Boots with Gore sides? WTF?

[Pylon]

I'm trying to find a decent pair of leather dress boots with some detailing on the toe (a medallion or wing tipping, for example). While I won't be using these for snow shoeing in the next blizzard or shoveling my driveway, they should be able to walk through mostly shoveled city sidewalks, withstand some rain and slush and the usual winter niceties. Add to the difficulty of finding something in a dress boot without squared-toes and I'm coming up short on options.

So I found this pair by Calvin Klein on Zappos and they've got these elastic "gore" sides to the boots. WTF? Is that what I think it is? A permeable fabric side to the boot? I mean, I have a pair of slip-on loafers with some sort of stretchy material around the tongue, but... the side of a boot?

Are these things permeable to water? Will they withstand the usual winter elements? Am I looking in the wrong places for a decent pair of leather dress boots that can both withstand some winter sidewalk walking, not have a cap-toe, not cost a house downpayment, and have a little decoration on the toe?

 

[James Bond]

It's called a Chelsea boot. Not sure what's WTF about it.

 

[grimslade]

The elastic gores are very much water-permeable.

 

[random-adam]

I would recommend scrolling down a bit and clicking on "Glossary," which will lead you to this:

Gore
An elastic panel stitched into either side of a shoe's vamp in order to make it more comfortable and easier to put on and take off.

(I didn't know that either.) So yeah, not at all the waterproof/breathable membrane that springs to mind for those of us whose only knowledge of "gore" is either blood or half of "-tex".

edit: I just realized I might've read things wrong. My apologies if I was inaccurate.

 

[JustinW]

I love my RM Williams Chelsea boots and my Blundestone's work boots!

 

[ahjota]

Chelsea/dealer boots use elastic gores on the sides. I just bought a pair of RM Williams chelseas for about the same reasons as you. RMW considers the particular pair I got, the Comfort Craftsman, to be ideal for walking in areas where snow has been shoveled or salted. We'll see in ten days.

 

[Pylon]

Originally Posted by James Bond

It's called a Chelsea boot. Not sure what's WTF about it.

I guess I just don't get what the point of having a boot if the boot can't carry out one of the main benefits of having the higher quarters (besides ankle support) - keeping the elements off your feet.

 

[Tarmac]

Keeps dirt out

 

[why]

Originally Posted by Pylon

I guess I just don't get what the point of having a boot if the boot can't carry out one of the main benefits of having the higher quarters (besides ankle support) - keeping the elements off your feet.

They keep all the elements besides water off your feet. Even then, why the hell would you wear a leather boot in that much water?

 

[mulansauce]

I'm glad this thread exists. Next time I get **** in MC for asking a dumb shoe question, I'm going to point them here so I don't look quite so bad.

 

[robertorex]

The chelsea boot with its elastic gore is a menswear classic. Also, some people like to wear boots because they look good. If you wanted hardcore element protection several levels above the chelsea, you'd have to be rocking some seriously chunky ****.

 

[zatarregaza]

Search eBay for a Cole Haan boot (Russell chelsea) like these.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by zatarregaza

Search eBay for a Cole Haan boot (Russell chelsea) like these.
Ew, why? OP: You should look at something like Alden for leather dress boots that are more streetable in winter. Even so, you shouldn't be wearing nice leather boots through salty slush and expect them to stay nice for very long.

 

[robbie]

I was really expecting to see some horribly violent pictures airbrushed on the sides of a pair of boots.

this needs to be relocated to the 'mislabeled threads' subforum.

 

[zatarregaza]

Originally Posted by j

Ew, why?
They're exactly what he was looking for style-wise. And given he mentioned a pair of Calvin Klein boots as a reference they're going to be about the same in price too.