Chum,

What is the prob?  I will take if you do not want.  The toe looks a bit un kosher,, but so be it.

Cheerio.

No, I like them a lot. But they are on the Plaza last, instead of the Barrie last, and come with single soles instead of double. I thought some traditionalists might be annoyed. Oh well.

Last edited by mafoofan (2009-01-23 12:08:14)

mafoofan wrote:

No, I like them a lot. But they are on the Plaza last, instead of the Barrie last, and come with single soles instead of double. I thought some traditionalists might be annoyed. Oh well.

No need for that. Quite nice (and I did drool a little).

Those have a far better shape than the normal Alden Barrie last version, much sleeker and longer, which is appropriate for this type of shoo. But the single soles are a mistake (throws off the balance) and cordovan is always unforgiveably hideous in appearance. They are neither fish nor fowl. This type of shoo only looks good with double (or triple) soles, and in brown calf. They are country shoos, country shoos.

These ones look likek the sort of novelty items I have come to expect from the Hawaiian Shoo Seller, i.e. from the "what if" category of "Let's try this! It will be super awesome!". Highly imaginative stuff, which does not work in real life. Designer nonsense. The classics are classics for a reason. Mess with them at your peril. Leave the messing around with classics to Japanese designers and their gay clientele from Nolita, NY (or wherever).

You have the good taste to go to Raphaell for your suits, why buy hideous American RTW shoos, which are neither fish-nor-fowl, and don't know their owner wants them to be?

tintin wrote:

The single sole enables a pairing with a suit.  That's what they were made for.

I have seen longwings with a single goodyear welted sole. They look fine.

But these ones have the reversed extra strip of leather (welt), which adds too much visual weight and needs the extra sole to balance it out. See the Vass book on shoemaking. I think he calls this double-stitching. Anyway, they are not for dress shoes (i.e. with suits).

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Those have a far better shape than the normal Alden Barrie last version, much sleeker and longer, which is appropriate for this type of shoo. But the single soles are a mistake (throws off the balance)

I agree that the Plaza version is nice; I disagree with you about the single sole.  In this case, I think the Alden longwing looks sleek with the single sole.

I dont like them, mainly because the balance seems off. There is alot of bulk and busy-ness on the uppers of a pair of longwings. The barrie last and double soles seem to complement the upper bulk, whereas the sleeker plaza last and single sole seem to fight it.  I think you mentioned in another post that the reason you prefer Alden over AE is because AE often makes their shoes too generic and international looking. It seems ironic to me that you have done just that with these shoes. The charm of the Alden longwing IS the bulky last and double soles.  When you change those things, you effectively lose the charm they have.

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Horace wrote:

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Those have a far better shape than the normal Alden Barrie last version, much sleeker and longer, which is appropriate for this type of shoo. But the single soles are a mistake (throws off the balance)

I agree that the Plaza version is nice; I disagree with you about the single sole.  In this case, I think the Alden longwing looks sleek with the single sole.

But with the 360 extended welt and double stitched welt? It's like putting skinny snow tires on a Corvette.

Alright, 'aving 'ad a 2nd look I think you've a point.   I don't know.

The_Shooman wrote:

Mafoofan:
Not a fan of the single sole at all; why did you cut it's dick off for?

heh, that's funny...I said the exact same thing on Style Forum

anyways, it's not a terrible shoe, but I agree with the sentiments about the aesthetic of the shoe not being in synch with the sole-welt-last-etc.  Actually the last is ok, I have a pair of Plaza last Aldens that are nice, and it's probably their most "elegant" last, tho I prefer the Barrie for a brogue

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Here's what I meant, by saying that if longwings have a single sole then they should be normal goodwear welted, like the ones below (and not the double stitched, 360 degree extra welt versions as per MFan's).

http://www.filmnoirbuff.com/forum/uploa … 9_c207.jpghttp://www.filmnoirbuff.com/forum/uploa … 9_b208.jpg

(Thanks to Doc for the photos, ask and ye shall receive!)

I think the reverse welt makes the side of the shoe look less broad-sided and pleasingly parallel the the all-around broguing. The version you show looks like it isn't finished.

Last edited by mafoofan (2009-02-04 14:53:00)

Very nice shoes Mafoo, I'd wear those in a heartbeat.

Russell_Street wrote:

Tony Ventresca wrote:

Remember, that most of what we post is for that huge number of readers who lurk on forums but never post.

Aye.

I can only hope I have presented some coherent thoughts that will discourage some youngster from wasting his money on similar shoos.