Alden is an excellent option in Americana fashion. The Massachusetts-based shoe company has been around since 1884 using premium fabrics and handcrafted production.

The Alden Indy Boots look clean and have some obscene technical specs including waxhide leather, an oil resistant neoprene outsole, and an interior tempered steel shank from heel to bail for extra support. Awesome comprehensible fact: originally known as the 405, the boots were renamed after being featured on the feet of Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones.

Available at: French Trotters

Common Projects continues to impress us with each season including their Autumn/Winter 2010 line. The brand encourages dressing up more often with their new Wing Tips, which stand out for us in the new collection. The Common Projects version does an excellent job in slimming down the silhouette  while maintaining the classic nature of the shoe. Like everything the brand does, they’re quality leather and Italian made.

Detailed shots ahead.

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Handsome had the chance to return to Boston over the weekend to meet up with a few stores and take in some of the city. We checked out some of our favourite spots and came across some new places too. Here’s a few suggestions for next time you’re in the city.

Bodega (pictured) is undoubtedly the highlight of shopping in Boston. The unassuming storefront seems exciting every time we visit. Make your way past the convenient store upfront, through the Snapple machine and check out the exceptional store space. You’ll be greeted by hardwood shelving, great service, Original Fake, Head Porter Plus and one of the best curated collections of sneakers in the country.

It’s worth the trip over to Charles Street to check out Uncle Pete’s. The boutique, owned by Pete Tam is a clean set up filled with Comme Des Garcons, Rag & Bone, Hype Means Nothing, YMC and Surface 2 Air.

Stel’s on Newbury Street fills a basement retail space with some well chosen brands including Robert Geller, Wings + Horns, APC, Nom De Guerre as well as Steven Allan.

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Common Projects debuted their Fall/Winter 2010 Footwear, which is now available at Colette. The brand is venturing into several new silhouettes and doesn’t disappoint. Our favourite this time around is The Artic Boot (pictured), which slims down the traditionally utilitarian boot.

Also check out the Achilles Low in green and the 5 Hole Slip On Mid ahead.

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Glenn O’Brien and Jay-Z have both provided advice to give up flip-flops for some summer shoes. Jeffrey Campbell is making things easy with his SF Huaraches made of woven leather. The shoes are a good option for some style-infused, sock-less summer days ahead.

Available at OAK NYC.

Black colourway and detailed shots ahead.

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Waitressing by night to finance her own store by day, Alya B. Kazakevich, handcrafts leather shoes, bags and belts. The twenty-eight year old entrepreneur hand tans leather with vegetable dye and assembles each piece herself with diligence and attention to detail. Custom ordered and hand-made, each piece takes two weeks to make. The final products are simple and timeless with a raw leather finish in a variety of shades.

More information and pieces ahead.

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Jojo Project is a shoe brand founded on social entrepreneurship. Founders Chris and Matt merge their Belgium business with aid in Africa through a three fold concept – Choose, Act, Check.

The process involves choosing your pair of shoes, picking a project to support (planting trees in Niger, or installing water pumps in Kenya) and then checking up on the progress of your donation via their website.

Click through for a video on the concept and footwear.

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Style Salvage ran an interesting interview with Erik Schedin this week. Shedin is a man who seems to know exactly what he wants in the products of his every day life. As a result, he’s put together a short list of pieces he loves and produced whatever fell short of his standards. His retailing began with just three products: white sneakers, American Optical Frames and Pledge Furniture Wax. His line has grown slightly and caught the eye of some important buyers in London.

Now, you can check out his meticulously chosen line of goods in his online store or at Dover Street Market.

Here’s an excerpt. Head over to Style Salvage for the full interview.

SS: Could you talk us through your current range and how it has evolved …
Erik Schedin: I designed the sneakers in the beginning of 2004, they were first produced in one size only, 44, and released on my website in 2008. In the beginning I had three products, the sneakers, the American Optical frames and the Pledge furniture wax. The frames had previously been used by the Swedish army and when they where being phased out I got the opportunity to buy the remaining stock. The Pledge furniture wax is unfortunately not possible to get anymore either, they stopped producing it at the same time as I released my site and I think that I got some of the last bottles. It reflects a sense of perfection and pokes fun at me being such a control freak.

Handsome Clothing is excited to let you know that select T-shirts from The Outer Space Series are now available at TNT – The New Trend’s Montreal location. After a solid match-up at TNT’s Toronto storefront, we’re excited to work with the exceptional retailer in another exceptional city.

If TNT is a new retailer for you, check them out for a collection of brands including Comme Des Garcons, B.Son, Fred Perry, Nice Collective, ACNE, Rag & Bone, Steven Allan, Rogues Gallery and many more.

TNT Montreal (6000 sq ft)
Women’s fashions, men’s fashions, shoes, accessories
4100 rue ST-Catherine Ouest

In our ongoing search for exceptional basics, we’ve stopped at Tabio when it comes to socks. Tabio’s details, fit and longevity make them worthwhile. They’re also available in an infinite array of colours and patterns to allow for some self-expression above the edge of your footwear.

You can pick them up at a handful of higher end retailers in the UK or shop their entire line for men and women in their online store.