[bluenose]

I was in San Francisco last week and bought a pair of Alden for Brooks unlined LHS mostly because they were 25% off which I have never seen before. The salesman said that Brooks would not be offering Alden for Brooks shoes for much longer, presumably to make room for the lower price point and infinitely less attractive Brooks 1818 made in Italy line. There was a table full of these shoes, all with a visible little logo stamp on them.

So get down to Brooks while there's still a chance that they will have your size.

 

[SG_67]

I’ve noticed the same shift as well. To be honest, I never really cared for the Alden shoes offered under the BB label, but it seems that they’ve shifted their domestic made private label stuff to AE.

 

[eagle2250]

A pair of Alden for BB LHS's in whiskey hued shell cordovan I purchased several years back were perhaps the most comfortable straight out of the box pair of LHS's in my collection. The competing three pair required some amount of breaking-in and one pair required stretching, before they exhibited that level of comfort on the foot. Perhaps it was because the Alden made for BB pair were unlined? :icon_scratch:

 

[trgolf]

I was in San Francisco last week and bought a pair of Alden for Brooks unlined LHS mostly because they were 25% off which I have never seen before. The salesman said that Brooks would not be offering Alden for Brooks shoes for much longer, presumably to make room for the lower price point and infinitely less attractive Brooks 1818 made in Italy line. There was a table full of these shoes, all with a visible little logo stamp on them.

So get down to Brooks while there's still a chance that they will have your size.

How did you get 25% off on the LHS?

 

[Semper Jeep]

A pair of Alden for BB LHS's in whiskey hued shell cordovan I purchased several years back were perhaps the most comfortable straight out of the box pair of LHS's in my collection. The competing three pair required some amount of breaking-in and one pair required stretching, before they exhibited that level of comfort on the foot. Perhaps it was because the Alden made for BB pair were unlined? :icon_scratch:

On the massive Alden-threads over on SF posters always talked about how great the BB LHS were just for that reason. I'll agree that my unlined loafers are so much more comfortable than the lined ones.

 

[New Old Stock]

I've noticed the same shift as well. To be honest, I never really cared for the Alden shoes offered under the BB label, but it seems that they've shifted their domestic made private label stuff to AE.

I can't say for sure, but it looks like they're probably going to stop offering AE made shoes as well. It may have been a mutual breakup since both companies seem to be revamping their shoe collections - BB bringing in Italian suppliers & AE aiming for a less conservative audience. Pretty much all AE made BB shoes have been in the clearance section for a while now. Only non-Italian made shoes seem to be the Peal & Co's ... though who knows how long that will last.

 

[bluenose]

Eagle, you are absolutely right about the lined and unlined LHS. I don't think it's just the lining. The toe box is a different shape and I think the unlined has a flex welt sole. Just my guess.

 

[FLMike]

How did you get 25% off on the LHS?

It seems that that was the asking price. :icon_scratch:

 

[orange fury]

I love my unlined LHS- those and my Alden LWBs (from J Crew) are my favorite shoes I own. If Brooks is ending their relationship with Alden, I hope Alden starts offering an unlined version of the LHS.

Also, regarding the 25% off, I got mine for 40% off last year, thanks to BB allowing me to stack a discount on top of the sale, then add in a $25 gift card they sent me. It was a bargain.

 

[Danny]

This seems kinda crazy but I guess I understand. The BB Alden PTB's are maybe the most beautiful shoes ever IMHO. The perfect last....pure simplicity.

 

[Danny]

I do think perhaps the BB LHS and Alden LHS are [or were?] different lasts, I have both and the Alden LHS is pointier. I prefer the BB version for roomier toebox and the lack of lining.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The LHS made for the Japanese market is made on a last different than the Van last, so perhaps BB uses that one. I suspect, though, the BB is on the Van last but the lack of a lining (and toe and counter stiffeners) makes them seem much different than the regular US-market Van last LHS. But I don't discount observations by people who own both versions.

 

[fishertw]

Is there a way to see online what stock there is in this unlined LHS? I live nowhere near a BB retail store.