Show us your boots
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@tfar:
Thanks for the links, Giles. Can you tell us more about the maker and how you like the boots? How long have you worn them before they needed a re-sole? I really like this model:
http://www.ahume.co.uk/RM-Williams–-SALE-/Boots---ON-SALE-including-FREE-UK-DELIVERY-AND-CARE-PRODUCT/RM-Williams---SALE--Arnhem-Boots/p-75-104-625/Would look great with jeans! Too bad one cannot see the leather structure very well. The other tan color boot looks good, too. I wonder if it's the same leather. They look slightly different. I don't want light suede leather; too fragile.
Till
They are Australian if course. but have been pretty popular in UK for some time. Used to have a store on Regents Street, not sure if they still do. There primary claim to fame in UK was their waxed leather goods.
When I was in Sydney I looked them out, Had the boots for about 5 years, but couldn't say how many times I wore them before needing to resole.
I really wanted the 1 year veal skin version, but they did not have my size, so I made do with the regular version.
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Thanks, Giles. I have done quite a bit of googling on the subject and came across a whole bunch of interesting sites from Australia and also learned some more things about shoes. Discovered a small brand from Paris called Aubercy. I had never heard of them. Shame on me.
If I am going to order a pair of of RMWs, I will try to get them in chestnut Kangaroo with bone colored elastics and a natural color leather sole. They have similar ones on their site but those aren't Kangaroo. Might as well go local if I buy shoes from Australia. And I don't have Kangaroo in my shoe range yet.
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what do you guys think about http://www.wolverine.com/US/1000mile/#/The1000Mile/
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what do you guys think about http://www.wolverine.com/US/1000mile/#/The1000Mile/
?I like them a lot but they look an awful lot like the Red Wing Gentleman Travelers that I already have
My next ones might be a pair of Alden Indy's in black
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Very nice. I like the Russet color the best. I've looked at those myself. But right now those Australian boots appeal to me more. They are more elegant of course, a different style. But I also like the relative exclusivity of them. The Redwing and 1000 Mile are all the rage right now. So much so that it is a bit of a fashion victim thing to wear them. If they weren't so darn trendy I'd consider them more. The Alden Indy's fit the look of the trend but again are so classic that no one can reproach you to be a fashion victim. I also think the Alden Chukka in any version is a wonderful boot.
Till
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Well, if you look at the forums and internet blogs and also at availability at trendy stores, then the look and style of these boots and especially these two models are quite in. Of course, not too many "normal" people wear $300 boots. If I walk down South Congress (the hip street in Austin) I do see people wearing them. Don't get me wrong. I like them and I'm the first to say screw it if it's good stuff I buy and wear it, whether it's incredibly hip or not. But I don't like to be a follower or go with fashion too much. For example, I had to buy a new suit or two recently. It was really hard to find a classic two-vented European cut three button model where the lapel just rolls down softly and the top bottom is never closed. Even in Europe it was hard. Unless you went to the really expensive and classic tailors/brands.
Take Tod's (the rubber nipple shoes). I bought my first pair in Italy 23 years ago. That was about 11 years before they became really fashionable in Europe and 20 years before they hit the states. Now they are totally mainstream. Haven't bought a pair in a long time but recently got a pair of fakes by Zara because they were in nice grey suede.
I bought a Barbour jacket 21 years ago. I was about 3-4 years ahead of the curve for Germany. And probably a decade ahead of the US.
About the same for Timberlands. Got them way before the rage (ok, when they were starting to be hip in Italy) 25 years ago. Or for Hogan's that started the sophisticated sneaker trend. Got my first pair 17 years ago. Still have those. For my next pair of sophisticated sneakers I chose a pair from Eduard Meier in Munich. Black sharkskin with tan calf lining. Still wear them, too, and they are indestructible and super comfy. Guess those are 12 years old now, not sure.
I've been wearing all of these ever since, no matter if they were in or not. But buying the Red Wings or 1000 Mile Wolverines now, when they are so hyped, I feel like a loser compared to my previous track record. Doesn't mean others are losers for buying them now. I think the Aldens, Baxters or RM Williams are a great alternative. Also White boots if you can swing it. Would be nice to get a custom pair lined with red leather.
So the point is that the RW and 1000M boots are really nice and I really like them but personally I'd not get them right now. More power to people who are less crazy than I am.
Till
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Yeah, I know that. Noisy shoes. When the leather is still stiff and the soles are very hard you hear each step. Gets really embarrassing in a library or museum. Even when I'm alone at home I sometimes think where does that noise come from.
I think you got a military background anyway, no? So that's a perfectly valid reason/profile to wear that kind of boot. Military>cavalry>biker>harness boot.
Also harness boots are very in right now but I don't feel it's the hipness level of the two models discussed above.
I wear my IH with whatever I can get my hands on first (my shoes are a bit all over the place and every 3-4 days I pick them up). Sometimes it will be some Timberland mocs (the classic bordeaux model with the vibram sole), others my J. Crew Clark chukka remakes. When I want to turn it up a notch I pull out the boots or even some nice dress shoes. I went to a Christmas party some time ago wearing the 634SR, a finely checkered shirt (red on white) with French cuffs, a grey antique'd leather belt and basically red dress shoes with a very pointy last and a bit of perforation from Finsbury, plus a classic grey cashmere overcoat single breasted that I scooped at Filene's basement. Got me plenty of looks and compliments from the ladies and these girls are hard to please. The red of the shoes matched the red of the selvage stripe but nobody even picked that up.
That's what I like about jeans with a really good cut and material. It shows that they are good quality and that makes them easier to dress them up or down and still look good no matter what.
Till
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Till‚ the baxter boots are in the UK‚ but not yet in my possession‚ will post some pics when I get them in my hands !
http://www.baxterfootwear.com.au/user/files/flyer-mens-dress-boots.pdf
