrie (lace up bluchers) to be very comfortable in the store. I may try going up a half size for van and staying at D width. Previously in the store I only tried on 12D and 12E LHS. Both felt fine so I was unsure how to proceed
My only caution would be sizing with suede LHS. If that’s what you tried I’d suggest trying a different pair on.
Calf in both!
It’s hard to say for sure but as long as the D width didn’t hurt at all that would be my recommendation. The LHS tends to be snug across the strap so that’s what I size for
Similar question to the above. I'm going to order some barrie last bluchers from shoemart but unsure which to try (nowhere near me carries them).
10.5ee on the AE 65 last
11e in Leeds
10 UK in C&J 325
11.5 Nike
Should I try 10.5e in barrie? 10.5?
10.5e sounds like a good shot at it. Barrie is technically wide but it's a kinda wonky last imo. It's not wide like Trubalance is, but is more wide thru the mid-foot and relatively normal at the ball.
That's good to know, thanks. Usually the ball is where I get issues (smashed pinky toe) so sounds like it wouldn't be wide enough in the right places in a D width
I'd either make a thread in #questions-and-advice or wait for other folks to chime in as well tho. I've tried on Barrie a few times, it's not a last I particularly like so I don't actually own any shoes on Barrie. Worthwhile to get some other opinions before ordering $700 shoes
So I was somewhere around a 9.5eee (too wide after stretch and a touch short) on the 65 last and a 10E Barrie fits me perfect. I’d probably try a 10 or 10.5D given how long and narrow the 5 last is
Ravello
Anyone have experience with the 6221L? It’s like LHS but with a machine sewn toe and rubber sole
Contemplating that instead of LHS
The machine sewn toes look really bad imho
I didnt really pay much attention but I’ll look again
I don’t love leather soles so rubber seemed nice but I also don’t want it to wear through in a summer
Have you tried the flexwelt soles? They’re quite nice imo
Unfortunately no
I have some that I really like
Anyone encounter this on shell? Its just my color 8 and on this one shoe. Needs deep moisturizing? :think:
Just oil from the leather. Normal. Buff it out with horse hair brush
Its rough to the touch, this was taken after polish +brushing
Sometimes shell can be kinda hairy or rough. I forget why but it's not really an issue ime
I dont think its reducing structural integrity or anything, its my first shell and im wearing these LHS into the grave. Thanks for the info fellas
sometimes you can mitigate it a bit by smoothing it down with the grain using a spoon and some conditioner or a deer bone
Ill give it a try, never thought I’d be a deer bone andy
I don't own one but this specifically is one of the few uses that makes sense to me. It's far from required tho
Thinking of picking up my first Alden shoe. Was at the store and tried on the 9694F flex welt calf- dark brown. At the time, I was not aware that this is different shoe than the LHS shoes. I guess my question is what’s the difference? Is one better than the other or personal preference? Full disclosure, I don’t know much about shoes.
machine vs handsewn toe. if you prefer a sleeker toe to the LHS's more pronounced/pursed moc stitch, thats the one you want.
wait, those are different. those are flex welt. I gotta read up on em
ok, so amateur search, they're on the slightly narrower copley last and the heels have foxed stitching
Should I stick to the LHS?
i mean, do you like these? there's no rule that you can't get a different loafer if it felt great on your foot.