[Vecchio Vespa]

You certainly have some rather lovely prime examples. I certainly don't have access to any store that would carry anothing comparable fron Alden. Never seen a non-8/black pair here. And shipping to Europe is problematic as I have to get family in the US involved. You seem to have a couple stores nearby..and store owners calling you when they get in such beautiful models. I still need some long wing derbies and a few pairs of boots ..think I'll try to find some in Ravello next time around. It's a beautiful color..and that pair in #4 you listed were gorgeous as well.

I have 9 Alden shells. 7 are in #8, 2 are black. The only "special" color I have are a pair of Carmina monks in Cognac. All but 1 were purchased at a local store that carries what it carries. So I'm by no means pretending to be an expert versus merely curious.

I'm not sure I've ever handled Edward Green shell. I've been to their London store half a dozen times over the years and don't recall ever seeing a model displayed (though my memory might be slipping). So again, I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on how EG does shell compared to Alden.

I do have 6 EGs in calf and enjoy them immensely...but they're all over 10 years old by now so I couldn't comment on modern issues.

Funny enough..the 2 pairs of boots that "died" this year were 1 each from Alden and EG. The leather of my Alden George boots ripped where the tongue meets the vamp. The cobbler I use didn't think any fix would last long. The EGs cracked right at the cuboid (I'll be sending them to EG to be looked at..hopefully they might have a suggestion). Both were favorites and saw a lot of use

Other than the aforementioned boots, my EGs are more occasional use. Yes, the black and dark oak cap-toe Oxfords are lovely and the standard in "formal" business footwear..but I rarely have a call for such and will usually choose something a bit more interesting 😀

I'd say overall my Aldens see the most use. They're all casual (derbies, chukkas, tassel loafers) and I have no need to dress formal nowadays..

But that further leaves me unable to compare. I have formal EGs and casual Aldens. I wear them differently for different occasions. And I don't own Aldens in calf or EGs in shell.

I was recently looking at getting some boots..my jaw dropped upon seeing Alden whiskey chukkas listed at $2'000. The whiskey short wings were a bargain at only $1'000. I almost wanted to get them but boots were the goal and I just bought Alden short wing derbies in #8 a month or so ago. Given the choice between an EG calf or those Aldens, I would have picked the Aldens. And while $1'000 isn't cheap, it's a drop in the bucket compared to prices I've seen on EG shell.

Vass as usual has some lovely calf options.

Carmina still offers a nice variety and I enjoy the 6 Carmina's in my collection..but their customer service is a turn off. I had issues with their attitude 10 years ago and that didn't change when I contacted them a few weeks ago. I had pretty much picked out a couple pairs but the attitude got me looking elsewhere.

It came down to 2 pairs. AE had a sale on boots in Dark brown cordovan for $599..and I found a pair of BNIB Alden Jump Boots in #8 for $650. Perhaps it's brand loyalty..but I couldn't pass up the Alden's. I would have taken both but doubt my wife would have been happy about adding an undiscussed pair (there's always another shoe on sale 🙄). She's a great wife and supportive of my hobbies but a 4th pair in under 6 weeks would probably be seen as excessive. I'll have to wait until we're in London in July to mention any "bargains" I might find 😁.

Oh, those AEs you hooked me up with 10 years ago or so are still going strong. I just brought them into the cobbler last week for a bit of work but they're one of my go to travel shoes and have seen more airports than most Americans 😂.

Seens I'm starting to ramble..better cut it off here. I should stop hitting the forums at 1am..🙃

Spend more time on the Trad Forum where tassel loafers ARE dress shoes! I spent my career (last 50 years) as a banking lawyer in Alden tassels with 3/2 sack suits and OCBDs, spiced up by occasional bal wingtips.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

"Alden..Still got it"..yes, yes they do.

Maiden voyage for these Ravello Shell Cordovan Short Wing Bluchers. Gorgeous in every way. I think my jaw literally dropped when the gent pulled these out of the box.


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Gorgeous shoes, but those wings look long.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I am now posting related comments to this unofficial Aldens thread as I am now an official Alden shoe owner!

I decided to keep the Alden cordovan wingtip oxfords, color 8, and I'm very happy with my decision as they are gorgeous and feel great (thank you, @Vecchio Vespa, for enabling me!). They're also versatile in color and style. They are not so sleek and narrow (like many dress oxfords) that I can't wear with khaki pants if I choose to.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my feet adapted to the shoes in just a few days and the heel slippage has minimized to the point that it, and the overall fit, is very comfortable. What also drived my decision is that my husband said the shoes look good on me. I was worried they might look too big even though they don't feel big (they are on the Tremont last, two below Barrie). Since I've now been wearing the oxfords on hard surface, there is no turning back.

Looking at the photos below, you'll notice a crease on the left toe box and no crease on the right toe box--after several short wears. The right shoe still looks brand new, never worn. I've never noticed this happen on other leather shoes, but none were cordovan leather. @Watchman, I saw something similar (crease on one shoe, not the other) on your Alden saddle shoes, color 4, on the Barrie, that you posted in this thread. Would you, and others here, say this is typical of cordovan leather in particular? I also realize everyone's feet (and often between right and left) and gait are individual. My left foot is longer than my right, and it's also possible I'm putting more pressure on my left foot when walking as my right is still healing from surgery mid summer. That being said, I almost feel like I want to crease the toe box on the right shoe to make it match the other.

Thanks for your time!
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My shell tassel loafers developed a roll on the left before they got one on the right. That distinctive roll, not truly a crease, is a distinguishing feature of cordovan and, sometimes but not always, Chromexcel. I enjoy the idiosyncrasies of these shoes and would not fret about this difference. Those shoes are absolutely stunning. Enjoy them for the next 30-50 years!

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Thank you, Tim! I'm really impressed with them and so glad they worked out!!

I keep calling them creases when yes, they are rolls. Hopefully, in time, I won't come across as such an Alden newbie.

Our hope should be always to be learning. Sometimes I feel as if others know more than I, and then I realize that is because they are sharing what they know. I could share something I know a lot about, but usually that would be beyond the scope of the conversation.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

My wife has Alden down pat ..doubt she'd recognize most of the other manufacturers in my closet but she's often heard "oh, I just found a pair of rare Aldens"..and.."I'm just going to run to this store on the other end of (insert vacation destination here) that has an Alden stocklist"..often followed .. "look at this beautiful (random model) in (color) shell cordovan (attached photos). 😅.

And that's a bit of the fun with Alden shell. I can just go buy shoes from everyone else on their website. There's no real advantage to go find a stocklist on vacation as they're not carrying something that can't easily be found elsewhere. I throughly enjoy all my other shoes. But Alden takes a bit of a hunt. A bit of diplomacy. Making a few friends. Gaining a few contacts. A bit of plain old luck. There's a bit of a thrill in finding that next pair of Alden shells.

Oh..my wife would probably also catch Edward Green. I always go out of the way to stop into their shop whenever we're in London (almost yearly). and I have mentioned flying in just to catch their factory sale on the 26th of December (though I've said this for many years and still have yet to do so. 😅).

My latest purchase. Haven't even been shipped yet. Got the hookup while in Shanghai and just took care of payment/etc last night. While I'm thrilled with boots, I'm just as happy to have made a new contact with a shop that occasionally offers the rarer Alden shell colors. Hopefully, this contact will keep me in mind next time they are offering a special Alden makeup...and of course I'll keep them in mind next time I'm looking at adding something to the wardrobe 😁

PTB boots on the Grant last in Ravello Shell Cordovan. This will be my first pair on the Grsnt last which I see as an added bonus.

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I am not generally a fan of boots (other than boots for the mountains like my Danners or my old Galibier Super Guides), but these are stunning. They are enough outside my boring Ivy orbit that I will not obsess over them, but wow!

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

986 penny loafer LHS, cordovan, color #8.

I hope the heel slippage calms down somewhat. I put my custom insoles in the shoes and they feel very comfortable otherwise. I believe it was Jim Smith at the Alden Shop in SF (where I bought the shoes) whom I spoke with via phone and he recommended I wear them around the house on carpet for a few days and then make a decision to keep or return (how cool is that?). These are size 6D, their smallest size in this style. I really want to keep these kicks so I hope they work out. They are gorgeous!

Does anyone here have experience with this style and potential heel slippage?

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I have had that shoe in unlined cordovan (Alden for Brooks), unlined Chromexcel, and snuff suede. I give them all perfect 10s. Knowing how the Van last fits, size down 1/2 size, was very helpful. The cordovan took awhile to break in, but it lasted FFE. The Chromexcel and the cordovan are close to indistinguishable, but the Chromexcel was OOTB comfortable. The Chromexcel rolls rather than wrinkling, just like cordovan does. The suede is softer than most slippers.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Thanks, Tim! I know that the recommendation is to go 1/2 size down on the Vans last. The size is right for me, just need to ensure I'll be happy with the fit of the last. I'm heavily leaning toward keeping them.

Over time, these, more than most other Aldens, will mold themselves to your foot. In my opinion the cordovan LHS is a serious candidate for the all time best shoe. It dresses up, even with a charcoal suit, or down. It is comfortable all day, even if the day is long. It wears like iron. It will take extreme abuse. There was a stretch of about thirty years when I wore them a lot, like five days a week. They got brushed and never complained. Not bad for about three pennies a day.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Anything shell from Alden other than black or #8 is bound to be a special makeup for a retailer....but yes...the full strap is on the rarer side for LHS makeups...one of the draws I have to it. ...but since they've been listed I've acquired...

Cigar shell v-tips. Ravello MCT boots. Ravello Long Wings. Jumper boots in #8. PTBs in #4 (Carmina). Ravello Plain Toe boots. Whiskey George boots. PTBs in #8. Short wings in #8. And that's in a bit less than a year

The cigar LHS is fabulous....I just preferred tossing the budget on models I don't already have a lot of (loafers). Perhaps they'll be my next purchase..have to see when the time comes...can't push the wife to the limit ...and I do like to spend money on other things such as travel... 😜

Save a little for a case of Krug D'Ambonnay! Sparkling wine and crab season is upon us.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Note as to how dark the Ravello is compared to other Ravello and next to #8 (abeit older, faded #8).... I really love the shade...but it's a good example as to the variance in what Alden describes as Ravello

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I have had Alden tassels in No. 8 that were a lovely deep brown and others that were almost black. Time in the sun makes a big difference. I prefer the brown.