Let's Talk About Boots
A look into some of my favorite boots right now
Welcome to the first letter of 2022!!! After a short break, I am back to focus on doing what I do best—Recommendations. Before I begin, shout out to the people who have been messaging me over the last few weeks asking for recommendations, which ultimately led to some fun discussion around clothes—I really love these small convos, so if you ever have a question or just want to chat, hit me up either on twitter or instagram dms <3
Some of you have been asking about boots recently so I decided that this SNLetter will be the perfect opportunity to dive into some boots and boots only.
PSA: Boots are low-key expensive, and if you want to get anything decent for your money you need to spread out that velcro wallet of yours and get to $pending. This list isn’t going to be about “most affordable boots rn”, because this isn’t a fashion TikTok account.
If you’re the type of person that needs to buy a new boot every season then yeah, it’s going to hurt the wallet. The best way to be able to justify buying anything above $300 is treating it like an investment that will last you for years to come—and if you take care of them then a $300+ purchase might make sense if you end wearing them for 5+ years. I will always suggest spending a bit more money on quality—boots especially—because at the end of the day you won’t be disappointed.
WHAT AM I WEARING?
I’ll be honest, I am not the type of person that owns a lot of boots. I will find one pair that does what I need—protect me from the Canadian winter without freezing my toes off— and I’ll probably only wear those until I can’t anymore.
Dr. Martens 2976 Snowplow is in my current rotation and I’m loving every minute of it. Chelsea style isn’t for everyone, I get that. When I’m already layered up to infinity and beyond ready to fight for my life in the harsh season that is winter, the last thing I’m trying to do is spend my time tying boots.
Unlike most Docs, the leather on these is a bit softer and didn’t need any time to break in—which is a huge plus, because nobody has time for bloody socks stuck to the back of your feet, making you regret the initial purchase altogether. The fleece lining keeps my feet perfectly warm, something that’s a must when the weather in Montreal is hitting -20C/-4F!!
I was a target of the SSENSE sales, and I’m glad I was because I definitely recommend these boots. The leather holds up well during really harsh weather, they are easy to clean, not that expensive (around like $150, but you can get them as low as $100 sale), and ultimately go with every outfit. I would probably prefer black stitching vs the traditional yellow, but it’s not that big of a deal for me.
TO HIKE OR NOT TO HIKE?
Hiking shoes have taken over our feeds and I don’t think they are going anywhere soon. I honestly don’t mind this trend as long as the crossover between street and hiking is done in a tasteful way—we can’t forget the workwear crossover as well. At this point, sub-categories are meshing into one generic thing, which I am all for. We should just be wearing clothes without having to be grouped into a specific “BRAND”.
With that being said, I am a big fan of the Wilson Boot by Reese Cooper. A bunch of colors are available and more are coming soon. At this point, Vibram soles quality speaks for itself and is a must in any boot. I really enjoy the crossover between hiking and workwear in this scenario, making the boot feel a little bit more elevated than most.
FUN THINGS ARE COMING
ROA Hiking seems to be tapped into a new wave that I am really excited about. Curation Technique recently posted a look at their upcoming SS22 collection—which had me pressing my magnifying glass to the screen trying to analyze what’s to come.
While we wait for more images of the footwear shown above, ROA keeps us busy with their latest CAVE collection which features 4 different boots—I’m feeling the lows more than the highs here, and that’s only because the highs feel a bit too hiking for my personal style? (Does that even make sense?).
If you’re peak outdoor-instagram-feed-core—there’s no shame if you are, we’ve all been the victim of the instagram feed once in our lifetime—then the CAVE collection will most likely suit your ~~vibes~~. I’m a sucker for the rough suede detailing and the chocolate color is just so nice right now—although it’s getting to the point where too many brands are using this color and it’s going to get sour very soon.
EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THIS ONE
I think it’s fair to say that if you are into the whole “getting dressed” lifestyle, then you probably know about Paraboot—if you’re not aware of this brand, no stress because that’s the whole point of the newsletter!!
I feel like most of the time when you mention Paraboot, people automatically think about their classic Derbies model but we can’t forget the many other great styles Paraboot has to offer.
The Yosemite model is one style that you should definitely have your eyes on. The rubber detailing around the back and the toebox work really well with the different colors, while giving me the impression that these could definitely take a beating and look good doing it.
Getting yourself a pair should be rather simple as they are available across a variety of different stores. Visit their store selection finder to see options available for you.
GOING BACK IN TIME
It feels like 2013 again because I am about to talk about Red Wing boots!! Yes, I am talking about the 6” SUPERSOLE model. By now we should all be aware of this brand, which offers really high-quality boots at a pretty modest price. (Under $300)
The shape is great for all of my wide feet brothers out there and will be pretty easy to style with any outfit. I really enjoy the combat boot element and the contrast stitching on the toebox is a fun little addition that makes this boot fun. I will be straight up though, it seems like this particular style finish is native to Japan but that shouldn’t discourage you—if you have been an active follower of the blog, then you know that proxies like FromJapan are here to help you get the item you want.
ONE MORE BEFORE I GO
The last recommendation I have for you today is coming out of Italy by the name of Diemme. Just like most of the above recommendations today, Diemme is not a big secret for those who have been on the hunt for boots, but I think it’s worth talking about them today.
Their selection is huge, and worldwide shipping is a huge plus. Their designs are more on the wild side when it comes to the color styles, but if you’re into that sort of thing then the world is your oyster.
Hand-designed in Italy isn’t going to be cheap, but as I said in the past, this is an investment that you’re not going to forget about 2 seasons from now.
You’ve made it to the end! Writing this newsletter was fun but it made me realize that there are a lot of boots that are just really ugly, and the ones that aren’t too bad are $600+?? It’s tough out there, but I am going to continue my search for nice-looking boots, and when I find them you’ll be the first to know.
I would love to know what boots you’re rocking yourself, so leave your comments down below! (If you live in a warm climate and don’t own boots, well good for you because I am jealous).
John Elliott's recent footwear program is top notch and worth consideration for some great and unique boots - you should take a look at the Caldera Boot as an excellent take on a more casual chelsea boot
I have a pair of diemmes and I love the style they’re gorgeous. But I will say they are super heavy. Which is a huge plus for keeping out the cold but at the same time I don’t want to feel like I’m wearing ankle weights all the time.