Jin431
Call Me a Cab
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Sagara Cordmaster, olive badalassi with black overdye
That's a great collection of Alden's. Guys in the US are lucky - in the EU you can find only black and no.8 shell cordovan Alden's. I think my next major buy will be either the C&J Harlech or the Carmina 80184 in whiskey shell.My boot collection. The top row are all Aldens. The two newest arrivals are the plaza lasted cigar shell and the grant lasted whiskey shell next to them. The bottom row includes a dress balmoral boot from Crockett and Jones and two from Alfred Sargent. I don't have enough jackets to pair with them, but I have a Thedi on order from Thurston Bros that should come just in time for fall.
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Twice a year Carmina has their custom weekend (23% discount on custom mto shoes).That's a great collection of Alden's. Guys in the US are lucky - in the EU you can find only black and no.8 shell cordovan Alden's. I think my next major buy will be either the C&J Harlech or the Carmina 80184 in whiskey shell.
Yes, this is what I've also heard, that Carmina pays much more attention to detail compared to Alden. However, this comes mostly from people who actually do not own Alden's but have just come across some pairs. There was a member here, probably in the very same thread, who actually owns both brands and he disagrees with this statement.Twice a year Carmina has their custom weekend (23% discount on custom mto shoes).
Their summer edition was last weekend, I ordered a pair of Norwegian split toes. A pair of fully customized cordovans would cost you about €850, which is a pretty good deal imo. Quality wise (attention to detail) I place Carmina above Alden or benchgrade C&J.
Yes, this is what I've also heard, that Carmina pays much more attention to detail compared to Alden. However, this comes mostly from people who actually do not own Alden's but have just come across some pairs. There was a member here, probably in the very same thread, who actually owns both brands and he disagrees with this statement.
As I have never owned a Carmina, but being a happy owner, among many other brands, of 4 pairs of Aldens and 4 pairs of C&J's (both bench- and handgrade), I can tell you that the Alden's could indeed pay more attention to the finishing of details.
BOTH in Rotterdam right? I got this very same pair years ago. By coincidence I was there yesterday, there was a discoloured pair of 975, no.8, that was probably left for too long under the sun in the shop window, really fascinating what the sun radiation can do. In general I'm not impressed with this shop.A few weeks ago I tried on these Aldens in a store in Rotterdam. Cordovan #8. Didn't buy them because they had an obvious flaw on the backstay / heel counter. Too bad I didn't take a photo of the flaw.
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Alden is infamous for horrendous quality control unfortunately.A few weeks ago I tried on these Aldens in a store in Rotterdam. Cordovan #8. Didn't buy them because they had an obvious flaw on the backstay / heel counter. Too bad I didn't take a photo of the flaw.
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BOTH in Rotterdam right? I got this very same pair years ago. By coincidence I was there yesterday, there was a discoloured pair of 975, no.8, that was probably left for too long under the sun in the shop window, really fascinating what the sun radiation can do. In general I'm not impressed with this shop.
As I told you: I own 4 pairs of Alden's. 2 of them are perfect regarding finishing. The 3rd is ok, some minor details that are not deal-breakers. The 4th one however (my Indy boot) has obvious flaws on the welt. Not any structural issues, however not something you'd expect regarding the price.
Yes I know, I've seen many posts from Alden fans on Instagram where they deliberately let their Alden's under the sun and monitor the evolution!In the Alden community, sun faded color #8 is sought after as long as it's relatively even between the two pairs. There is an expectation that different panels may not fade equally.