Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

[wordfool]

@Bronco68 That brown dress leather does look yummy! I wonder how heavy/light are the dress leathers? 3-4oz?

Dress leathers are 5.5-6.0oz IIRC. Definitely feel slightly thinner than oil tan, but also feel very dense and have proven to be pretty tough with (generally) a nice grain. The brown has a teacore, while the black is dyed through

 

[chicagoan2016]

Dress leathers are 5.5-6.0oz IIRC. Definitely feel slightly thinner than oil tan, but also feel very dense and have proven to be pretty tough with (generally) a nice grain. The brown has a teacore, while the black is dyed through

That's a pretty hefty leather then and the patina the brown dress develops (as some pictures here show)!!!

 

[klank74]

@Bronco68 That brown dress leather does look yummy! I wonder how heavy/light are the dress leathers? 3-4oz?

I don’t know exact measurements, but in terms of thickest to thinnest, I believe it’s the oil tan “ work” leathers, followed by elk tan, and then the dress leathers. I love my brown dress. It’s still heavier than the leather on my redwing work boots, but it breaks in pretty quick.

 

[chicagoan2016]

I don’t know exact measurements, but in terms of thickest to thinnest, I believe it’s the oil tan “ work” leathers, followed by elk tan, and then the dress leathers. I love my brown dress. It’s still heavier than the leather on my redwing work boots, but it breaks in pretty quick.

based on @wordfool's post, brown dress is close to CXL in weight. I wonder if it's possible to have a light color dress leather?

 

[Woodtroll]

@Bronco68 That brown dress leather does look yummy! I wonder how heavy/light are the dress leathers? 3-4oz?

Link to dress leather weight, from Sambam himself:

Custom White's Boots ... Thoughts?

Adding a lining makes the boot wider on the outside but not the inside. Your normal size should fit the same. Black cherry water buffalo is really good looking stuff. My favorite. Making a prototype next week with it. Do you have an up to date list of what leather you currently have in stock at...

www.styleforum.net

 

[wordfool]

based on @wordfool's post, brown dress is close to CXL in weight. I wonder if it's possible to have a light color dress leather?

Not sure there's ever been anything other than just the dark brown and black dress leathers (same for Elk Tan). CXL is where all the fun colors seem to happen, and AFAIK White's uses CXL that's about 6.5oz

 

[chicagoan2016]

CXL is where all the fun colors seem to happen, and AFAIK White's uses CXL that's about 6.5oz

yes! CXL is the best lol

 

[adrs1157]

The brown dress is what has been recommended to me for my first build. Thanks for sharing this image as it helps me envision the type of patina possible.

I am narrowing down my build options and had the following questions regarding these boots.

How long have you had them? Do these have a celastic toe? What type of soles do they have? Thank you.

Oh man they were super dirty back then. I wore them all summer. They have a slight patina but they are still pretty new, maybe 1 year old or 1.5? Too new to showcase any good patina unfortunately. Brown dress will fade and burnish with time and wear into a completely different look.

These have a single celastic toe on the 55 last. Vibram 700 outsole.

 

[chicagoan2016]

Oh man they were super dirty back then. I wore them all summer. They have a slight patina but they are still pretty new, maybe 1 year old or 1.5? Too new to showcase any good patina unfortunately. Brown dress will fade and burnish with time and wear into a completely different look.

These have a single celastic toe on the 55 last. Vibram 700 outsole.

Share some pics!!

 

[adrs1157]

Share some pics!!

Sure! I'll try to snap a few tomorrow.

 

[Mr.Weatherall]

Are the dress leathers an oil tan? I am curious.

 

[Woodtroll]

Are the dress leathers an oil tan? I am curious.

No, the dress leathers are a dry tan. From the link I posted above, Sambam (who is a White’s representative that pops in here occasionally) says,

“Dry tan, elk tan and dress are the same leathers. Different tanneries call them different names. Just a matter of leather weight. Dry and elk 6.5 to 7 and dress 5.5 to 6 ounces.”

The one pair of dress brown leather boots I own show a lighter tone below the dark brown surface in strong light, which looks interesting, but because it is not the same color all the way through like oil tan is, it shows scuffs in “contrast”.

Like others here have said before, dress brown is a good versatile leather for boots you’re not going to be real rough on, unless you prefer the “beat to hell and don’t care” look that you see promoted sometimes. To each his own, but that look says “abuse and neglect” to me.

 

[Bronco68]

Oh man they were super dirty back then. I wore them all summer. They have a slight patina but they are still pretty new, maybe 1 year old or 1.5? Too new to showcase any good patina unfortunately. Brown dress will fade and burnish with time and wear into a completely different look.

These have a single celastic toe on the 55 last. Vibram 700 outsole.

Thank you. I have been searching pics of “mature” brown dress with normal / natural aged patina, not high gloss patina...without success.

 

[Mr.Weatherall]

Thanks Woodtroll. I dont think I could go for the abused look since getting into White's boots, there is something satisfying about keeping your boots cleaned after use and in good condition. Keeps me excited to wear them.

Like all of us on here I am dreaming of my next pair of White's. I want to get a dressier pair, and I am considering the MP Shermans. Anyone have thoughts about how that boot would look in black RO and nickle hardware? I like other dressier leathers but I just cant keep from slicing them up since I live on a working ranch in a rural setting.

 

[wordfool]

Thank you. I have been searching pics of “mature” brown dress with normal / natural aged patina, not high gloss patina...without success.

Here you go... some well worn Brown Dress (not mine, I might add):