Ankle Boot Porn! Here are mine, show me some of yours? - Page 9

Originally Posted by skalogre

Jason, could we please get some more photos of those boots? At least a side shot. They look interesting. How is the last shape, btw?

Originally Posted by hopkins_student

What is the highest level of formality with which you will wear ankle boots?

Originally Posted by Get Smart

ok here are some other pics....closeup of toebox and brogueing, the last shape, etc.

Originally Posted by zjpj83

I don't know what they are; the inside just has a style number.

Originally Posted by dkzzzz

I am sorry, but I do not share any admiration for ankle boots.

1.They don't look warm enough for winter nor do they have thick enough soles. This makes them useless, as cold-weather shoes.

2. They don't like moisture, just like any leather shoes, thus useless when it snows.

3. All new ones that I have seen look half decent compare to oxfords, bluchers or monks counterparts.
But most of the ankle boots look like homeless person shoes after a few months of wear.

I also expect them to be too hot and have poorer ventilation in comparison to the regular shoes.

What is the benefit of an ankle boot other than: "Look, I have one too"?

Originally Posted by lefty

Thanks for the info, Sator.

Couple of quick questions.

Which is the most elongated/elegant of the Craftsman variations or are you referring to different boots? Is the Macquarie very different than the Craftsman? Turnout?

Does anyone know if the NY store carries all models and variations?

I popped in to the Toronto store recently, but they had few options.

Thanks.

lefty

Originally Posted by j

Get some polish on them, boyo!

Originally Posted by Sator

I love boots and owe a fair few of them. I can't show them as I am in NY city right now but I can tell you that for the price RM Williams really give you a ridiculous amount of bang for your buck. They are an RM Williams speciality and so they do a far better job of making them than the vast majority of flashier labels I am finding here on 5th and Madison Ave.

Firstly they are Goodyear welted - hand welted to be more precise. Too many labels reserve Chelseas for cheaper lines for some reason and these are often blake constructed.

Secondly, you have a wide range of options to choose from. You can get them made with the chisel toed last, narrow medium toed last (a little bit pointy toed without being too exaggerated), Tanami last (like the narrow medium last except a fraction more round toed), or the more round toed original or medium toed lasts. The wide toed last has a form similar to the EG 202 last. In fact nearly all of their lasts are extremely elegant and compare favourably to C&Js or even EG lasts.

Thirdly they use good quality full grain leathers. This is a refreshing constrast to the likes of Loake (including those they make for Charles Tyrwhitt) which all too often use corrected grain leather. If toughness and durability are what you are after I would recommend kangaroo leather (they are as common as rodents in Australia and not endangered).

In fact is that the only Chelseas I have seen so far here in New York that come anywhere near managing to match - and indeed do surpass - RM Williams are the range produced by John Lobb. Even then RM Williams provides far greater choice in their standard RTW range of Chelseas.

Now that I own a couple of pairs of Allen Edmonds I am in a better position to advise on converting the Australian/UK sizing to US sizes. The following is RM Williams' own conversion scale that I have previously posted:



An A&E size 8 in the number 5 last is a tiny fraction (maybe about 1/8'' or less) longer than an RMW size 7 in the chisel toed last. However the standard RMW G width is wider than the standard A&E D width, and thus fits more like a US E width. The narrow medium toed last is predictably a tiny fraction narrower but the RMW G width in this last still surprisingly fits much like a US E width as I suspect it may be a bit longer.

As far as heels go I was surprised to find that the block heel is really quite elegant. I feared it would look to fashion forward but they seem to suit the Yearling made with its sleek narrow medium toed last. In fact the Yearling looks really quite dressy and remarkably understated. Still the Craftsman would be my first recommendation but I for one plan to get a pair of Yearlings as well. Cubans heels really are too fashion forward for my taste as is the square toed last.

Hope this has helped!

Originally Posted by Bithabus

Would you mind checking the style number? Those boots are gorgeous!

Thanks

Originally Posted by dkzzzz

Please delete that convertion chart and never use it. It cannot be more wrong. I am not even going to point out it's glaring mistakes. The whole chart is simply off by a full size to a size and a half.

Originally Posted by Get Smart

ugh...actually they are spotless, and polished, but that closeup with the contrast bumped up, some dust from sitting on my shoe rack all week....it all adds up to excuses but the boots are actually flawless and totally polished....I saw that pic and thought "hmmm somone's gonna call me out and say polish 'em". "L" for love!