Alden Leisure Handsewn (penny loafer) Restoration Report

[AlanC]

A long anticipated box from Alden showed up on my doorstep this morning.

I picked these up at a thrift store a couple of years ago. They are the 984 model. Since getting them I probably wore them more than any other pair of shoes I had. They needed a reheeling (badly). The heel leather cap had detached from the rest of the heel and was flapping around (tape didn't work ), so I decided to send them off for a full Alden Restoration. I took a lot more pre-restoration pics, but those are on my computer that crashed and I haven't been able to get to them (yet). You'll have to suffer through these.

I received a call from Alden to discuss them, and was told they were made in 1985. I had wondered just how old they were.

So here are the Restoration pics. You can see where there were nicks on the toes. They did as good a job as they could have there, I think. I was very pleased with how good the stitching on the top looks.

They came complete with box, bags and shoe trees (plus an Alden catalog!). I'm very pleased, and these ought to continue to be my go-to loafers for years to come. I've sure missed having them over the past six weeks. Let's hope they can make it another quarter century.

 

[tonyb]

So, how much did that set you back. Alan? Considerably more than you paid for 'em, I'd imagine, what with the all-new soles and heels and all. Still, money well spent, seeing how we'll all be lounging in the great beyond before those kicks go out of style, eh?

 

[AlanC]

Alden Restoration costs $135, which includes relasting and refinishing of the uppers, new soles and heels, full shoe trees, new bags and box, and shipping both ways. Not cheap, but also a quality, timeless product.

Let's hope I hold on long enough for another resoling or two!

 

[Feraud]

Alden did a great job on the restoration.

 

[tonyb]

Alden Restoration costs $135, which includes relasting and refinishing of the uppers, new soles and heels, full shoe trees, new bags and box, and shipping both ways. Not cheap, but also a quality, timeless product.

Let's hope I hold on long enough for another resoling or two!

Or four or five or ...

Not to get all morbid or anything, but it's a safe bet that the large majority of the vintage stuff in our possession was first owned by guys who, well, you know.

 

[AlanC]

^No, I understand. I just came across a peacoat thrifting that dates from the '50s. I did the math and figured--ah, that's why it was there!

I have a lot of great items that I hope are handed down for future generations. That said, I'd still like to put in a little more time with 'em.

 

[carter]

Alan, Thanks for posting this. I have a pair of Alden brogues that I considered restoring. You have convinced me to proceed.

 

[norton]

I have a pair of those that I bought new that are my absolute favorite. I'm glad to see your pictures of the restoration, some day mine will be heading there.

 

[Feraud]

Interesting to note the sole states Alden Restoration.

 

[AlanC]

^Yes. Allen Edmonds uses their regular sole in their refurbishments but notes them as refurbs with a little embossed hammer on them.

 

[cookie]

Or four or five or ...

Not to get all morbid or anything, but it's a safe bet that the large majority of the vintage stuff in our possession was first owned by guys who, well, you know.

Yeah but I love wearing what lttle of my Dad's stuff is leftover. Is this any different? The tragedy is if you don't wear recycled te clothes you do wear are generally poor quality....