One question before I treat myself to Shell Cordovan Boots.

I thought the appeal of dress boots is not necessarily in its function. If you wear trousers with little break, the look of more leather appearing rather than socks is particular. Also, trousers do not get stuck on the edges of the shoes as they may in regular dress shoes.

I don't understand the purpose of dress boots. I would never buy them.

bad weather for the most part.

I wear the mainly for a more casual look. with tweeds, donegals, flannels and other winter weight stuff it looks pretty cool. The big thing I don't like them is, the loops on the back for helping you put on the boot. My pants always catch on them ~.~

Unless you are using them as an alternative to shoes in inclement weather or you have wonky ankles the function of a dress boot is purely personal choice. As such, some like the esthetic and others don't. I can respect that. I like boots in general and they have become my go to footwear for wear with suits, odd jackets as well as casual dress. You are correct in that most situations while standing it is hard to tell if one is wearing shoes or boots with a casual glance. When sitting, you decide if you prefer the expanse of leather versus seeing ones carefully chosen socks.

I think Will has posted on ASW of using G&G in cordovan for winter wear.

Since I live in a place that has snow as early as October to as late as April, plus I live on a working ranch, boots are a large part of my footwear. Some of this is function but much of it is personal choice. I generally have both closed and open laced boots on non-leather soles (Dainite and lugged) for getting to and from work in the worst weather and change at the office.

Are you wearing the boots with suits or just odd jackets. For suits, a balmoral boot is best and you won't find what you are looking for from Alden or Trickers. Obviously Alden has shell but no balmorals. Trickers boots are not sleek at the best of times and this is especially true with the country lasts. Trickers in shell would most likely be an MTO order; check out Shoe Healer. You can also select more slender lasts. C&J has the Sommerville in the balmoral style. Most of their other boots are non-balmoral. I think shell is rare.

EG Galway's are my favorite cap-toe open laced boot on the 82 last. EG shell is MTO unless RL has something in RTW. I'm looking forward to the Carmina balmoral boots I ordered through the SF x Epaulet MTO. One pair is on Dainite for crap weather. Neither in shell but Carmina does do shell.

Well, if you are considering Trickers, check out the MTO's done by Richard at The Shoe Healer. Great guy to deal with and you can get shell boots done.

The only reason I wear them is for commuting by motorcycle to work.

I wear them in the snow and heavy rain. No one knows I'm in boots until I sit.

I like dress boots and casual boots, boots with leather soles and boots with rubber soles. Chukkas, chelsea's and jodhpurs. It's an aesthetic choice as much as it is a functional one, and I wear boots regardless of the weather. My rainy weather dress footwear is jodhpur boots with Dainite soles, in either black or brown. Don't know if it is per the rules but it's what I like.

Shell is shell. Others here love it in all models, some choose it only for casual boots and then there are those who will never develop a liking. I enjoy shell and balmoral boots are just about the most beautiful model available. With these two combined you get a warm shoe that can stand rain and snow, but not really salt. The best of both worlds for wintertime.

ALfred Sargent Miller with cotton navy pants with a whopping 1" cuff. Those Japanese designers...