Dress Boots for the Chicago Winter

[VinnyMac]

If you don't want to carry around dress shoes then just buy some overshoes. No need to complicate things. If you're worried about how dumb they look, don't. The secret is that everyone wonders what shoes are so fancy that they have to be protected in such a way. For those occasions when you forgot your galoshes, be sure to keep a couple plastic grocery bags handy

Good idea with the over-shoes....SECONDED.

 

[Artem]

I considered getting some overshoes, but like I said, I'm in and out of buildings on campus and don't want to have to take them on and off. And I don't want to carry them around with me. I'd prefer to put something on and not have to think about it.

How do you all feel about these:

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF9963_1_40000000001_-1

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF9022_1_40000000001_-1

Rubber soles and no laces for snow to get stuck in. Are they likely to get ruined by snow? If so, I'll probably just go with the Steve Maddens.

 

[peach]

Artem , those are nice and the Danite soles are most appropriate. I have had them placed on a couple of my dress shoes for those sloppy days when I must wear a suit , without them it only takes a couple of blocks to have wet and cold feet. When you are home for the night if you wipe them with a diluted white vinegar and water solution you mitigate the salt issue. Brook's Shoe repair will put a Danite sole on any shoe , i think i paid $35.00 the last time . I hope you enjoy Chicago.

 

[Crane's]

There's nothing mild about Chicago winters. I lived there for 40 years and none of the boots you're looking at will do well. Your best bet would be to leave a pair of shoes or boots at the place where you're doing your internship. Get yourself some insulated waterproof boots for the slop and change when you get to the "office". If you're worried about how it looks don't. Anyone in the know about Chicago winters does this.

 

[philosophe]



There's nothing mild about Chicago winters. I lived there for 40 years and none of the boots you're looking at will do well. Your best bet would be to leave a pair of shoes or boots at the place where you're doing your internship. Get yourself some insulated waterproof boots for the slop and change when you get to the "office". If you're worried about how it looks don't. Anyone in the know about Chicago winters does this.

Sage advice. You don't want freezing feet all winter, right? Winter in the Midwest is damned inconvenient.

 

[Crane's]

I remember 20 below zero days with a foot of snow and 50 mph winds coming off the lake all to well. There are a few things I miss about Chicago but the winters aren't one of them.

 

[CalTex]

I doubt he will want to do overshoes, if he is anything like me in undergrad. I don't like to carry extra crap with me unless it's necessary. However, when I am in NY I do not spend much time outside so regular rubber soled boots do just fine.

The boots I was referring to are by Allen Edmonds, The Bayfields. Unfortunately they are now discontinued so my search continues.

 

[Patek]



because, IMO, if you're starting from scratch, black is your best bet.

I disagree with this post. I do not find black shoes very versatile or good looking. Of my 30+ pairs of shoes, I think I have three pairs of black shoes and they hardly get worn. Browns are much easier to pair and on the plus side, they do not show salt and snow marks as much as black.

If you are lucky, the Brooks Brothers cordovan boot goes on sale for around the price of those AE (if you can wait for the after Christmas sale). I have a pair and they are one of my favorite boots and are made by Crocket & Jones which is a very respected and quality shoe maker.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatSortOrder.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=523

 

[CalTex]

Found them

http://www.landsend.com/pp/mens-allen-edmonds-bayfield-captoe-boots~228873_-1.html

because, IMO, if you're starting from scratch, black is your best bet.

I disagree with this post. I do not find black shoes very versatile or good looking. Of my 30+ pairs of shoes, I think I have three pairs of black shoes and they hardly get worn. Browns are much easier to pair and on the plus side, they do not show salt and snow marks as much as black.

If you are lucky, the Brooks Brothers cordovan boot goes on sale for around the price of those AE (if you can wait for the after Christmas sale). I have a pair and they are one of my favorite boots and are made by Crocket & Jones which is a very respected and quality shoe maker.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatSortOrder.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=523

+1

 

[Twotone]

I lived and worked in Moscow for five years and quickly learned to leave two pairs of dress shoes in my office -- one oxblood and one black. I wore heavy duty boots outside the office during winter. Compared to Moscow winters (-20 for weeks), Chicago will feel like a spring day. Overshoes are a good back up plan.

I would not spend $350 on AE "dress" boots -- Chicago winters will beat the crap out of them. Get some sturdy high-top ones from your local Army/Navy store (or LL Bean) and spend the reminder on nice office dress shoes.

 

[Artem]

How do you guys feel about these?

http://www.6pm.com/geox-uomo-sammy-9-cognac

This site I found is great by the way; it's like Zappos' outlet.

I don't know about the whole "Moisture repelling" sole deal though. I don't have any experience with that tech. Sounds great in theory, but it also sounds like something that Sketchers would do.

My other option is still:

http://www.zappos.com/steve-madden-evander-2-brown-leather

 

[Artem]

After looking around some more, I've narrowed my search down to these three:

Steve Madden Evander 2:
http://www.zappos.com/steve-madden-evander-2-brown-leather

Johnston & Murphy Knowland:
http://www.amazon.com/Johnston-Murphy-Mens-Knowland-Boot/dp/B0050S6W7C/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_2

Banana Republic Swift Chelsea:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=416150002&tid=bramz1r&kwid=1&ap=14

I love the J&M brown brogued boots; it's a shame that the black ones aren't brogued. The shape, color, brogueing(sp?)... everything about those is beautiful.
The Banana Republic ones are very sleek and nice as well.
And I like the Steve Maddens, too. But I'm concerned that the black ones will be very plastic-looking, if that makes sense.

I can't decide which of these to get. I might even get one in brown and one in black. I guess it comes down to quality because the price is approximately equal.

What are your opinions?

 

[atoms]

I think it would be wise to focus a little more on construction and a little less on looks. Some boots are crafted for your purpose, others not so much. Of the three, I believe the J&M will have the highest quality build but I'm not sure if they'll actually keep your toes dry in the slush. I would'n't spent $5 on the Steve Madden's and have no experience with BR shoes. They all look fairly deadly having no traction and all.

 

[Artem]

I think it would be wise to focus a little more on construction and a little less on looks. Some boots are crafted for your purpose, others not so much. Of the three, I believe the J&M will have the highest quality build but I'm not sure if they'll actually keep your toes dry in the slush. I would'n't spent $5 on the Steve Madden's and have no experience with BR shoes. They all look fairly deadly having no traction and all.

I won't be climbing mountains in them. I just need for the soles to not get ruined from sidewalk slush. The Steve Maddens are decent quality for the money from what I've read and have the best traction of the three. Banana Republic clothing is of decent quality in my experience, but I've never owned their shoes. I assume the same holds. The J&M are also of good quality from what I've read.

 

[Crane's]

You worry too much about soles. I wear leather soled boots in water and mud all the time. You need to concern yourself more with the uppers and welt. None of those boots you have listed will do well in slush water and snow. You are setting yourself up for failure and if you insist on doing it anyway you'll learn the lesson the hard way. Not climbing mountains? OK, but you would be way better off with a good pair of mountaineering boots. At least you would have traction and warm dry feet. You're talking about footwear that'll be used in an extreme environment. It doesn't matter if that environment is in the back country of the Rockies or in an urban jungle. There are some cases where style goes out the window in favor of comfort and survivability. Chicago winters is one of those environments.