The Boot Exhibit
At long last.
We switched it up this week and curated an entire exhibit dedicated to what we argue to be the most important addition to your closet all year — the boot.
An absolute staple that has gone overlooked and under-utilized by the average male for far too long.
We can’t keep track of how many of you have asked for this. And rightfully so. The day has finally come, fellas.
We bet you won’t leave this post without grabbing at least one of the options we’ve pulled to get you prepped for the season and upping your game. Believe us when we tell you that a great boot is an absolute game changer.
You’ll be an entirely new man after this and it’s for the best, really. Take a look at what we’ve curated and you’ll know what we mean.
Winter is coming and these are a need.
We hope you like what we’ve curated for you, let us know what you think and what other features you’d like to see. We’re back to regularly scheduled programming on Thursday.
But first, some background.
A quick lay of the land.
We’ve got nearly two dozen (!!) pieces for you, broken down by price range. Starting with options ranging from $100-300, moving to $300-500, $500-750, and finishing off from $750-1000. You’ll find something to love no matter your budget.
And yes, like you, we’re still dreaming about the Gianvito Rossi’s from last week’s post. They were absolute 🔥🔥🔥 but we heard you that the price tag hurt. We got you.
Some final housekeeping — because we have so many items featured today, the post is going to get cut off in your email. Don’t forget to click “View entire message” if you’re reading directly from your inbox, or download the Substack app for an optimal experience.
Now let’s get after it.
Exhibit A: $100-300
We can’t lie this price range is toughhh. And not because we have expensive taste (that’s obvious by now), but because we strongly believe that a good boot is an investment. Ideally it should be made from high quality leather, look bomb, last a lifetime (seriously), be weather-resistant, AND comfortable. That’s a long list.
Unfortunately you don’t usually get all that for <$300 these days. BUT. We work magic over here at The Gallery are are stoked on what we’ve curated for you. Let’s proceed.
Dr. Martens really runs this price range. And they’ve got a loyal fan base, deservedly so. They don’t tend to be our cup of tea but honestly we love these. The classic Doc yellow stitching is non-existent (thankfully), elevating the look from the usual, casual nature of the brand. With the quality you get with Doc’s and the unique ability to dress these up or down, these are an absolute steal.
We think these are an amazing starter boot to get you used to the vibe with very low barrier to entry. If you’re cautious about the boot thing and struggle with dressing up your looks (aka you’re from SoCal and/or went to UCSB), these are for you.
Coming in just over $250, these Axel’s give it to you straight. A classic Chelsea we can get behind because they aren’t overly feminine. Simple is never a bad thing, and these aren’t trying to be something they’re not. This brand knows what they’re doing in the shoe department and we’ve been stoked to see them expand their range. These aren’t going to turn heads next time you hit Make Believe with the boys but they’ll get you out of those ratty Air Force’s and into something a bit more grown up. College was 6 years ago, man. It’s time.
We were really stoked to see these coming in just under $300. The platform and toe detailing is so good. An absolute steal to get in on the chunky trend and Hugo did a phenomenal job not making these look too chunky (see Prada’s). If these scare you, it’s your sign to try them. Platforms are it. And these are too good to pass up. Check ‘em on the model and you’ll see how much they level up a fit.
Exhibit B: $300-500
Taking it up a notch, we’ve got a lot more than 3 options for you here.
We’re really into the soft calf skin on these that give it an elevated, yet unpretentious vibe. Super comfy; these will come in handy when you drunkenly decide to walk the 23 blocks home at 4 am on Sunday morning.
The square toe and ankle height on these solidified their spot on our list, despite the fact that we tend to be partial to a bit of elevation. But, these are not your average Chelsea’s and we love them for it. Do not over look the height on these. While the previous selections were a bit on the shorter side, we are all about the ankle-height (or higher) boots. You’ll see more of those later. But at this price range, with the square toe too, we’re all over these bad boys.
We’re bringing these back from our intro post because they deserve it. The mixed leather/rubber AND a chunky heel are an absolute hit. Also, the height on these. So good.
We really hope none of you are vegan but if you happen to be for whatever reason, (1) we’re sorry for your loss and (2) these are for you. Yes, we said a good boot needs to be leather. And these are faux leather, we know. But c’mon, look at them. So sick. It’s rare to find this style within this price range, so you give up the real leather to get there. Not a bad trade in our humble opinion. Yes, they’re wild but check the model at the link and you’ll see they’re really not that crazy. Now these will turn heads.
You’ve noticed we’re not huge on brown or suede. But here we are and we couldn’t be happier. The shape on these really does it for us. You could wear these with anything and they have total dress up/down potential. These are an incredible option and in a league of their own compared to the popular Common Project suede Chelsea’s — we have failed you if you cop those. Please, please don’t.
Okay, we’re really trying to sell you on packing up those Common Projects and taking them to Goodwill in favor of Officine Creative. Similar style to the brown suedes, but with the ankle height we love so much.
These may look crazy but we promise they’re not. If you’re feeling out the chunky vibes but aren’t 100% sold, these are for you.
Rounding us out at $500 flat with none other than the iconic, Paul Smith. You know what I’m going to say by now. Look at that height!!!!!! So so so good. These have the signature Paul Smith detailing on the inner sides that give them some extra flair and a nod to the brand without being too obnoxious.
Exhibit C: $500-750
Getting into some treat yourself territory here and we’re not mad about it.
Some slight cowboy energy that we’re surprisingly very into. These will give our short kings some nice lift without going full Austin Powers. Would look amazing paired with a tapered ankle-length pant.
You’ll notice this is our first and only lace up option that we’ve curated for you this time around. Combats can be tricky but these are soooo well done. Huge fans over here.
Some nice, added flare to what would’ve been a simple Chelsea — not surprising coming from Kenzo.
Nothing crazy to call out here but we’re loving the dark brown tone. Great quality option that will stand the test of time.
While they look simple, the subtle platform on these is quite unique and gives them a super clean look.
Isabel has been killing it in recent seasons and these are no exception. Really great option for the price point. Quite honestly shocked to see these priced this way (some of their sneakers will run you $800+) so we’d highly recommend you seriously consider grabbing these.
These A.P.C.’s are classy. The polish adds an extra shine that elevate them to a more dressy option if you’re looking for that sort of thing.
Yet another Officine Creative plug if you needed more reason to check them out.
Aaaand again. These would be our favorite of the two and by now we’re sure you know why.
Exhibit D: $750-$1000
Interestingly this price range is pretty sparse, with the big dogs like your Bottega’s and Saint Laurent’s pricing their stuff at $1100+. Quite honestly, unless you’re looking for something really out there (like these, and we wouldn’t recommend them), you’re going to get the biggest bang for your buck in Exhibit C.
We’re not convinced you’re getting double the value with the pieces above this range but that’s just us. Pulled a couple dope options below but left a few off the table because they really didn’t hold up to what we’ve shown you already, especially given their price point. So, if we had to weigh in, we’d say refer back to Exhibit C — your boot of choice is more likely there than not.
The shape on these is absolutely stunning. We will caution that they might not be the best bet if you need some extra width around the ankle, though.
We’re huge McQueen fans and huge fans of these. So simple but the subtle design choices and slightly upturned toe set them apart from the pack.
Thanks for tuning in! We’re excited to see what you grab — leave a comment and let us know what’s on your wishlist and what you’re buying now. See ya’ll on Thursday for our weekly drop.
I might have to get tooted and booted frfr🔥
Boot it up boys!!!