Footwear to go with our jackets

[Rich22]

I currently have four pairs of RM Williams chelseas (and have owned more in the past). They are overpriced now, but still the gold standard. The elastic will outlast three soles, but can be replaced at the factory if it does go out.

They look terrific! I was gifted a pair of sneakers made by RM Williams and they're great, so I'd happily buy from that company. £400ish is pricey, and the top end of what I'd want you spend, but then again I have blown that sum on jeans before...

Edit: In case anyone was interested, these are my sneakers, which are designed to look like William's 1940's sand shoe: https://www.rmwilliams.com/uk/footw...r_fitType=G&genderview=men#lang=en_GB&start=1

 

[Jin431]

oiled brown shinki vibergs from @JCSD. I thought I had more than enough service boots but then again. . .

 

[AeroFan_07]

+1 on Whites for comfort. Especially that arch ease!

This is what I can't stop buying White's and Nick's boots...!

They are a little heavy, something you get used to, but are worth it...

 

[Monitor]

It is difficult to put into words how beautiful these are IRL.

Wanted Jodhpurs ever since seeing @Robbie79's Clinch boots tho I knew straight away this ain't really an option. 2+K monies is a bit too much for me, especially with the uncertainty of getting them thru Customs and whatnot, considering the amount could climb up to near $3500 with all the taxes and other bs. Plus I like that cowboy boots vibe just too much to settle for the round toe.
Turns out Saint Laurent did these in Kangaroo a few years back but of course they were all sold out and finding a used pair in 46 is rarely an option, as that's the highest number they do and there are much lesser pairs made but sometimes all you gotta do is wait, I suppose.

They're of course nowhere near as robust and tough looking as Clinch but they make up for it in class and sleekness. And leather. Kangaroo hide is beautiful. I didn't expect it to be this nice from the pic but it's actually so nice.

In any case, I love these. And gotta stop buying 'em. This is it, for real. I'm done.

 

[Monitor]

Oh, and I keep forgetting to add, so much thanks to @red devil for helping me to get these, without having to pay import taxes!

After a pair of engineers with Cuban/dogger heel, I’d love to get some packers next.

View attachment 366210

And another thing, I love these!!

 

[Pandemic]

Aside from Bakers and Bri

It is difficult to put into words how beautiful these are IRL.

Wanted Jodhpurs ever since seeing @Robbie79's Clinch boots tho I knew straight away this ain't really an option. 2+K monies is a bit too much for me, especially with the uncertainty of getting them thru Customs and whatnot, considering the amount could climb up to near $3500 with all the taxes and other bs. Plus I like that cowboy boots vibe just too much to settle for the round toe.
Turns out Saint Laurent did these in Kangaroo a few years back but of course they were all sold out and finding a used pair in 46 is rarely an option, as that's the highest number they do and there are much lesser pairs made but sometimes all you gotta do is wait, I suppose.

They're of course nowhere near as robust and tough looking as Clinch but they make up for it in class and sleekness. And leather. Kangaroo hide is beautiful. I didn't expect it to be this nice from the pic but it's actually so nice.

In any case, I love these. And gotta stop buying 'em. This is it, for real. I'm done.

These are amazing jodhpurs!

 

[Schambach]

I think you've chosen the best looking boot they sell, and a good choice of leather too. Excellent choice! The CXL boots I've seen have not aged gracefully (most of their legacy boots appear to be CXL). I love the look of CXL jackets, but boots, like Wolverine's 1000 miles, don't crease nicely.

Edit: I should add that a lot of makers utilise almost the entirety of hides, whilst the very top end makers discard perhaps 60% of each hide, to chose the most desirable grain, which will be less prone to thick, excessive, creasing or lifting of grain. In $400 shoes/boots I'd actively avoid CXL, but at $600 I don't know what to expect... perhaps by that price point they're cherry picking the best bits?

It definitely varies between makers. I had a pair of Allen Edmonds CXL shoes that looked horrible after a year or two, but some Alden CXL boots that are almost ten years old and very worn that still look great. My CXL Whites, Vibergs, and Rancourts seem to be aging very nicely as well. This supports your theory on the higher priced footwear using better bits/better clicking, with Rancourt being the outlier in that they were pretty reasonably priced.

 

[Schambach]

Liking my new whites distressed rough out boots so far. 8 inch, soft toe, 55 last, single row stitch, low block heel, 430 vib sole View attachment 365438 View attachment 365439

These are gorgeous. Bounty Hunters from Bakers?

 

[Psant25]

These are gorgeous. Bounty Hunters from Bakers?

I just get them direct from whites. 55 last so yeah 8 inch bounty hunter, 55 last farmer rancher, 8 inch cruiser, 55 last 375mv, whatever ya wanna call em.

 

[Schambach]

I just get them direct from whites. 55 last so yeah 8 inch bounty hunter, 55 last farmer rancher, 8 inch cruiser, 55 last 375mv, whatever ya wanna call em.

Yup, lots of names for the same boots. Yours look great. I’ve got a similar(8” high, single row stitch) pair coming soon(hopefully).

 

[Harris HTM]

My new Alden Shell Cordovan's combined today with my heavy, thick and grainy Vicenza Happy Days.

 

[Monitor]

My new Alden Shell Cordovan's combined today with my heavy, thick and grainy Vicenza Happy Days.
View attachment 366718 View attachment 366719 View attachment 366720 View attachment 366721 View attachment 366722

Happy Days is a very nice jacket!

SLP Jodhpurs, MiuMiu, SLP Lukas, From the First & Sendra. Three pairs absent.

 

[Pandemic]

Solvair and Airwair both do a Made in England premium GYW line (both are also offering Horween as well). I keep circling back to these and thinking the oxblood/burgundy/cherry colors would work with black and brown jackets. Then I have to remind myself that regular widths just don’t work for me anymore.

 

[Schambach]

@Pandemic have you tried them on? I have a pair of solovair derby shoes and the width is pretty generous.

 

[Rich22]

Solvair and Airwair both do a Made in England premium GYW line (both are also offering Horween as well). I keep circling back to these and thinking the oxblood/burgundy/cherry colors would work with black and brown jackets. Then I have to remind myself that regular widths just don’t work for me anymore. View attachment 367228 View attachment 367229

At first glance they have too much of a Doc Martins vibe.

 

[Pandemic]

@Pandemic have you tried them on? I have a pair of solovair derby shoes and the width is pretty generous.

Interesting. What is your normal width on the Brannock or other brands?

I threw-out the last pair of Docs I has over ten years ago when I realized it was way too pleasurable taking them off my widening feet at the end of the day.

With free return shipping, I'm tempted to order some out of curiosity, but if I really like them and they don't fit, I'll either be very bummed out or I'll try to fool myself that I can still wear them.

 

[Schambach]

@Pandemic I'm a pretty solid D width on the brannock, and in most brands. The 3 eye Solovairs definitely fit me on the wider side, but ymmv.

I don't recall Docs fitting wide, but I gave up on them quite a while back when they moved production out of the UK and the quality dropped noticeably. No idea how they fit these days.

 

[jglf]

It definitely varies between makers. I had a pair of Allen Edmonds CXL shoes that looked horrible after a year or two, but some Alden CXL boots that are almost ten years old and very worn that still look great. My CXL Whites, Vibergs, and Rancourts seem to be aging very nicely as well. This supports your theory on the higher priced footwear using better bits/better clicking, with Rancourt being the outlier in that they were pretty reasonably priced.

Guess it comes down to luck with some of the mid tier brands. Say you can make 6 pairs per hide, if AE or Alden uses the whole hide, maybe half of them will be well clicked where a higher end brand might only make 3 pairs per hide. I would definitely pay a premium to get a pair of boots from the best parts of the hide.

 

[Edward]

Says who? I'm missing the added value of your comment to this discussion.

It's a fair enough - if entirely subjective - opinion. Not one I share, personally, though to be fair given that I favour styles that existed pre-1960, it would be odd indeed for me to hold a notion that they were somehow dated or past it!

This is what I can't stop buying White's and Nick's boots...!

They are a little heavy, something you get used to, but are worth it...

I like a heavy boots myself. Reassuring. Never notice the weight when being worn, though, at least not with a well-fitting boot, especially laced.

It is difficult to put into words how beautiful these are IRL.

Wanted Jodhpurs ever since seeing @Robbie79's Clinch boots tho I knew straight away this ain't really an option. 2+K monies is a bit too much for me, especially with the uncertainty of getting them thru Customs and whatnot, considering the amount could climb up to near $3500 with all the taxes and other bs. Plus I like that cowboy boots vibe just too much to settle for the round toe.
Turns out Saint Laurent did these in Kangaroo a few years back but of course they were all sold out and finding a used pair in 46 is rarely an option, as that's the highest number they do and there are much lesser pairs made but sometimes all you gotta do is wait, I suppose.

They're of course nowhere near as robust and tough looking as Clinch but they make up for it in class and sleekness. And leather. Kangaroo hide is beautiful. I didn't expect it to be this nice from the pic but it's actually so nice.

In any case, I love these. And gotta stop buying 'em. This is it, for real. I'm done.

These have a bit of a Westwood vibe to my eye. Somewhere between Seditionaries and Buffalo Gals. I rather like them.

Solvair and Airwair both do a Made in England premium GYW line (both are also offering Horween as well). I keep circling back to these and thinking the oxblood/burgundy/cherry colors would work with black and brown jackets. Then I have to remind myself that regular widths just don’t work for me anymore. View attachment 367228 View attachment 367229

Solovair used to make them for DMs before they struck out on their own when DM moved production to China. DM did later bring back some lines in England as it clearly was something a part of the market demanded. Both do a nice boot (the grained leathers are more durable, in my experience), though I don't much care for the look of the sole. Undeniably comfy, all the same - I wore the shoe version for several years at school, and then early on at University I had a couple of pairs of the boots, before I later moved on to squaddie boots. Prefer a leather or solid Dainite-type rubber sole these days.

 

[Turnip]

Jarrow Marchers today...