Part II of this series focuses on your precious feet.  I will have to argue that in all of the Winter Conduit features, there is nothing more important and “investment” qualified than a purchase of quality boots.  If you live in an area that dips bellow 40 degrees Fahrenheit and rains at least a good third of the winter months (not looking at you So-Cal), boots are an essential.  You really can’t get away with it, sneakers just won’t do the trick.  In Scotland, I’ve been rocking my Red Wing 877 (#2 on the list) this entire semester, and I can tell you, I’m very grateful that Red Wing decided to not skimp on quality and build a classic, since I’ve encountered many occasions where they’ve saved me from a miserable day.  Lo and behold, they’re on the list 4 times.

The problem is though, that too many of us are turned off by the idea of boots because it often makes you look like a douche.  Not just a douche, but a wannabe-Timberland-”hip hop”-mama’s house-Ed Hardy douche.

Let’s not fall into that mindset that boots are allocated to that section of the human populous, because it’s not.  They’re functional footwear that can be used in the city or used in it’s proper setting whether it be the outdoors, traveling, hiking, hunting, etc.  A well worn pair that is beat to pulp when you wear it and then treated with care when you don’t could easily last you decades.  A pair of solid boots with some nice denim could keep you going for years.  It’s classic.

Image via "The Sartorialist"

I’ve created a run down on quite a few pieces of footwear, ranging from cheaper to pricy.  10 to be exact.  I try to never put up products that I’ve only heard through the grapevine.  I try my best to have either seen it in person, worn it, or at least have experiences with the said company.  Granted this isn’t always possible, and when it isn’t, I’ll let you know.  Trust me, even when a pair is half a grand, I wouldn’t put it up if it weren’t of a significant value.  This’ll hike up quickly on that Christmas list of yours.

1.  Red Wing Gentleman Traveler – $210 - Where do I start?  This Red Wing model has quite a following on the web-forums.  We’re talking hundreds of pages of shoe porn.  But not to justify with just hype, having seen these first hand, they are some of the best value for $200 dollars.  Extremely versatile.  Did I mention the power of eBay?

2.  Red Wing x J.Crew Irish Setter 877 – $150-325 - Agreed, it’s overpriced on J.Crew.  I purchased mine on eBay for well under half of the retail price.  Price aside though, I wear these every single day.  I’ve worn it for the past 3 months incessantly and they’ve yet to be broken in completely, still being beautifully stubborn, keeping my feet nice and toasty without losing it’s form.  Can you say the same for yours?

3.  Red Wing 875 – $150-200 - This is the classic.  These are the ones the dapper dude above is wearing, which is also the 877 cut a few inches shorter.  This is the classic work boot, the one with a true cult following.  You’ll see these on hipsters as well as the construction worker, and on the occasional woodsman.  This is the last time I’m going to say this, but eBay is your friend.

4.  Red Wing Chukka – $230 - This is specifically for my So-Cal readers.  No matter how badly you want to convince yourself that an 8″ high 877 is necessary in Los Angeles, it’s not.  This doesn’t mean that good footwear is beyond you, Red Wing still looks out for you.  A chukka that could be worn all year ’round but still stand up to a decent amount of a beating.

5.  L.L. Bean Katahdin Iron Works® Engineer Boots – $159 - I couldn’t leave Bean off the list.  I’ve seen the next Beans first hand, and of course I’ve worn and seen plenty of Bean products over the years.  You probably have something in your house by them, and for good reason.  Made by Chippewa, they’re one of the leaders in classic American outdoors footwear, much like Red Wing, just without as loud of a name.  Fit with a solid Vibram sole, you’ll be with this forever as well.

6.  L.L. Bean “Bean Boots” – $80 - The classic Bean Boot.  This shoe is what started the company, and it’s still being made the same today.  A rubber sole with a leather upper that’s all hand-made here in the USA.  The epitome of craftsmanship and functionality.  Wear this if you need the water protection.  You’ll surprise yourself with the various ways you can pair this with other things in your wardrobe.

7.  Seavees 7 Eye Trail -$210 - Seavees really went out of their way for this one.  I’m not too sure about these, as they don’t seem nearly as well made as the others.  But the reason I put this on is simply because I own a pair of their sneakers and find them one of the best sneakers I’ve ever owned, so I thought this should get a nod as well.  Modeled after a lot of moccasin-boots on the market right now, it’s worth a look.

8.  Thorogood 8″ Boots – $100-120 - These are imitations of the Red Wing 877 mentioned in #2.  They’re also still Made in the USA, I’ve actually handled these in a surplus store once and they were of fair quality.  Definitely a bang for the buck, but don’t expect such grandeur as the Red Wing.

9.  Russell Moccasin Mountain Climber -$294 - Now you’re in the big leagues.  Russell Moccasin has to be hands down my favorite footwear company in the States.  That says a lot, but the fact that each boot is fully custom, uses the best leathers, best craftsmen, and offer the best service out of a humble company tells me that they mean their business.  Since 1898, they’ve outdone themselves and have the respect of legions of outdoorsmen around the world.  I found a used pair on eBay (oops, mentioned them again) this summer for a very respectable price and decided to take it along with me on my Eurotrip.  Mind you, I’ve been having problems with my feet for a few years now, but after backpacking through Southern Europe with some Russells, I quite literally felt 0 pain.  Mark my words.

10.  Alden Indy Boots – $344-600 - I’ve seen these priced all across the board, depending on what model, which collaboration, etc. etc.  I’ll tell a store.  There was once a man who wore these every day of his life.  Couldn’t get it off of them.  One day he was cast for a movie by a man named Steven Spielberg.  As they were beginning to shoot the film, they asked the man to change boots.  He refused to do so, and said there was no way he was wearing anything else but the Aldens.  These became known from that point on as the Alden Indys.  Know what movie I speak of?  These are the king of boots in my book.  Can’t every go wrong with Aldens.

I’m a bit of a shoe freak. OK, a huge shoe freak, and moccasin-type shoes in particular. If there’s sneakerheads, then I must be a mochead cause I’m pretty legitimately obsessed. Making a top 3 want list for me is pretty huge since I have a strong and completely irrational desire to own pretty much any shoe that I even think is decent. So anyway, here it is:

1. Yuketen Maine Guide Boot – These are perfect. Moccasin construction, double layer bottoms wrapping the toe, Vibram sole, Goodyear welt construction, handmade. Gotta get me a pair of these. I must. I just need to figure out what to do about that five bill price tag….

2. Quoddy for South Willard Bluchers – I saw these online and although it did peak my interest, it certainly wasn’t on the top of my want list. Then one day a friend of mine came strolling in with a pair and I instantly went green with envy. Seeing them in person and on a person shot them straight up my want list. The grey suede and brick sole are a perfect match.

3. Alden 405’s (Indy Boot) – A little on the dressy side for me when they’re new, but man..when these break in they are ridiculous.

Obviously, the price tags are the main hurdle for all these and therefore are on my want list and not in my closet. Anyone feeling charitable?

Happy Thanksgiving. I’ve got some great food to eat, some football to watch and in general, some serious relaxing and to do. That’s what holidays are all about, right?

But tomorrow, the day after Thanksgiving, is not very holiday-like. Black Friday. It sounds so sinister and evil. Or maybe the day the stock-market crashed or the Hindenburg fell in flames. Nope, just the craziest shopping day of the year. I typically don’t partake in Black Friday madness, but I will take this time to begin putting together a wish list of Christmas goodies that I am dreaming of. Here is what has my attention this year (in no particular order)…

1. Navy Blue V-neck Sweater - I can’t believe I don’t have one as it’s a staple. I retired two of them last year, and this year I have none. I’m not too particular nor do I have a specific brand in mind. Just a nice, no-suprises, classic v-neck in dark blue please. Some exmples:

J Crew lambswool v-neck, $59.00:

L.L. Bean Lambswood v-neck, $59.00:

Lands’ End Drifter Cotton v-neck, $35.00:

2. V-Neck Sweater, not Navy Blue – I wouldn’t mind another v-neck in charcoal gray, heather gray, yellow or possibly even red.

3. Blue striped button-down oxford – Again, just clean, simple and classic for this shirt. A shirt that gets better and better with age.  My last striped oxford-cloth button-down was a Polo, and it lasted a good long time.  It washed nicely and always looked casual and comfortable without looking sloppy.  I blew out one of the elbows after five or six years, and still I continued to wear it under sweaters.  But with moving, I had to make some hard decisions, and keeping a blown-out shirt just didn’t make the cut.  So I’m back in the market.  Here are some nice options:

Polo Classic-fit Striped Oxford, $79.50:

L.L. Bean Wrinkle-Resistant University Stripe Classic Oxford, $34.50:

Brooks Brothers Traditional Fit Original Polo Button-Down Oxford, $79.50:

4. Penny Loafers – Preferably black, but I can roll with brown or oxblood as long as they’re dark (I already have some light brown loafers). The more classic the better. Here’s what I mean:

Bass Weejuns Goodwick, black, $129.00:

L.L. Bean Classic Penny Loafer, $99.00:

And The Ultimate… Alden Shell Cordovan Handsewn Mocasin, $546.00:

5. Cole Haan Hayden Penny – An odd combination of boat shoe and penny loafer, but I dig it.  These are listed on sale on colehaan.com between $79 and $99, depending on color.  I like the brown:

6. Pocket Knife – I like to carry a pocket knife for utility purposes such as opening packages, cutting loose threads, tightening sunglasses screws, etc. Basic with only one or two blades, and slim so it doesn’t feel bulky in your pocket. I had a nice Soligen knife that I picked up in Germany, but airport security confiscated it in the days before they would mail things to you. Before the Soligen knife, I had a nice Old Timer that served me well for maybe ten years.  A really good knife.  Not as deluxe as the Soligen, but it reminded me of being a Cub Scout, spending summers with my cousins on Lake Erie in Canada, and in general, it just like an old friend.

Uncle Henry Roadie, $11.97 (at knivesplus.com)

Schrade Old Timer, $11.95 (at knifecenter.com)

Buck Solo, $17 (at buckknives.com)

Case Small Pen Knife, $27.95 (at knifecenter.com)

7. Delmonico’s Steak Sauce – I received a bottle in 2008, for my birthday I think (thank you S.) and this stuff is a killer. I’m not a big steak sauce guy in general, but when I bring a lunch to work and drizzle a bit of this over the left-over Filet Mignon or New York Strip, it is amazing. And on potatoes or saute’d mushrooms and onions, delishamundo.  $5.95 (at delmonicosny.com).

8. J. Crew Woven Boxers - I have not tried them all, but I’ve tried a bunch, and the J. Crew boxers do exactly what I want boxers to do: Be comfortable and last a long time.  Last year at Christmas, you could get some patterns as cheap as $6.  Right now, they are two for $25.  Oh yes J. Crew, let’s dance.  Let’s see who blinks first.  You wanna go, let’s go!

9. Brooks Brothers Traditional Fit Non-Iron Dress Shirt – These shirts rule.  They look perfect right out of the dryer as long as you hang them promptly.  And they keep on looking great all day long.  They do not last forever, which is the only issue.  But for work or dressing up, they look fantastic and no trips to the cleaners.  For 2010, I’m sitting pretty on solids (thanks Mr. & Mrs. P.), so maybe…

Navy Windowpane, Green Tattersail, Blue Pic-n-Pic Gingham:

Well, that’s it for today.  Maybe I’ll come up with a few more things I’m dreaming of for Christmas, like some good socks, or a Rolex Submariner, MacIntosh tube power-amps (yes, plural as they are mono), 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible, 1967 Corvette Sting-Ray coupe, vintage Magnatone M10A guitar amplifier, etc.  I “need” it!

When it comes to quality shoes, men would not compromise with what is acceptable and suitable for them. This is because shoes define the attire of a person and determine how well turned out a person is. If clothes make the man, proper shoes complete his look, which is something that no fashion conscious person would ever ignore.

When it comes to Alden shoes, they represent a rich tradition of a shoe making legacy from times of yore. These shoes date back to the overall personality of those who can discern fine clothing, but also complement a person’s image and ensure that he is well accepted and acclaimed in genteel society. All this only goes to define the attire of a person is. If clothes make the man, proper shoes complete his look, which is a distinct and highly acclaimed kind of long lasting leather. If you are looking for high endurance and stylish shoes, then Alden shoes are so well fashioned that they are well able to stand the vicissitudes of time and make their mark as the comfort of the unique features and Alden shoes certainly do not disappoint the consumers in this regard.

You can check out the many types of shoes that are displayed online, you will be able to get a description of the most important features and salient aspects of these shoes is concerned, there is no room for any dissatisfaction as the distinguished mark of a person is. If clothes make the man, proper shoes complete his look, which is something that no fashion conscious person would ever ignore. As far as good shoes go, Alden Shoes are quite the rage in terms of fitting, style and design. These shoes are exquisitely fashioned and well designed for the pleasure and comfort of these shoes is concerned, there is no room for any dissatisfaction as the company goes out of its way to ensure superb fitting and extra comfort while also taking good care of the unique features and salient aspects of these shoes and connoisseurs of high fashion.

Such shoes are just what you need. care fitting, to style goodness and properties worth. as When durability. it As comes far to as Alden shoes online. If you care to move your cursor over the many types of shoes that spell quality and exquisiteness.

hi hi hi.
so! babies! they take up SO MUCH TIME!
i’m enjoying (almost) every second of it, naturally. but! whew!

ok, so i’ve been working on a pattern for baby leggings. s l o w l y.
like, maybe i will have some baby things in the shop by springtime?
that s l o w l y.

in the mean time, i’ve added some of the liberty print undies back in the shop!
none of them are completed yet (still need to elasticize them) so kindly give me a few days to finish them up before they’re sent off. and the compound dresses are taking me roughly two weeks to complete at the moment, so please order with some time to spare.

alden is finally figuring out how to entertain himself for like, oh, five minutes at a time. it’s a start! the main obstacle in our playing/working situation is that the play area is in the living room, which is kind of far from the studio and the studio is not baby safe. well, neither is the living room, but at least there aren’t pins and needles and paints and scissors everywhere. we’ll work it out! we had a play date with an eight month old the other day (an older woman! ooh la la) and it was remarkable how independent she seemed! totally chillin’ with her toys and clappin’ and sittin’ and bein’ cute as a button. i’m not in any hurry for my tiny little baby man to grow up or anything, but at least i know that *eventually* i might be able to get a few things done when we’re alone together. so far, all of the sewing needs to be done on weekends when papa’s home.

oh, right! this isn’t the baby blog. see? they take over your brain. completely. it’s kind of awesome and kind of frightening.

The go to shoes for the stylish man who wants to add some masculine elegance without losing a casualness to his looks, the Desert boot, or Chukka boot, has been the shoe of choice for the past few seasons in menswear. Whether a trend or not, the Chukka is a classic that will be here to stay.

Alden

Grenson

Pierre Hardy

I don’t ever feel the need to repost anything from ACL, although it’s chock full of good content, since everyone and their mom (or should I say dad) reads the site, but this video is just too good. I must pile it into my little virtual closet.
I love seeing the way things are made, seeing people have pride in what they’re doing, and seeing things being done right. This video has all that topped off with some fun stories from a man who’s been with the company since 1957. American made and keeping it real since 1884, Alden is the real deal.

Here’s a look that you probably can’t pull off in too many seasons other than Autumn. Enjoy.

Brooks Brothers Suede Vest

Ralph Lauren Cashmere Cable Crewneck Sweater

Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Solid Poplin Shirt in Khaki

Ralph Lauren Rugby Herringbone Pants

Paul Smith Socks

Alden Snuff Suede Penny Loafer

Once again, Fall is about rich textures, subdued colors, and multiple layers. So this look takes in a beautiful quilted suede vest in a nice brown from Brooks Brothers and pairs it with a soft khaki colored shirt. Throw on the crewneck in purple for the perfect cashmere texture and just the right amount of “pop” in color. Herringbone pants will be a hit, so keep vibing on your fall colers and match them with some crimson polka-dotted socks from none other than Paul Smith. Finally, the always trusty suede loafers from Alden. 

Brooks Brothers Vest, $548 at Brooks Brothers

Ralph Lauren Sweater, $425 at Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Poplin Shirt, $79.50 at Ralph Lauren

Rugby Herringbone Pants, $148 at Rugby

Paul Smith Socks, $30 at Paul Smith

Alden Shoes, $415 at Ben Silver

I decided to change the format of this, click on the images for a bit of insight and a closer look. I’ve also decided to throw in some items for the fairer sex, you may agree or disagree with my thoughts, but don’t do so until you do some thinking first.

The Northern Shores Team at Northern Shores Realty is your pre-eminent source for the finest in cottages and cabins in northern Michigan’s Trout Country. We don’t rely on fancy websites to gain our business, because our reputation and use of advanced social media marketing helps us connect with people just like us. We don’t try to market every property to every person – we’re selective about who we work with, as you should be. We work hard to meet your needs and find the best deals on waterfront, and near-waterfront properties. We specialize in picturesque lakes off the beaten path, like the Upper Chain O Lakes and Highland Lakes regions, and gorgeous, gin clear scenic rivers like the Jordan, Cedar and Au Sable. We seek to maximize your real estate investment dollars, and help you spend more time in the wilderness and on shorelines here in Northern Michigan.

Northern Shores Real Estate is based out of Bellaire and Mancelona, Michigan. We’ve lived up here for years, and our families live in Traverse City and near the Twin Lakes near Kalkaska / Mancelona. We know the region. We hike its trails, we kayak its lakes and rivers, we toss flies at trout when we get a chance….and we keep an eye out for cabins, cottages, camps and wilderness properties that are seldom found anymore. We’re not posers trying to make a sale, we’re real people that want to be your neighbors, that want you to experience the Northern Michigan you remember from days gone by.

Here’s just a few of the locales we service in Northern Michigan:

Acme | Alba | Alden | Bay Shore | Beaver Island | Bellaire | Benzonia | Beulah | Boyne City | Boyne Falls | Cedar | Central Lake | Charlevoix | East Jordan | Eastport | Elberta| Elk Rapids | Ellsworth | Empire | Fife Lake | Frankfort | Frederic | Glen Arbor | Grawn | Grayling | Honor | Interlochen | Kalkaska | Kewadin | Kingsley | Lake Ann | Lake Leelanau | Leland | Mancelona | Maple City | Mayfield | Northport | Old Mission | Omena | Rapid City | South Boardman | Suttons Bay | Thompsonville | Traverse City | Walloon Lake | Williamsburg

We’re aware of some fabulous deals on waterfront and near-waterfront properties on the following lakes:

HIGHLAND LAKES REGION

Bear/Cub Lakes | Blue Lakes | Guersney Lake | Indian Lake | Manistee Lake | North Crooked Lake | Papoose Lake | Pickeral Lake | Squaw Lake | Starvation Lake | Twin Lakes

CHAIN OF LAKES

Benway Lake | Lake Bellaire | Central Lake | Clam Lake | Elk Lake | Ellsworth Lake | Hanley Lake | Intermediate Lake | Scotts Lake | Six Mile Lake | Lake Skegemog | St. Clair Lake | Torch Lake | Wilson Lake

We specialize in rivers & streams in Northwest Michigan – the place Hemingway called the “last good country”, and what others call “Trout Country”. We know of some great opportunities on the following rivers, streams and creeks:

Acme Creek | Apple Creek | AuSable River | Bancroft Creek | Barker Creek | Battle Creek | Bear Creek | Betsie River | Big Bear | Creek Big | Cannon Creek | Black Creek | Boardman River | Bowens Creek | Buttermilk Creek | Carter Creek | Cedar Creek | Cedar River | Cedar Run Creek | Clam River | Cold Creek | Ellis Creek | First Creek | Grass River | Green River | Herring Creek | Jackson Creek | Jordan River | Kids Creek | Knowles Creek | Little Betsie River | Little Rapid River | Manistee River | Miller Creek | Mitchell Creek | Muskegon River | Parker Creek | Pierson Creek | Pine Creek | Platte River | Rapid River | Saloon Creek | Silver Creek | Slagle Creek | Soper Creek | Spencer Creek | St Clair Creek | Stanley Creek Stream | Torch River | Williamsburg Creek

Orange Carhartt Watch Cap. Merket er selvsagt møysommelig fjernet.

Black Never Sleep Baseball Jacket. Rogue Gallerys lillebror…

Gitman Brothers Vintage Flannel Blue Grey Plaid.

Levi’s 501. Dark Indigo. Litt kjedelig valg, men det er de eneste som virkelig passer meg…

Burfield Gloves South African Goat Skin

Alden Indy Boots

Billykirk Belt & Large Carryall

Field Notes

Fisher Matte Black Bullet Space Pen

The Monkey Wrench Gang av Edward Abbey

Musikk på øret – en samling med Feel Free Friday Classics

Mat i magen – Huevos Rancheros

/Kenneth Tangnes

Wow. Really nice. Available at Context. If only I had a money tree, I would drop by here.

The Goodyear sole on these definitely take the Indy boot into a new realm – A bit less dressy and more down-to-earth, work boot-like. I dig it.

via Selectism

ok, friends. i’ve never enjoyed keeping more than one blog. i try to be a Here I Am sort of person, not separating one part of me from another and i tend to think that separating blogs by subject or theme or aesthetic, what-have-you is like posturing or having a split personality. i can think of two notable exceptions, so please don’t be offended if you’re a multi-blogger! and anyway, here i am. the time has come. for this blog will eventually, as my flickr account has done, become The Alden Show and as much as i obviously enjoy bragging about our golden boy, i also need to remember that i am a separate person. yes! me! i am still me. and i plan on sewing again! hopefully sooner rather than later. and this blog should be about that. and you know, random soap-boxing.

this isn’t to say that i’ll never mention the bunny. how could i not? also, i’d really really like to eventually get some baby and kids’ clothes out there. it’s just to say that The Alden Show is moving to its own channel. he does deserve it, after all. good news if you like baby blogs, good news if you don’t. it’s a win-win for all–hooray!

anyway, i don’t want to jinx anything, but the past three nights have seen sleeping stretches of four hours or more, so i may just have some functioning-human-style energy back soonish! this (and the pending arrival of fall’s cooler temperatures) is bringing me slowly out of my in-the-moment state of mind and thinking ahead again. only this time, instead of worrying about what’s down the road, i’m really excited and happy. nothing is perfect and in fact, much is incredibly tough at the moment, but i’ve never been more optimistic or hopeful. so maybe there will be sewing news soon! or maybe not! but there will be sewing news here again.

woahhhh, hi blog!
i’ve missed you!
sorry for the long stretch of silence. i guess you could say i’ve had my hands full.

so, babies, huh?? pretty awesome. in our month together, alden has managed to weave himself into our hearts in such a way that it’s hard to imagine that he hasn’t always been there. i know, i know! but it’s so true. he looks like everyone i’m related to and everyone ian’s related to an even though he’s still brand new, he’s so familiar, even while we know we’re just getting to know him. his name does mean “old friend” after all. he has more personality than i thought possible for a newborn and though he has yet to really smile or laugh yet himself, he cracks us up constantly.

of course, it isn’t all cooing and giggles and i’ve definitely shed my share of sleep-deprived tears over his late night whimpers. and today? today i silently wept on the L as i desperately tried nursing him while ian held up a blanket to cover us and alden wailed and screamed and took on a look not unlike a cooked lobster. we were on our way home from a trip to the met with my parents and bunny had been in his carrier, strapped to me pretty much all day, taking only a few light snack breaks when i would worriedly remind him that he needs to eat. it was hot out and by the time we got on the train, though i’d taken off all but his diaper and cover, he was clammy and cranky and i, in my sleep-deprived state, was convinced he had heat stroke and was going to pass out if he wasn’t hydrated IMMEDIATELY. sigh.

needless to say (for anyone who has had babies), he was fine and as soon as we got home he stopped crying and opened his big blue peepers and gave me a look as if to say, “that was fun! what’s next?” and i was the only one left crying. such a novice! but after a nice, 2 hour nap, we’re back into our little quasi routine, about to eat some dinner and watch the last disk of mad men, season one. bunny’s asleep on my chest and all is well.

except, what is up with this health care reform backlash?? i swear, you drop out of society for a month and the country collectively puts on some sort of absurdist play. unbelievable. and woah, whole foods, huh? well, for anyone else in need of a little sweetness to counteract THAT insanity, alden’s been hamming it up over on flickr.

     I enjoyed Assassin’s Creed so much that when a similar, sandbox sort of video game came out, I jumped on top of it.  Well, actually, the game that looked more like Assassin’s Creed, Prototype, wasn’t as good, but inFamous had superpowers, so I figured it would be a winner.  It’s about a poor bike messenger named Cole McGrath living in a fictional city called Empire City.  A package that he has to deliver ends up blowing up in his face, destroying a huge chunk of the city.  Power goes out, and a plague begins to ravage the city, so the government sets up a quarantine.  And Cole develops electricity-related powers, like Static.  Cole interacts with various other characters, including his pal Zeke, his ex-girlfriend Trish, and an FBI agent named Moya, as well as various superpowered gangs fighting over Empire City, which are led by the seductive Sasha, the old and bitter Alden, and the mysterious Kessler.  Over the course of the fighting, he can, depending the player, became a famous hero, or an infamous villain.

     So, you can run around Empire City, hopping across rooftops, using your electrity to zap, bombard, or slam into various enemies.  Or you can just punch them.  The game functions kind of like an FPS, except with electrity instead of guns.  And you can choose whether or not you kill anyone, which is nice.  Electricity is potentially less lethal than bullets.  You go around the city helping people, beating up bad guys, restoring power, and completing various other missions.  Crucial to the game is the Karma system, which determines what kinds of powers you receive as time goes on.  If you do good things, people like you more, and you get good powers.  If you do bad things (like kill people), people will run away from you or throw things at you, and you get evil powers.  Red electricity powers (Star Wars, anyone?).  You can glide, zap people, throw electricity grenades, toss objects, and even summon lightning storms.

     This is a really fun game with great gameplay and a highly compelling story.  The Karma system is a brilliant way of allowing people to pick their own path, though ultimately, either way, you end up having to make one decision that results in one of the most shocking and visceral twists in gaming (think Aerith Gainsborough).  The gameplay is quite intuitive, and you’ll pick up on how to use new powers really fast.  Certain missions can be hard, but for the most part, the difficulty curve is quite reasonable.  You may have to do some missions over, but the game’s auto-save function means that you may not even have to repeat a whole mission.  The characters are extremely interesting too, though the acting isn’t exactly the best I’ve ever heard.  Cole kind of sounds like Christian Bale’s Batman, and Zeke gets on your nerves a bit quickly.  I was happy to hear Jessica Strauss as Sasha, though, which I totally called, by the way.  The game’s cinematics look like comic book pages, which can be annoying at first, though they grow on you quickly.  And the graphics aren’t perfect, especially with faces, which often look twitchy.  But the backgrounds and actual city look great.  It’s fast-paced if you follow the story missions only, but it can also be slow and fun if you want to go around and clean up Empire City a block at a time.  So it’s your choice to be a hero or a villain.  But this is a great sandbox video game that’s one of the most fun Playstation 3 games of 2009.  If you own a PS3, it would be criminal of  you not to get this game.

Story: 9.2      Gameplay: 9.0      Presentation: 8.6      Soundtrack: 8.8      Acting: 8.2      Overall: 9.0

Wolf Mill continues their home stand late into the season with a close loss to Alden, who knocked them out of the first round of the Wood Cup. Chris Lambe returned despite continued knee troubles at Baker City along with Mike Smith. Lambe, seeking revenge, did not get it in the form of physicality because his nemesis, Alden’s #4, did not participate in this contest. However he did put one in the back of the net to tie 2-2 before Alden took a late lead. The game was a chippy one and the officiating crew struggled to keep control. In the end it was too little too late, as is normally the case, for Wolf Mill as they fell in this one.

he’s here! alden louis was born on the ides of july. he is the best thing ever.

i’ve been debating whether or not to type out his birth story here. going in, i was very excited to be able to eventually share mine, since reading others’ stories was really helpful to me in the weeks leading up to alden’s arrival. but i don’t want to scare anyone, as our story, though it isn’t necessarily frightening, has some parts that still freak me out and give me nightmares. suffice it to say, that what just about every mother will tell you is completely true: no matter how much you read and research, there is absolutely no way to truly prepare for the experience of giving birth. you never know what is going to happen and you can plan for a normal birth as much as you would like, but in the end, all that really really matters is that you and your baby are healthy. so! there we have it, for now.

ian went back to work today and the babe and i are just hanging out, eating and sleeping and looking at one another. he’s pretty irresistible. and he eats A LOT. so i’m operating on maybe three hours of sleep total for the past 24 hours. i’m pretty sure the past week has been like this, but the days run together like they’ve never done before. so pardon the quietness around here. we’ll post some more photos soon…

Keeping things moving with the footwear collaborations we bring you a look at Context Clothing’s collaboration with Alden for this exclusive Tanker boot. The boots were designed after US military model used in WWI through WWII. The boots are completely bench made with a calf leather upper, hand stitched mock style toe, flexible leather insole made to mold to your feet, and a low profile commando style sole. These are one of the best looking service style boots I have seen as of late, right up there with the Dayton Wings + Horns boots in my books. Check Context for more info and keep reading for more pics…

/85

Blog post from February 2009.

Demonstrative of my thought process in action, on pondering ’70’s crime films, in this case, ‘Charlie Varrick’ and ‘The Friends Of Eddie Coyle’ after discovering that ‘…Eddie Coyle’ – which is a first-rate Boston-based heist thriller with some of the best dialogue of all time (based on a great novel too), is set for Criterion’s lovingly restored DVD treatment in a few months. This is down to a hint in their newsletter. It also means I opted to refrain from watching a bootleg today. I can wait. How such a film languishes in cultdom is a whole ‘nother topic of rant.

This led to a consideration of Mitchum’s ’70’s output, containing a frugal handful of classics, but classics nonetheless, where he was perfect for these world-weary roles. He was the model of grizzled cool then, but in his first wave of success, he was particularly iconic. On his 1948 arrest and incarceration for marijuana possession, one look truly stands out – somehow he wrangled permission to break prison uniform code to wear his fine-grained Cordovan leather shoes along with his regulation prison attire. To those trying to balance authentic utitilarian looks with costly accessorising today, the brutal truth is that you won’t top Bob. And rather than crow about his sartorial accomplishments online, his presumed intent was to retain some of his glitzy status and freedom by way of footwear.

I’ve never been 100 percent as to the original source of the photo below – photographers and journalists were invited in to share Mitchum’s humiliation, and he in return was apparently very civil. LIFE ran a lengthy piece on his enforced stay, but this image isn’t my favourite. In Lee Server’s biography of the man himself, ‘Baby I Don’t Care’, an image of Mitchum sitting in his cell displays a particularly distinctive blend of basics and luxury. Unfortunately a broken scanner leaves me at the behest of Google Images.

This led me to ponder the shell cordovan shoe.

To answer Red’s enquiry, “How often do you really look at a man’s shoes?” A lot. Shell cordovan footwear is something I aspire to wear. With the leather in question taken from an equine source, and having horsey friends I should feel guilty at this aspiration. But I’d sooner see the hide from it’s rump on my feet than going to waste. Plus I won’t pretend I wouldn’t get a kick from telling them that I’m rocking shoes made from Shergar. More dignified than ending up as glue or canine chow too. For a second I even thought prices might drop, with the tragic slaughter of racehorses due to the current economic climate, but I guess the time consuming process of cutting, vegetable tanning and splitting would still remain.

First created in Cordova in Southern Spain – hence the name – and used to bind books and suchlike, shell Cordovan is also known as ‘crup’ in the UK. Dense, soft and well-wearing, it can apparently be applied to goat or pigskin too. But that would be cheating.

As a Brit, and one who thinks we run the shoemaking game, I have to confess that when we’re talking shell Cordovan, I still instinctively think Stateside. I always imagined Bob was sporting a nice pair of Aldens. These are the shoes I would like to own. The pictured wingtips are pretty impressive.

Alden cordovan wingtips

Alden have been in business since 1884, and their shell Cordovan comes from the Horween Leather Company, based in Chicago. I particularly admire onetime company president Arnold Horween Jr’s declaration that, “As tanneries go we’re not the biggest, the fastest or the cheapest, which means we need to be the best. Our business is built on doing things other people don’t, won’t or can’t.” They’re not cheap. But as well as making exclusive pieces for stores like Leather Sole , Alden reputedly make shoes for other brands too, which means if you buy some Cordovan numbers from Brooks Brothers, they’re from the same source.

Shell Cordovan shoes from Brooks Brothers

Florsheim Imperial were apparently makers of ’status shoes’ in the ’50s and ’60s, but nowadays, I’m not sure as to what’s being produced. They seem to have become a big corporate entity. Seemingly, Wisconsin-based Allen Edmonds is still putting out some great footwear, and they’re famous for using the costly leather too. Rider Boot Co. make some interesting pieces too, including a 7-eyelet wingtip boot, incorporating three speed eyelets.

If you can look beyond the comedy corporate music and voiceover, this Allen Edmonds factory tour is a good watch -

Florsheim Imperial Kenmore shell cordovan longwings – picture stolen from Georgia at Style Forum

Allen Edmonds Cambridge in cordovan – stolen from the excellent Indigofan

As with anything detailed and clothing-related, obsessiveness follows, and there’s much debate over Japanese cordovan. The Shinki-Hikaku tannery, in business since 1951 boasts “More than half a century with horse leather”. I think Warmcraft is their in-house brand. World Footwear Gallery has some amazing stock and great imagery. In Japan, there seems to be huge demand for quality formal footwear, with brands like Spain’s Magnanni rightly deified.

Warmcraft x World Footwear Gallery – made in Japan

Can’t forget about the homegrown legends either. While I think the hunger for ‘crup’ might be more prevailent in the US and Asia, British brands have a heavy rep globally so they all make Cordovan pieces. Crocket & Jones, Church’s (as bought then sold, then bought again) by the Prada group and Tricker’s make some good designs. Tricker’s make some crazy variations on their Stow Boot from the material, in off-the-wall shades like green.

Crocket & Jones Shell Cordovan 2007/8

Tricker’s cordovan Stow Boot in green – pic stolen from Thomas7610 on Style Forum

I don’t really understand the appeal of Augusta and Carol Christian Poell’s pre-distressed laceups. While I’ve got a lot of respect for both labels (particularly CCP), given it’s susceptibility to minor marking/welting from rain, I imagine it’s not hard to get your own special effects from sustained wear, despite its reputation for longevity. Their use of oiled Cordovan is interesting though. While it already has high oil content in the leather, it would make them a little more versatile, but at the same time compromising the original aesthetic appeal. Each to their own I guess. Alden themselves offer a thorough maintainence guide to looking after your purchase on their site.

Augusta pre-distressed cordovan lace-ups

Carol Christian Poell pre-distressed cordovan laceups

Somehow, I don’t think Bob would approve of all this fuss.

The following is Professor G. Bruce Boyer’s take on the tassel loafer, lifted from 1998’s March / April issue of Cigar Aficionado, to which Prof. Boyer often contributes.

The first few years after the end of the Second World War had all the tumult that transitions tend to evince. Perhaps 1948, with its joyous beginnings and sad endings, was the prototypical postwar year. It seemed that people were more eager than ever to put bloodshed behind them, and the pace of returning to normalcy quickened.

In 1948, the U.S. Congress passed the Marshall Plan, allocating $12 billion for economic aid to Europe, and Harry S Truman was the first newly elected president in 16 years. W. H. Auden won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry with his presciently modern The Age of Anxiety, and T. S. Eliot, author of The Waste Land, the poem that set the literary tone for the first half of the century, was recognized with the Nobel Prize for literature. Alfred Kinsey published his scientific study Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, which began to bridge that wide Victorian chasm between what we said we did and what we really did. Joe Louis retired after defending his title 25 times since 1937, and George Herman “Babe” Ruth, the Sultan of Swat, died. Aficionados of the sport of kings were treated to the only horse to win the triple crown for the next 25 years: Citation (Eddie Arcaro up, in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes).

Loafers, tasseled.

Several new consumer items that year also indicated that the memory of the war was finally receding and civilian life was roaringly returning: the LP record, the Porsche 356 and the tassel loafer. The record and the Porsche have undergone considerable transformation since then, but the elegant tassel loafer is celebrating its 50th anniversary basically unchanged. A classic from the first.

It’s easy to believe that the unflappable tassel loafer was around for much longer, that it might have been a creation of the elegance of the 1930s, as was the moccasin-style slip-on itself. The good old American loafer was really an adaptation of a Norwegian fisherman shoe, which became popular in America between the wars in Europe. It had been introduced in the States in 1936 by the Bass Shoe Co., which called the new style “Weejun,” acknowledging its derivation.

By the latter half of the 1940s, this casual shoe had become de rigueur on college campuses across the country and was known as a “penny” loafer, after the fad of putting a copper coin in each of two instep slots. As such it became part of the postwar collegiate uniform of button-down shirts, khaki trousers, tweed sports jackets and Shetland crewneck sweaters. In a very short time, it had come to eclipse its greatest casual campus footwear rival, the saddle oxford.

Just about the time the penny loafer was solidifying its power as BSOC (Big Shoe On Campus), those graduates who had gone from prep school to Ivy League to Wall Street began looking for a comfortable, casual shoe that had a bit more sophistication. They were used to the idea of a comfortable slip-on, but needed something a bit dressier for life in the business world.

At this point in our story, we have specific information and can start naming names. Our first debt of gratitude goes to Paul Lukas. Not particularly well remembered today, in his time Lukas was known to moviegoers of the period as a rather debonair character actor (in such films as The Lady Vanishes and Watch on the Rhine). It seems that Lukas had bought a pair of oxfords in Europe that had little tassels at the ends of the laces. Very jaunty, thought Lukas, and…well, let me quote Robert Clark, vice president and spokesman for the Alden Shoe Co., at this pertinent juncture:

“Lukas took his shoes to New York shoemakers named Farkas & Kovacs, and asked them to make something similar, perhaps with the laces woven through the topline of the shoe. Lukas was pleased with the design Farkas came up with, but didn’t like the fit. Then he took one shoe to the New York firm of Lefcourt and the other to Morris Bootmakers in Beverly Hills, asking them each to develop a better version.”

Surprisingly, but perhaps not completely coincidentally, both stores brought the request to Alden. Not coincidentally because in 1948 Alden already had a 64-year reputation as one of the best shoemakers in the United States. At the time, the company’s president was Arthur Tarlow Sr., a descendant of an original partner whose family had acquired the firm when founder Charles Alden retired in 1931; it remains a family business to this day. But back to Clark’s story:

“Tarlow examined the shoe and thought he could come up with a better design. He produced a completely new pattern which incorporated the topside lacing and tassels in a slip-on version on a new, more comfortable last [shoe mold]. So what was originally an oxford was now a sophisticated slip-on, with the leather lace and tassel kept as decoration.”

We can assume, then, that Paul Lukas was the first person to wear tassel loafers. But Alden realized there was something to these shoes. There was indeed a market for a shoe that was at the same time comfortable, casual and elegant. All of which has a decidedly contemporary ring to it, I know.

“Alden continued to experiment for another year with the design until they were satisfied,” Clark goes on, “and decided to put the shoe into their production line for 1950. They chose the Lefcourt and Morris stores as the retail outfits of distinction to premiere the new shoe. Tarlow knew he was on to something when he got an order from Morris: a customer had ordered 26 pairs the first week the shoes were set out for display! The tassel loafer was an immediate success with the sophisticated tastes of New York and Los Angeles men, and by 1952 these two stores were carrying the shoes in some 20 varieties of color and leather.”

In the years that followed, the tassel loafer was introduced to upscale traditional clothing stores around the country. Then, in 1957, Brooks Brothers, at the height of its fame as the Ivy League emporium, approached Alden and expressed an interest to include the shoe in its collection. “Especially for them,” Clark explains, “Alden produced a tassel loafer with a distinctive decorative foxing at the back part of the shoe, which remains exclusive to Brooks Brothers.” The foxing is the raised stitching on either side of the heel cup. Regular Aldens have a plain heel cup with a strip of leather up the back seam.

While the tassel loafer was made in a variety of colors and leathers–and still is–what we have come to think of as the ne plus ultra is the dark, reddish-brown Cordovan leather model.

The name is from Cordova, or Cordoba, the city in southern Spain thought to have been established by the Carthaginians and long having a reputation for fine leather, just as the central Spanish city of Toledo had the reputation for finely tempered steel sword blades.

Most good leather shoes are made from calfskin. Cordovan leather (its full and proper name is shell Cordovan) comes from the subcutaneous layer of the rump of a horse. Horses are not bred or raised specifically for this purpose (all shoe leather is a by-product of animals raised for different primary purposes). It takes a large work horse to provide two circular pieces of leather (the shells; each shell is sufficient for one pair of shoes), and since we use fewer and fewer work horses, shell Cordovan is very limited and in shorter and shorter supply. Only one tannery in the world provides Cordovan leather to the shoe trade: Horween Leather in Chicago. As it happens, Horween’s other claim to fame is that it makes all the leather for National Football League footballs.

Shell Cordovan makes excellent shoe leather because of its superior durability, extraordinary softness and beautiful luster. It is the least porous of leathers, and is characterized by a waxy finish and rich patina that improves with wear and polishing. It has plenty of what you’d call character. “Funnily enough,” adds Clark, “in the early part of this century, shell Cordovan was used primarily for razor strops. It was only after the Gillette Company almost put an end to Cordovan tannage through its introduction of the ‘Blue Blade’ for its safety razor, which needed no stropping, that the leather’s suitability for shoes was explored.”

High-volume production methods and fancy technology are powerless here. Old-school handwork is what gets the job done. The shells undergo a natural, pure-vegetable tanning process, then they are hand-stained, glazed and finished. Any imperfections disqualify the shell.

Today, Alden makes the legendary tassel loafer in oxblood, black, mahogany brown, whiskey (light) tan and ravello (dark) tan Cordovan (priced at around $375); and in burgundy, black, walnut brown, tan calf and brown suede (at around $245). The black calf version has been Alden’s best-selling shoe for the past 40 years. It has become known as the lawyer’s shoe, as when George Bush during his presidential campaign with Bill Clinton complained that Clinton was supported by “every lawyer that ever wore a tasseled loafer.” And Bush, an Eastern Establishment guy if ever there was one, should know.

The shoe is also very popular in Europe and Japan. In Germany, it sells for twice the price sought in the United States, and in Japan, where there is something of a cult following, limited numbered editions sell out within a day or two for upwards of $750 a pair. “When other manufacturers complain of the closed market of Japan,” Clark says with a smile, “I like to tell them that.”

What accounts for this legendary status? Well, it’s a top-quality, comfortable shoe of elegance and proportion, to be sure. But Bob Clark has come up with what is perhaps the best answer: “It’s the versatility. For half a century now it’s been an appropriate choice for both the boardroom and the country club. It lends respectability to the army of lawyers and lobbyists who pervade our corridors of power, and serves as a symbol of elegance and the good life for successful professionals and businessmen.” And who should know better. *

For the nearest venue contact: Alden Shoe Co., 1 Taunton Street, Middleborough, Massachu-setts 02346. Phone: (800) 325-4252.

My father instilled the value of the dollar in me at a very young age. Ever since, I have not been comfortable making purchases without good reason. As of late, I’ve let that slide a bit what with frequent impulse buys and going through packs of gum like water. I’ve gotta get back on the track of only buying when I need and not because I want. Do I want or need Alden Custom Chukkas ($440)? Probably want, because I have a pair of Chukkas already. Though if I bought them I would need a good talking to.