Looking to add boots to my wardrobe. But what brand? What style of boot? Budget is $200
From what I've seen on youtube and the fashion sub, a pair of dark tan Chelsea boots would fit most outfits well. But I've only ever worn steel toe docs as a kid, I'm not sure what to pick. In fact up until now I thought Chelsea boots were kinda girly.
I've been considering a few brands but the ones that fit my budget are these Thursday boots.
https://thursdayboots.com/products/mens-legend-chelsea-boot-falcon
https://thursdayboots.com/products/mens-captain-lace-up-boot-whiskey
I mostly wear your standard minimalist black/denim pants or chinos with a white/black T-shirt, some jewelry. Is that helpful? I don't have many pictures of myself..
Also, about boots. I know that the point of boots is to look a little elegant with the leather but still rugged with the BOOT look... But I don't really like the flat soles of most boots including the ones I listed above. They have lug soles which makes me happier and less prone to slipping around, but does that kill the point of having semi-formal boots anyways? Oki thankss
Thursday Boot Company
Men's Legend Chelsea Boot In Falcon Brown - Thursday Boot Company
Comfortable Men's Slip-On Chelsea Boot in Brown 'Falcon' Rugged & Resilient Leather. Handcrafted with Goodyear Welt Construction Using the Highest Quality Materials. Free Shipping & Returns.
Thursday Boot Company
Men's Lug Sole Captain Lace-Up Boot In Whiskey Brown - Thursday
Classic Men's Cap Toe Lace-Up Boot in Brown Rugged & Resilient 'Whiskey' Leather. Handcrafted with Integrity with the Highest Quality Materials, StormKing® Durable Rubber Lug Outsoles, and Goodyear Welt Construction. Free Shipping & Returns.
30 Replies
Do not buy thursday boots
You can Google why Salem says that if you're interested. I, however, will stick to the subject at hand and possibly suggest eBay. You can find even higher quality shoes that may or may not be out of your budget. It's worth a try. Other than waiting for sales, and Thursday, (as far as I know), 200 Chelsea boots new is gonna be tough.
If you want chelsea boots around $200 get Blundstones or Dr Martens 2976 model. Both are "rugged" in the sense that they aren't a slim, shiny semi formal dress boot. Both have a thicker silhouette and sole with Blundstones leaning more outdoorsy and docs leaning a little more punky but not as much as their typical combat boots. Really the docs are incredibly versatile it's just the vibe of the brand you know. Both pair with jeans and tees incredibly well.
You don’t have to Google anything. They’re just kinda boring
Do you have any interest in Chelsea boots beyond random advice from the internet? You should enjoy your clothes. Don’t buy something just bc some guy on the internet said so
A higher price point but Grant Stone might be worth a look.
Meermin is in the 200 dollar range and has some Chelseas with commando soles, although their last is perhaps a bit too sleek for your desired look.
That said, Thursday is absolutely fine for getting into good shoes. They're totally totally fine shoes.
Hi I'm reading! Gimme a sec!
I'm here to just say that Chelsea boots as girly is news to me. Because blundstones is a well established tradie brand and I see a lot of farmers wearing RM Williams.
I just recently learned any fashion anything, I used to think cross sling bags were girly and cringe and that white shoes were weird
I'm better now
Okay I will consider second hand idk why I first considered new I'm not rich lol
About the soles. Does the lug soles make it look way too casual or just like, not smart? I kinda wanna wear the boots in a more ... Slightly above casual?
What are you going to be using your shoes for?
Also I thought docs were of sub par quality? (Maybe I'm asking for too much for $200)
I usually am casual but I'd be wearing them either with jeans or chinos/trousers
Well if you wanted Docs but better you could look at Solovair
😭 I'm just tryna to mix things up and try things new
It's easy to overthink small details like this but believe me when I say nobody will judge you for the soles of your boots. What's going to be more immediately noticeable to people are the uppers and how you style them. Yes some docs can be pretty bad quality but from personal experience my brown doc chelseas are going on 10 years now with minimal care. With any chelsea boot the first thing to go will be the elastic so parsing the differences in leather quality between $200 boots is kind of missing the point.
Trying be things is great! It just seemed very externally motivated and you didn’t seem terribly excited about the style
Idk I feel like seeing something cool on the internet and trying it on is like what this entire discord is centred around.
Well hmm I guess the reason whyI wanted boots is this:
I already have white sneakers which I was first very wary about (didn't think it suited me) but after a few months of wearing them it started to integrate into my style. Now I prefer only white sneakers, I got some forces and cheaper new balances.
But when I wanted to dial up the formality just a little, my air forces seemed too street to wear with, say, chinos or slacks or trousers. But I don't really like dress shoes -- they seem too stiff for anything other than a full suit. I saw people saying you could wear boots for a cross in between formal and casual
So in my perspective not having some boots seemed to be a hole in my outfits. With the sneakers I could only pull off a super casual look and I wanted something more refined. Boots. Lol.
I selected for chelsea and not lace purely because that's what people (tim desaint/harry has/fly with johnny thai/frugalaesth) seemed to suggest as the 'most versatile boot-thing... and I dont got the cash to buy several sets, I guess.
Loake Shoes Australasia
LOAKE REYNOLDS OXBLOOD DERBY BOOT RUBBER SOLE F-MEDIUM
Introducing the 'Reynolds' Derby Boot, a pinnacle of style, comfort, and craftsmanship in men's boots. These premium boots feature Goodyear welted lightweight Commando soles, ensuring exceptional longevity and superior grip. Designed with a generous fit and bold toe shape on the 'Artist' last.
I don't have them yet so I can't review them. But I bought them on a black Friday sale, off the UK site, and am having a friend of mine bring them over from the UK.
To fill a similar hole in my wardrobe.
Chelsea boots can vary from pretty formal to very casual. I use mine when I have to dress up
but equally something like a suede chelsea would be more flexible
Not a huge fan of suede
big homie that is half a grand
Boots get expensive fast! Whats your price range?
I have a pair of thursday legend boots and they aren't bad, you can probably find nicer stuff on sale for around the same price but I like them for the price.
jcrew also has some good options if you catch a sale. I have their macalister desert boots and kenton cap toe boots and both have held up well. I got the desert boots for around $70 and the cap toes for about $150
second hand is a great idea too. I have not bought used boots but I always hear people getting good deals this way
Ok my honest two cents. Versatility is pretty hard to figure out until you try shit. Chasing versatility by buying something because someone else said so is a peril because if you don't love it it's gonna be super unversatile because you won't wear it.
Like, for me, I think a plain toe blucher boot in brown chromexcel is pretty versatile, and I like it. I don't like chelseas. If I bought chelsea boots to maximize versatility they would sit in my closet. If I recommend someone buy the boots I like and they buy them but don't like them, similarly, they'll just sit. A fail all around.
So I recommend you maybe just lurk the big boot threads online, the gyw sub, etc, figure out what YOU want. Not some youtuber.
Because frankly I think almost any "semi-dress" boot is pretty versatile in today's day and age. Calf, cxl, cordovan, suede or other flesh side leather, etc etc. myriad styles. All fine to wear more casually and less casually.
And while we're at it ... various blucher / derby shoes can be worn way way less formally than with a full suit.
Guess this depends on where you live etc but I have opinions on boots from seeing friends and strangers around me, and I think that helps a lot. Here a lot of better dressed guys have Chelseas so I've got plenty of thoughts on them.
Sounds to me like the only new development is that they're seen as possible to combine with dressed up outfits lol
Since good boots are expensive yeah, I'd try to just get ones that you absolutely love the look of on yourself, that work practically, that don't throw off the balance of what you're wearing, etc, that tick off all the important boxes. You'll find them I bet, secondhand even
Some people can make Chelsea boots versatile/their main thing but as the default answer it's pretty questionable imo.
Chelsea boots are absurdly wearable lol it’s not questionable to have them as a default at all
reading atm
I think we agree that versatility is personal tho
Default answer as in, to the question what perhaps single pair of boots to get, for anyone.
Whereas yep it's all personal!
That's why you wait for sale.
Versatility is relative to your tastes and wardrobe(s), don't worry about getting a formal boot if you're never in formal wear kinda thing. Also, all different boot companies use different lasts that will change the shape of the boots, and you'll find some lasts are just hella uncomfortable no matter how nice they look to you on the foot. Best idea is to go somewhere with a few different brands in your price range and try some on, really walk around in them and see how they fit, and make note of what things you like and don't like about fit and how they look to you on your foot and in the mirror.