No. 33: Footwear for a People Who Live in Their Shoes

ALDEN / 1990s –

When I traveled for United Arrows (UA), my go-to shoes were Aldens.
I could walk for eight to ten hours a day without fatigue. Despite their weight, they were remarkably comfortable.
This is thanks to the Goodyear welt construction, which molds to your unique foot shape over time.
They're incredible shoes, with no break-in period to speak of. The welting is also beautifully executed,
and the round-square toe last is exceptionally well-designed.
The cordovan material comes from Horween, the supplier of the finest shell cordovan.
For the past two decades, Alden has exclusively purchased all of their A-grade shell cordovan.

At UA, we handled quite a few exclusive double-name models,
often with slight modifications to the specifications or different leather uppers.
From around 1990 to 1993, I would order the shoes I wanted and buy them as soon as they arrived.
My first pair of Aldens was a tassel loafer, but the lace-up shoes are actually more comfortable.

Back then, I wore them with slim-fitting trousers,
so they no longer pair well with the slightly wider pants inspired by the 70s that are popular now.
Their proportions feel a bit awkward with today's styles.

I'm drawn to the form of shoes, not just Alden, so I always start with the shape.
Then I consider the construction method and the quality of craftsmanship. When trying them on, I wear both shoes.
For lace-ups, if I feel a larger size would look more imposing, I might buy them one size up.
I believe I have Aldens in both size 8 and 8 1/2.