Enduring Classic

The Alden Wing Tip

The Alden shoe company was founded in Middleborough, Massachusetts, back in 1884 and remains the only original New England cobbler still in business. And for good reason. Their hand-stiched line of shoes are as sturdy as they are stylish. The company's popular Indy boot has been getting a lot of love latey, but it's their calfskin wing tip that showcases the beauty of an Alden shoe: a round toe, just lean enough to keep it from looking old-fashioned, while a substantial sole grounds the shoe (and its wearer) in rich American-made tradition. Of course, while four hundred dollars ain't cheap, these are the type of shoes that will last you a lifetime—literally. Which leads us to the burnished brown color, it not only goes with nearly everything in your closet, it just gets better looking with age.

$410, at Alden, San Francisco