[jyook]

Are they pretty much the same shoe except for the label?? Will they fit the same as each other??

Also, how are the BB Peal and Co. shoes compared to the BB Aldens??

 

[TheWardrobeGirl]

While I think the fit is the same, they are not the exact same shoe with different labels...I know there are stitching differences...I am not sure if that is the only difference or if there are others though.

 

[red96]

Search the archives and you'll see some discussion of the different lasts that Alden uses for the same style of shoe offered with the BB and Alden labels.

Also, one specific difference that comes up a lot is on the LHS (penny loafer). BB is unlined, Alden is lined. Not sure if that would affect the size you choose, but the fit of the shoe will be different...

 

[Flanderian]

Are they pretty much the same shoe except for the label?? Will they fit the same as each other??

Also, how are the BB Peal and Co. shoes compared to the BB Aldens??

Bruce Boyer once wrote about this, but I forget the details without checking. Essentially, they are the same shoes except for minor details.

Brooks' Peal brand is more problematic to compare. They used to all be English, and may still be, but the they've expanded the manufactures that they re-brand as Peal. Started out as all Crockett and Jones, which IMO is an even better shoe than Alden, then they were using a lot of Alfred Seargent, and I don't know what else. IMO Alfred Seargent is a good shoe of roughly the same quality as Alden, though the lasts will fit differently.

I've long prefered higher quality English shoes for so-called dress, and American maufacture for shoes that will largely be worn with more rustic clothing.

Though I've had little recent experience with Alden, I think I recall that most of their lasts have a fairly broad heels. I prefer shoes that don't.

 

[Buffalo]

The Alden made BBs cap toe and plain toe bluchers are made on the barrie last which tends to be a roomier last than others. Great shoes.

 

[Hobson]

There are some minor details that generally separate the BB models. For example, on the tassel loafer, the Alden model has a simple strip of leather covering the rear seam, while the BB model has what they term "foxing", essentially some detailed stitching in place of the leather strip.

 

[JLibourel]

Bruce Boyer once wrote about this, but I forget the details without checking. Essentially, they are the same shoes except for minor details.

Brooks' Peal brand is more problematic to compare. They used to all be English, and may still be, but the they've expanded the manufactures that they re-brand as Peal. Started out as all Crockett and Jones, which IMO is an even better shoe than Alden, then they were using a lot of Alfred Seargent, and I don't know what else.

I don't know whether Brooks started out with them, but for many years before they went to C&J, the vendor for Brooks Peals was Edward Green, which is better yet. At least such is my understanding. As I recall, Green also made shoes for Nordstrom at one time.

 

[mcarthur]

EG made the Peal shoes into the late 1980's

 

[Flanderian]

Last two gents, I'm astonished, but suspect you know better than me. My first pair of Peal shoes was purchased in 1984. It had an elegant last but the materials were poor. I purchased a couple more pair in the '90-'94 time frame. The last, details and general appearance were identical to C&J's that I'd seen. During this same time frame, Paul Stuart sold EG for a few seasons. They held no resemblance to the Peals I'd purchased nor C&J's I've seen. Perhaps they went to C&J after EG, but before AS?

 

[JLibourel]

My understanding is that they went from EG to C&J, and in later years offered a mix of shoes from both C&J and AS. I am not sure whether this situation still exists or they have gone entirely to AS.

 

[CrackedCrab]

There are some minor details that generally separate the BB models. For example, on the tassel loafer, the Alden model has a simple strip of leather covering the rear seam, while the BB model has what they term "foxing", essentially some detailed stitching in place of the leather strip.

Another little quirky difference in models is I think the Alden for BB PTB has metal lace eyelets, and no storm welt, whereas the regular Alden PTB has plain eyelets with a storm welt.