Alden® for J.Crew unlined chukka boots in suede

Received the wrong order and the chukkas sold out before I could get a replacement. Customer service did help me out a little with some adjustments.

The J.Crew version of the Alden 1493 chukka boots strikes a great balance. The original Alden chukka boots lean a bit too dressy, with thinner laces and no brass eyelets. The brass eyelets and thicker laces on the J.Crew version make the boots feel more casual and give them a slightly rugged, workwear-inspired look. Because of that, they pair well with more dressed-down outfits and work with just about any type of pants.

The detail of the shoes are quite underwhelming, however, the shoes are still beautiful.

Alden's unlined suede chukkas are simply fantastic and might just be the best lightweight smart casual boots for Spring/Summer. Personally, I pair these with a casual button-down Oxford shirt and 770 fit dark wash jeans. This boot is built on the Leydon last which runs fairly true to your normal U.S. Brannock size in length, but it's Alden's most narrow last with a shallow toe box. Most choose to go true to size or go up a width (which J.Crew doesn't carry). This specific makeup for J.Crew has brass eyelets, antique welt and edge dressing, and a single flex leather outsole for less of a break-in process. Absolutely worth the investment.