Boat Shoes
I'm getting ready for the spring and summer in DC and would like to add boat shoes to my rotation. I want to avoid the alt-right and frat boy looks, though, so I'm looking for any inspos on different looks. I looked through the archives and found one question on this which was helpful in finding ReaperSower on IG and that's kind of the look I'm going for but would love other ideas. I was thinking linen pants and lightweight jeans but would like to be able to add shorts as an option.
Also, recommendations for boat shoes would be great. I'm only familiar with Sperry but would be willing to go up to $300 for a nice pair. I have wide feet so wide sizes would be appreciated.
7 Replies
I think the easiest way to avoid the weird associations is to not wear boat shoes but just a different type of shoe like camp mocs or ranger/blucher mocs
there's no way to avoid the frat boy connotations in dc if you're wearing boat shoes (or brown flip flops or hokas or on clouds)
I plan to buy Paraboot Malo on spring
shorts + button up + sneakers (low top chucks) is standard here
Not to piggy back on this or something but it's a question I've had a few times: are these associations really that strong in other parts of the country? is thinking of them as just shoes you put on your feet me having go pats mindset
dcgetsdressed on ig is a good rec for other looks from the area, lots of different styles featured
This might not be the most helpful advice but I have worn boat shoes for the past 15 years while living in Annapolis, Pensacola, rural California, and now Nashville. I just treated them as shoes and wore them with everything from jeans and a flannel to more preppy frat looks. If you like them and are comfortable in them and not self conscious than I think you can rock them. I also don’t think the alt-right connotation is as strong as something like a Fred Perry polo but I could be wrong
I also don’t think the average person will think Camp Mocs are different than boat shoes
All that said I do wear my peanut suede Quoddy blucher Mocs more than almost any other shoe over the last 10 years. So if you like those I highly recommend and I do think that they look a little less like boat shoes than other Mocs