Matt: Thanks for sharing the concept and reality of your 'special make-up' AE order. Your customized MacNeils look amazing...I had never considered such but, your elimination of the reverse not only makes sense from a structural perspective, while also improving the look of the shoes!

My last special make-up order from AE was also for a pair of MacNeils. Although my changes were no where near as extensive as those specified in your order. As a long time fan of the design, I really(!) wanted a pair in an alpine grain leather..the MacNeil was offered only in burgundy or black, at the time. So, my order was for a pair of MacNeils, in chili, grained calf.

 

What have you gotten when it comes to special order?

I have a pair of Alpine Grain in Chili that are probably from the 1980s... pretty nice looking shoes. They just tend to be too chunky to wear. It's the reason I went without the Reverse welt on these.

 

I think this is going to be a great thread. It will be interesting to see all the different shoes that people have dreamed up.

 

Gerard and I will be at the Chicago meet-up tomorrow with Paul Grangaard, Jim Kass and Colin Hall from AE, and we'll bring this up with them! :icon_smile_wink:

 

What have you gotten when it comes to special order?

I have a pair of Alpine Grain in Chili that are probably from the 1980s... pretty nice looking shoes. They just tend to be too chunky to wear. It's the reason I went without the Reverse welt on these.

Because AE was not offering the MacNeil in the chili grained calf at the time I wanted a pair, they considered that a special make-up and tagged the additional $100 on the cost of the shoes. Perhaps not overly creative but, it's what I wanted. Love the shoes...wish I had not had to spend the additional C-note but, they were worth it!

 

They really need a Special Order stamp for inside the shoes.

I'm starting this thread in hopes that others who have gotten special make Allen Edmonds will drop off stories and images.

Nowhere near as fun as the C.E.O. Factory Tour thread started by gman-17 (I'm jealous they put Gerard's name in lights on the factory tour).

Not as informative about classic shoes as the thread started on the "Strawfut" (Which I hope they recreate)

This thread is to show off a pair of my first cordovan shoes. I read, studied, learned about Cordovan and finally decided to get a pair. As said over and over again in previous threads, I have fickle feet when it comes to fit. I went with the style with the widest forefoot and narrowest heel available today -- The MacNeil. If this were the 1950's I'd probably go with the same last as whatever they used for the "Strawfut" since it has a narrower waist and a narrower heel with a much wider forefoot... yet, this will have to do.

With this shoe I went all out and asked for something a bit off the beaten path. Since I fell in love with the leather wrapped Poron (super-dense space-age foam-rubber) footbed that was used on the Dryden style a few years back I decided to go with that for my special order.

I walk and dance a lot so any spongy comfort that can be added I greatly appreciate, especially when it never looses it's spongy properties and conforms to your foot just like a regular leather footbed (don't forget it's also over cork which molds to your foot as well.

The other major change I decided to get was to eliminate the reverse welt. It's a design meant to keep out water, yet since it is made of leather itself and the thread is cotton, it really does just as good a job as when you don't have one at all. If it were made of rubber, perhaps it would help in wet situation, but as it is, adding a reverse welt ads weight and a wider perimeter to the shoe.

Without the reverse welt the shoe is a bit more maneuverable on a dancefloor.

So here they are. I'm sure they are the only pair in existence. the gunboat shoe lovers may think them an abomination, yet I think they are right at home on my feet, yet I still wish they would find that "Strawfut" Last.

Matt,

Why did you do this? Why? This is wrong. I have tried so hard not to purchase shoes. Those are fantastic! I have got to get my own pair. They are absolutely amazing. Christmas will not come soon enough!

-Gerard

 

This is really inspiring. I wonder if they could come up with a list of available leathers, styles and options that we could use as a starting point.

 

Thank you. I'm wearing them right now... about to go around the block again to give them a little break in.
If you do order a pair, make sure you mention that I was the inspiration.

As for what one can get through special orders. Any leather that is available through the company can be used to make any shoe that is recraftable and made in the US. You can do any leather they have anywhere. I might go with a Walnut and white suede spectator in the style MacNeil I did above in the near future.

As for color since I've been asked... it's the standard Cordovan color Allen Edmonds offers in their cordovans -- burgundy.

 

This is really inspiring. I wonder if they could come up with a list of available leathers, styles and options that we could use as a starting point.

Gracian,

To Matt's point, the options are pretty wide open. Call customer service and they will send you a form which has all the options on it. If can find my form from back when I ordered the Moras I will post it here.

I am really liking those shoes. They look brown. I wonder if AE can do special colors in the Shell. I am going to ask tomorrow.

 

That will be the ideal time - when you have the top execs from both AE and Horween Leather Company in the same room having a good time.

 

Exactly Lou. They may run out of there from all the questions. :icon_smile_big:

That will be the ideal time - when you have the top execs from both AE and Horween Leather Company in the same room having a good time.

 

Unfortunately AE Special Order does not include size modification,
only leather and and color changes, correct?

For example no AE shoes that I have ever tried fit, except in
their orthopedic line, which to me are ugly in the extreme.
As for "long wings", I dislike the style. I would buy other
models if they fit.

 

Unfortunately AE Special Order does not include size modification,
only leather and and color changes, correct?

For example no AE shoes that I have ever tried fit, except in
their orthopedic line, which to me are ugly in the extreme.
As for "long wings", I dislike the style. I would buy other
models if they fit.

No my understanding it that you can pretty much change anthing. So you can get two shoes of different sizes, different widths and they can build any current shoe on any current last. I would contact them to see if they can make the shoe you want in the orthopedic fit.

 

I'm not sure about an Allen Edmonds Orthopedic line. He may be referring to Alden.

 

Gerard and I will be at the Chicago meet-up tomorrow with Paul Grangaard, Jim Kass and Colin Hall from AE, and we'll bring this up with them! :icon_smile_wink:

Hopefully you can give me their opinion on the style they made for me. It's still heavy duty, yet without the extra bumper of about a quarter inch that comes along with the reverse welt. Just makes me feel a little less clumsy (perhaps not be... yet I do feel a little less clumsy).

 

I've been breaking mine in a bit over the last few days. The one thing I really notice about the Shell Cordovan is that it has a better looking depth to it than my standard calf shoes. It's like the calf is just pained while the shell really has a deep down color. Anywho, I'll post pics when they are a bit more worn.

I thought the flat laces were neat though being a little too light in color for my taste, I switched back to the provided waxed round laces. Looks pretty cool.


Anyone else have special orders to show?

 

I've been breaking min in a bit over the last few days. The one thing I really notice about the Shell Cordovan is that it has a better looking depth to it than my standard calf shoes. It's like the calf is just pained while the shell really has a deep down color. Anywho, I'll post pics when they are a bit more worn.

I thought the flat laces were neat though being a little too light in color for my taste, I switched back to the provided waxed round laces. Looks pretty cool.

Anyone else have special orders to show?

Matt, I am working on a pair of special orders right now. I will discuss and most likely do a big write up on the new special orders in the coming weeks. I am linking my previous thread to yours. https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?t=95708

I think your Shells are fantastic and inspiring. :icon_smile_wink:

 

Nice, I like the laces especially. They balance out the shoe

 

Pretty cool-looking. I like them!

 

I do wish they would start offering flat waxed laces.

Now who else has some custom order shoes?

 

I do wish they would start offering flat waxed laces.

Now who else has some custom order shoes?

Searching through past posts, here are a few folks that reported having special order AEs.

https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showpost.php?p=658713&postcount=7

https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showpost.php?p=314769&postcount=63

https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showpost.php?p=228430&postcount=1

 

I'd like to see that #3 last return... I actually think it's closer to the Strawfut in looks.

 

I'm not sure about an Allen Edmonds Orthopedic line. He may be referring to Alden.

Thank you for the correction. I meant Alden.

 

Matt- Those are the best looking AE's Ive seen in a long time. I really like the look sans the reverse welt, they just so much sleeker. BTW, I've been thinking about having a pair of Leeds made up in Chili grain calf with rubber soles, sort of like the Alden All Weather Walker. I'll wear these with Bills Khakis, and they should be perfect.
Again, great looking shoes!!

Mark S.

 

Thanks. They are looking even cooler with a bit of a break in. Just not as much of a clodhopper as the reverse welted standard. I do suggest if you special order those Leeds, that you go for the Poron footbed as well.