Dress Zip Boots: Why So Hard to Find?

[Quirk]

Is there a reason mens's dress zip boots are so rarely made? I will probably relent and try a pair of Chelseas eventually, but I really am not a fan of the elastic concept - I'm just not crazy about the look of the elastic itself, especially when it contrasts with the leather; but also since for practical reasons the foot opening has to be wider to allow the boot to be slipped on, the wider opening means that when you're seated, the boot simply doesn't have the elegant profile that a zip boot does. Also I imagine it would also take some getting used to the boot not hugging my ankle as snugly as a zip boot does.
I have a great pair of black zip boots from To Boot NY that I found over 10 years ago, as well as a couple of other decent but somewhat lower-tier zip boots I've been lucky enough to come across randomly over the last 5 years, but I've been wanting to expand my boot wardrobe for a while now and they're tough to find at any price! Don't others find them appealing? I would think there'd be as much of a market for them, if not more, than for Chelseas. Are they harder to craft for some reason? I'd happily pay a premium for them over Chelseas.

 

[krudsma]

I have these and really like them: https://www.beckettsimonon.com/products/easton-side-zip-boots

 

[breakaway01]

In addition to the above, I can think of boots from Buttero (Floyd model), Husbands Paris, Saint Laurent Paris (their Wyatt model comes in a side zip version).

 

[DorianGreen]

As you would expect, these are expensive, Freddi by John Lobb.

https://www.johnlobb.com/en_us/mens-shoes/freddi#selection.color=Black Oxford Calf

 

[Thin White Duke]

The reason they’re hard to find is that it’s not the nineteen seventies any more!😁
Seriously there are a few things which continually baffle me about SF and among them are the seeming obsession among many members with ridiculously wide lapels and with these ‘orrible zip boots - both of which coincidentally were popular in the seventies. I lived through that decade and do not want to go back there.

If you’re not into chelseas that’s your prerogative of course but I don’t think zip boots will ‘hug your ankles’ any better than elastic sided boots. A lot of it is about the fit. I was in C and J in NYC once - they have several Chelsea models which I tried and there is a broad variance in last shape and fit, and that’s just within one brand so among several brands the variance will be even wider. If you’re dead set against elastics, have you tried jodhpur boots? Nice ones available from Tricker’s, Meermin, Carmina among others.

 

[zippyh]

I don’t think Tricker’s has offered their Jodpher, the Chepstow, as a stock item for a number of years now. Carmina jod is nice.

 

[WhereNext]

That style of boot is not my thing, but I think J. Fitzpatrick makes them, too.

 

[Thin White Duke]

I don’t think Tricker’s has offered their Jodpher, the Chepstow, as a stock item for a number of years now. Carmina jod is nice.

Wow didn’t know this. I have these and realising I must have had them over ten years did not make my day!!

 

[symphvaria]

“It’s not the 70s anymore” seems like a bizarre complaint in a period when Westernwear is more mainstream than ever and people under 30 are wearing bootcut jeans regularly.

 

[jischwar]

Is there a reason mens's dress zip boots are so rarely made? I will probably relent and try a pair of Chelseas eventually, but I really am not a fan of the elastic concept - I'm just not crazy about the look of the elastic itself, especially when it contrasts with the leather; but also since for practical reasons the foot opening has to be wider to allow the boot to be slipped on, the wider opening means that when you're seated, the boot simply doesn't have the elegant profile that a zip boot does. Also I imagine it would also take some getting used to the boot not hugging my ankle as snugly as a zip boot does.
I have a great pair of black zip boots from To Boot NY that I found over 10 years ago, as well as a couple of other decent but somewhat lower-tier zip boots I've been lucky enough to come across randomly over the last 5 years, but I've been wanting to expand my boot wardrobe for a while now and they're tough to find at any price! Don't others find them appealing? I would think there'd be as much of a market for them, if not more, than for Chelseas. Are they harder to craft for some reason? I'd happily pay a premium for them over Chelseas.

Enzo Bonafe makes a great side zip Mod 3993 is the style. I've got two of them

 

[Betta]

ZIP BOOTS 80688 RAIN

ZIP BOOTS IN BLACK BOX CALF...

www.carminashoemaker.com

WHOLECUT SIDE ZIP BOOTS 80688 RAIN

WHOLECUT SIDE ZIP BOOTS IN LODEN SUEDE...

www.carminashoemaker.com

Readily available and as dressy as they come. Also available for custom makeup

 

[ppk]

3Sixteen had a really nice square toe side zip boot, but it has disappeared from their website.

I have a beautiful vintage YSL (Hedi Sliman) square toe side zips with broguing that I love.

 

[grc1]

I love zipper dress boots, and have always wondered why they, out of all the “retro” clothing trends, never managed to come back. I ended up commissioning a couple pairs from Ricardo Bestetti before he passed away a few years ago, and I wonder if I’ll ever see their like again. Would love a few more!

Black Bestetti zipper boots

and Brown Bestetti zipper boots

 

[Clouseau]

Carvil « Dylan » boots. I have a pair in suede but they also made them in leather. Very stylish, will never be out of fashion.
Apparently the brand recently disappeared but you probably have a last chance to find a pair online somewhere.

 

[upr_crust]

My only current pair of dress zipper boots, from Cheaney several years ago . . .