I don't like this.  If one wanted a more chiseled shape there are so many other places to get it that look better than Alden.

It doesnt look bad, but it looks uninspired.  Alden should stick with what they do best , a classic rounded toe American shoe

On the same note, I'm not so into the new Allen Edmonds "Seven" series which is trying to do the same for its line.  I saw them weeks ago when the new SoCal store opened and while they're nice enough, there's nothing there to make one pull the wallet out.  In AEs case, they could do a lot with their current style to make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing without going "italian"

Although my approach is memory-based, I'd confine my Alden buying to its classics (cordovan leisure handsewn; tassel loafer; and the Brooks cordovan steel-eyeleted blucher). The Crockett & Jones handgrades seem far more elegant to me than the Alden oxfords, even though their value is adversely affected by the weak dollar.

Regards,

Steven