Cheap Chic: Thrifted Aldens

Thrift stores become a fast friend when your income doesn’t match your taste. A little digging can turn up quality garments undeserving of their castaway status. The key to successful thrifting is knowing what brands and styles to look for. That’s how I found two pairs of Aldens, each for $30 or less.

Founded in 1884, Alden is synonymous with timeless American quality. The brand experienced a surge in popularity during the heritage trend of the late aughts, though they still have a loyal following and command high resale prices. On marketplaces like eBay and Grailed, Alden shoes run anywhere from $200-400 — on a good day.

That’s what makes my thrift finds incredible. Perhaps I got lucky, but well-trained eyes get the prize. When I spied a $25 pair of black Alden tassel loafers at the Upper East Side location of Housing Works, I hoped they were my size. They fit like a glove. Though I rarely wear black shoes, one does not simply pass on a pair of Alden tassel loafers. In the six months I’ve owned them, the leather has developed a faded patina and cracked a little. It’s nothing that a shine and a quick repair wouldn’t fix, but they give my Aldens character and they still look good with tailoring.

I’ve wanted a pair of Alden’s unlined chukka boots for over two years, but had qualms paying the $547 retail price. The boots’ lack of structure lends them ease and lightness of movement, and creates a silhouette more contoured and refined than a typical chukka. They’re an everyday shoe that complements a rugged suit as well as they do a turtleneck and white jeans. Since Alden’s chukka boots rarely go on sale, I hoped I could find a secondhand pair under $200. Imagine my surprise when I walked into a Buffalo Exchange last weekend and saw a pair for $42. I knocked the price down to $30 because I traded in an old dress shirt, and walked out the store a happy man. For shoes I’ll wear for 20+ years and resole tens of times, that’s nothing short of a steal.

Will I find another pair of Aldens at a thrift store again? Who knows? The hunt is half the fun, especially when the loot is a pair of shoes $500 off its list price.