Opinions/help with Chelsea boots Please!!

[vordhosbn]

first post here, been lurking for a while and have found very helpful info!

Ive searched this topic and have not found what im looking for however.
I mostly wear street wear and do not have much knowledge on more adult, dressier clothes which i definitely need.

Im looking for black, slim chelsea boots, to be worn with skinny/slim dress pants and jeans, $300 or under. Kinda going for a dior homme rocker aesthetic..

not the best pic, but i like the boots in this image:

also i like these but cannot find them anywhere:

http://men.style.com/fashion/buy_now..._boots/agnes_b

Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[kitonbrioni]

Nice, edgy boot--I like them. Many forum members may consider them too causal and too fashion forward.

 

[dah328]

At about $340, I'd consider the C&J chelseas from Plal:

http://www.plal.com/crockett/cj10n11.jpg

Loake have some at a lower price and quality point:

http://www.pediwear.co.uk/detail.php?stock_ID=17

Sargent's fall in at about the same level as Loake:

http://www.pediwear.co.uk/detail.php?stock_ID=40

 

[vordhosbn]

thank you for the suggestions! What do you think about boots with perforations (sp?)? Im also interested in these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ance&n=1036592
(edit: I just realized these dont come in my size, i need 13, cant find them anywhere else)

The more i think i may want something less casual, and more dressy than i originally thought.... Slim and sleek!

 

[mrchapel]

A bit too pointy for my likes. For boots, I prefer a more squared toe.

 

[Englandmj7]

Charles Tyrwhitt's chelseas are currently on sale for $130:

http://www.ctshirts.co.uk/productMSB...s&level3=Black

The quality of the CTs, however, is relatively mediocre.

E-bay seller Grapevinehill often has excellent deals on several style of Polo Chelsea boots, although this particular pair is more of a jodphur:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-POLO-RALPH-L...QQcmdZViewItem

I have seen a pair of these go for under $100 (MSRP is $325) as Grapevinehill often lists many of them at once:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-POLO-RALPH-L...QQcmdZViewItem

 

[mbc]

Do those Polo boots fit relatively true to size?

 

[Englandmj7]

Yes, I would say with 95% confidence that they do. At least that has been my experience with all other Polo shoes I have purchased.

 

[Jovan]

Magnoli Clothiers have MTM Chelsea boots that look nice and have six colours of calfskin. $275 with shipping. Of course, I have no experience with them. Anyone from the Fedora Lounge do? They seem to be more familiar with Magnoli's offerings. Teh linkage.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by mbc

Do those Polo boots fit relatively true to size?

Not the Tarlton II. Go AT LEAST half size down.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Jovan

Magnoli Clothiers have MTM Chelsea boots that look nice and have six colours of calfskin. $275 with shipping. Of course, I have no experience with them. Anyone from the Fedora Lounge do? They seem to be more familiar with Magnoli's offerings.

Teh linkage.

Woah. Bespoke shoes for 275; interesting...

 

[Jovan]

Well if anything I'd call them semi-bespoke, like I refer to suits done over mail order to your exact specs and measurements. Are MTM and bespoke pretty much the same with shoes? I have no idea. EDIT: If the term semi-bespoke somehow catches on, I request an entry be made by me in the SF wiki.

 

[Sator]

The nicest and most comfortable pair of chelseas (or just about any boot for that matter) I have ever worn are by R.M. Williams. They always use beautiful full grain leather with a hand welted Goodyear construction. Their lasts have an elegance that compare favourably with any English shoe, yet they cost a fraction of the price.

The construction and leather quality will run rings around any nonsense from Prada (I must sadly admit to owning a pair). They are more comfortable than any boot I have from Ralph Lauren Polo (C&J) which are too often made of a very heavy - almost wooden - leather, while the construction is just as good. The Charles Tyrwhitt/Loakes can seem a good deal especially if you can get them at 50% off, but the leather they use is often mediocre corrected grain stuff. Buy them only if you can afford nothing better. R.M. Williams boots remain highly competitively priced (the exchange rate is in your favour) even against Loakes at 50% off and are definitely better quality.

A website I learned of on SF is:

http://nungar.com.au/index.htm

Another website I learned of from SF is:

http://www.bootsonline.com.au/default1.htm

The R.M. Williams website where you can browse the full range is here:

http://www.rmwilliams.com.au/home.asp

And here is a recent thread where I have posted some pics plus their sizing chart to convert UK/Australian sizing to US sizing.

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=16721

I know I live in Australia and so you probably think I am biased but I must shamefully confess to have never heard of R.M. Williams until I read about them on SF in the high end shoe thread that has been pinned:

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=12201

I was amazed after buying my first pair that I could have been so ignorant as they are such a nice boot to wear you could sleep in them. I would happily have a pair for every day of the week.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Jovan

Well if anything I'd call them semi-bespoke, like I refer to suits done over mail order to your exact specs and measurements. Are MTM and bespoke pretty much the same with shoes? I have no idea.

EDIT: If the term semi-bespoke somehow catches on, I request an entry be made by me in the SF wiki.

They have a bespoke (according to them) option.

 

[Get Smart]

you could check these out, return them if not satisfied

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/16196454/c/4282.html

I have the Pliner "Jason" chelsea in dark red, and it is one of my favorite shoes. Uber comfortable from day 1, very soft leather. Unlike some others in his line, the boots are blake stitched, not cemented. They're definitely sleek/slim and the pointed toe gives it more of a rock n roll feel, more "Dior Homme" than RM Williams or C&J. And with Zappo's 365 day return policy you have nothing to lose on the purchase.