The Leather Boot
Boots.
A key footwear item for inclement weather, and the footwear item of choice for looking more rugged, taller, and masculine. Or feminine if you find the right height heel—if that’s your goal! Every man on planet earth should own a pair of boots, I genuinely believe. Today’s article discusses a few tips, and really only one company recommendation, as I can’t bring myself to buy boots from any other.
Buying tips. Plain, smooth leather is highly recommended for your first pair, no matter the color. Suede and Nubuck are great second options to have, but the smooth with have so many more opportunities to be worn, even with a suit if brought to a shine.
Boot height should be around 6 inches to hit that sweet spot. Higher falls into combat/workwear. Lower can look like the ever-awkward ankle boot.
*minor apology to those who enjoy ankle boots/chukkas*
Thursday Boots: The Captain Boot (their photo)
Oxblood or mahogany are versatile while maintaining wearability, and not often seen in a boot. Though this would be a wearable boot, it will call attention. Not shout necessarily, but… it will murmur. (shoutout to G Bruce Boyer)
Black, while usually thought of as a great first choice, isn’t very attractive with most styles. There are some that it fits perfectly into, but varying shades of brown offer much more depth and opportunity to show your own style.
Thursday Boots: The Captain—with their new StormKing sole
Medium brown being a close second on my personal list, as chocolate brown is so overdone. Learning to play with nuances such as the differing types of soles (Leather—not recommended for boots, Rubber—preferred, Lug—as shown above, and better for shorter men) will also help greatly with having many options for formality; something previously touched on in our “Occasion” blog post.
Thursday Boots: The Duke
Lace boots are the preferred first, but an interesting alternative is the Chelsea boot. These are much more chic and modern but admittedly may fall out of fashion again in a year or two. A note for our thicc readers: the juxtaposition between a Chelsea boot’s slim profile and a large man can, and will, be off-putting. So look out for better options.
This boot should fit your lifestyle needs, especially if you’re only buying one. If you're in tailored trousers regularly, a balmoral or even Jodhpur boot can be the move. However, these are much more difficult to wear dressed down. The "derby" style lacing is the more well-rounded option if minimalism is what you're going for (or if your climate rarely calls for boots).
Moral of the story:
Boots.
A few other Brands worth looking in to:
Allen Edmonds—as always for those with hard-to-fit feet, AE offers so many sizing options you’d struggle to not find a comfortable option.
Taft—if your style favors the bold, and you don’t mind some boots that will surely fall out of style next year.
Red Wing / Wolverine / Timberland / etc. — Workwear.
Solovair—The original Dr. Martens. People don’t really know about this brand, but they’re the original makers in the UK, rebranded since the production of Doc’s moved to China (and quality fell off). Highly recommended. Click here for more info.
