Alden Shoes
Anyone have recs on how to acquire some Alden LHS's/ Alden Loafers? I got my meermin ones, and theyre great! But looking at Alden too, just dont wanna buy new when it costs a lot of money, any one have recommendations on where to look?
29 Replies
aldenmodelproject.com compiles most eBay listings, but you can also find them by trawling through improperly listed shoes
oh snap
this is awesome
thanks
1 minute to great advice. Some kind of record.
fr fr
i dont mind getting shoes second hand, plus alden i can resole if i want a new sole 🤷
I just really want alden cause I like my meermin just not a fan of the pointy tip, i like aldens more curved not as pointy tipped loafers
the alden toes are the GOAT for loafers
seriously, such a look
do people tend to prefer 1/2 strap or full strapped ones? I like the 1/2 strap but the full is also not bad looking either and seems theres more in stock of full strapped Aldens
Can't say for certain, I prefer half strap since I don't wear pennies with suits, but I suspect more people wear those until they're unsellable
is it more proper to wear full strapped with suits? I dont wear suits at all (and I live in SE USA, although I do spend a lot of time in Seattle since my GF lives there so a blazer might come in handy more there)
Some people say yes, I say it doesn't really matter. If I have a suit on I prefer tassels.
But the half strap is a little more casual
yeah thats fair
thats good to know, hmm ill have to keep watch here on that site to see if i can snag a half strapped penny
Happy hunting
Ebay saved searches will also email you a list of new listings every morning
oh thanks for the heads up
mind if i ask why Alden commands such a high price compared to other full-leather, GYW shoes? I've always taken their quality/reputation for granted w/o really knowing why
A little bit is the cost of the name, but it's also just that well made, actual MiUSA dress shoes from quality leather aren't cheap.
Good shoes start at around $200. Good ready-to-wear shoes go up to like $2000. And bespoke can go even higher. Alden is much more expensive than $200 but they are by far not the only company selling shoes in the $600-900 price point. Just like any good shoe company in that price range, the answer is, basically: a good brand name, a reputation for quality, made in a country with expensive labor, made out of great materials (materials themselves from known good companies, like horween leather), with good craftsmanship, good durability, good repairability, good feeling, attractive lasts, good quality control, etc.
It's kind of like, why does a porsche cost more than a chevy? There are a lot of technical reasons, but the final reason is that people are willing to pay it. Some pay it because of the badge, but most who are willing to pay the premium do so for a slew of reasons that are kind of hard to quantify directly, but seem more obvious in a qualatative comparison. Alden's $800 shoes are just ... nicer ... than most $200 shoes, and for some people, that is worth paying for.
thanks gimp! appreciate the thoughts
Full strap can be dressier and I think they tend to look a bit more sleek/elegant/feminine due to the last, lower vamp and overall shape. Ethan Wong wears his full strap Alden’s vvv well
Well... thanks to this thread (and aldenmodelproject website above) just snagged some very good condition/recently resoled aberdeen black tassle loafers for $90 (and returnable!)
Full strap is more formal and harder to dress down, so I prefer half strap which is easy to dress up or down.
yeah, they seem more popular tho, will just have to keep watch on ebay i guess, also how does Alden sizing work? do they run large? i wear like 10.5 adidas that fit perfectly
Styleforum
The Official Alden Thread for 2023 - Share Reviews, Sizing, Advice,...
Gentlemen, welcome to the Official Alden Thread for 2023! This thread is the continuation of the long running Official Alden Thread (2008 - 2015) and the subsequent annual threads (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022). This thread is intended to provide an environment to share...
Styleforum
Alden Shoes: Sizing Guide
Lasts
Alden's lasts may seem a little confusing to first-time buyers. Our posters in the Alden thread for 2016 (archived pre-2016 Alden thread here) have a wealth of experience and knowledge about Alden sizes. We were able to compile this guide...
10.5D it is then
if your brannock size says 10.5 B/D, then I am sure that will work for you. Though I will say that loafers can be a little unexpected in terms of size, you really need great fit so your heel doesn't pop out.
yeah true
It’s very hard to figure heel slip, and explain it to people that arent familiar. Definitely expect to have some slip when they’re new - and maybe still some if you’re wearing thinner socks
But it should never be enough that they’re coming off of your feet / you need to consciously keep them on
Fair
coming back to this
so my size for Adidas Stan Smith is 10 men
they fit comfortably no issues
would you say size down 1/2 a size?
im assuming width of Adidas Stan Smith's are width: D?
sounds like its pretty standard
I have Meermin loafers in 9.5D but they are a little tight, so maybe a 10D is right
you know, actually i think 9.5D is correct
I’d advise getting sized on a brannock before getting Alden’s.
That said - I take a 9.5uk in most Meermin, and go for a 10 in most ~1/2 down Alden lasts (Barrie & trubalance). Keep in mind I do have narrow feet.
hm alright thats good to know
I might instead try and go somewhere and try on some Aldens then order online