Today's Shoes

Day

Edward Green half-brogue bals in chestnut antique calf with single leather soles (Cadogan model, 202 last).

Evening

Alden punch cap bals in black calfskin with single leather soles (model 901, Hampton last). These really are the only shoes that will do when going to a funeral. RIP, Jim Carlstead.

Today's Shoes

Day

Alden punch-cap bals in black calf with single leather soles (model 901, Hampton last). These shoes bear the Brooks Brothers label, but they are identical to the Alden-labeled version.

Evening

Gravati chelsea boots in tobacco suede with single leather soles (16366, 655 last).

Today's Shoes

Day

Alden punch-cap bals in black calf with single soles (model 901, Hampton last). Yes, black. I actually do own some black shoes. I actually purchased these shoes from Brooks Brothers (on an excellent sale about five years ago), and they bear a Brooks Brothers logo. However, it would be evident that they were made by Alden even if I didn't know it from other sources. Alden makes all of Brooks' American-made shoes. Some are special Brooks-only models. This one isn't -- it's just the standard 901. I went up to Harold's in the Heights this afternoon to wish Harold Wiesenthal -- the founder of the store -- a happy 80th birthday and to take a look at some Gravati samples that the US rep had sent down to Jim Pierce. Jim took one look at my shoes and asked, "Alden?" Johnny Mykoff asked, "701?" A pretty good performance (only off by one digit) considering that Harold's doesn't sell Alden and neither one has looked extensively at the Alden line in years.

(The shoe pictured -- from the Alden Shop in San Francisco -- is actually a 9015, the same punch-cap bal in Color #8 shell cordovan, even though it sure looks black in that picture.)

Evening

Gravati four-eyelet split-toe bluchers in red-brown grained calfskin (Lama Larice) with single leather soles (16532, 655 last).