[memphislawyer]

Well, since I got a pair of Double H boots, I have found that those are my most comfortable shoes. Something about having the heel a little higher than the arch and walking more on the balls of my feet. So got some brown Allen Edmonds lace up boots (kinda like Red Wing with the stiching across the toe), some Frye harness boots, and a pair of snuff suede Chelsea boots.

So, wearing a black 1/4 zip sweater with khakis. Wore the darker brown Frye boots. Would you have gone some black boots, maybe engineer or harness, to be tonal, or is brown ok? Substitute jeans for khaki, same thing?

 

[TerryM]

For the most part a dark brown can replace a black boot. But not the other way around. Congratulations, boots are great!

 

[eagle2250]

Welcome to the world of men's boots. I will begin by echoing TerryM's observation(s) and add a caution that you should avoid the combination of the color black and any "more" extreme boot designs (ie; Engineer boots). I have nothing against black boots. There are presently (at least) two pair on my shoe racks and I wear them regularly. However the combination of the color and more extreme designs (ie: the previously mentioned black engineer design and full quill ostrich ropers) resulted in pair(s) that saw very little wear time and were eventually eliminated from my collection. My advice at this juncture is to proceed cautiously. Just a thought.

 

[StephenRG]

Black chelseas - perfect.

 

[momsdoc]

Black leather and dark grey/black suede shaft bal boot or button boot
Black bal boot
Black Jodpuhr
Black George
Black Chelsea
Black Derby cap toe

What do they all have in common? They are dressier boots. Black casual just doesn’t make sense.

 

[RogerP]

A rebuttal to position that black casual boots don't make sense:







Now, for casual boots their is a loooooong list of choices that should precede black in terms of versatility. But I achieved a highly versatile shoe and boot rotation a while ago, and I certainly get more than enough bang for my buck with my lone pair of casual black boots.

Necessary? No. Pointless? No. Something of a niche choice? Yes.

 

[Flanderian]

Welcome to the world of men's boots. I will begin by echoing TerryM's observation(s) and add a caution that you should avoid the combination of the color black and any "more" extreme boot designs (ie; Engineer boots). I have nothing against black boots. There are presently (at least) two pair on my shoe racks and I wear them regularly. However the combination of the color and more extreme designs (ie: the previously mentioned black engineer design and full quill ostrich ropers) resulted in pair(s) that saw very little wear time and were eventually eliminated from my collection. My advice at this juncture is to proceed cautiously. Just a thought.

 

[derum]

I have black C&J Tetbury chukka's in suede and in calf. The calf could be considered dressy, at a push, but the suede not (IMO). Both have dainite soles. My black chelsea boots would be higher up the "dressy" heirarchy.

 

[JBierly]

Ok - that's hideous.

 

[RogerP]

Ok - that's hideous.

Yes, but not because it's black. It would be hideous in any shade.

 

[Flanderian]

Ok - that's hideous.

Yes, but not because it's black. It would be hideous in any shade.

What's the matter, not enough straps!? :icon_scratch:

 

[RogerP]

over the knee ftw!

 

[momsdoc]

A rebuttal to position that black casual boots don't make sense:

Now, for casual boots their is a loooooong list of choices that should precede black in terms of versatility. But I achieved a highly versatile shoe and boot rotation a while ago, and I certainly get more than enough bang for my buck with my lone pair of casual black boots.

Necessary? No. Pointless? No. Something of a niche choice? Yes.

OK. I guess it depends on your baseline point of view. For those such as us, those are indeed casual boots. That's because they are a derby with contrast stitching of the uppers and what appears to possibly be a Norwegian welt. I specifically did not include Jumper boots in my list as those are definitely casual by our reference point but dressy to the rest of the world. They can be appropriate in black or not, depending on the. Details.

I'm talking about something such as this.

Vs. something like this:

However, for the rest of the world those boots are dress boots. I recall you alluding to a similar style boot in a thread a year or so ago as "dress boots". You were describing them as they would be perceived of by the population at large. Indeed those and the ones in this pic would be regarded as casual by us, not dress boots.

I was using the term casual as it would be understood by 99.9% of the world. Something along the lines of a work boot, engineer boot, or hiking boot. Those don't seem like a good fit in a formal black color. Some of our casual boots, or dress boots to the other 99.9% may indeed be appropriate in black as you have demonstrated above. I have a pair of perforated captoe, single leather sole Carmina derbies in black but those are the most casual I would go in that color. My others are more dressy. The C&J Somerville with charcoal suede shaft, Magnanni Chelsea, and Carmina cap toe bal.

 

[RogerP]

I dunno - jumpers are the very definition of a casual boot. Sure - to the uninformed masses they may seem dressy, but then the discussion on this forum tends to presume a certain level of awareness. And jumpers in black shell, for example - I wouldn't say no to a pair!

 

[RogerP]

I think the post you are recalling was my account of posting about boot recommendations on a watch forum. The vast majority of respondents in that thread thought Cole Haan was the pinnacle of mens footwear. So yes, there was a rather massive lack of awareness among those who thought my Carmina jumpers were dress boots. But we generally don't make recommendations here based on what would pass muster with that kind of crowd

 

[momsdoc]

I dunno - jumpers are the very definition of a casual boot. Sure - to the uninformed masses they may seem dressy, but then the discussion on this forum tends to presume a certain level of awareness. And jumpers in black shell, for example - I wouldn't say no to a pair!

Agreed. But I would assume they would be those EBs in black cordovan that I posted above preferably with a single oak tanned sole and hidden or at most black eyelets, not brass. Certainly not the CS in calf with a commando sole.

 

[RogerP]

I'd rock this Carmina Frankenstitch pair in a heartbeat (if they weren't so close to my existing Zonkey boot pair). And I'd wear them casually, not as dress boots.

Again - I'm not saying black is my first choice for a casual boot or even my third. But I can make perfect sense of these.

 

[derum]

EG Kentmere. Enough straps and buckles to satisfy even a biker.

 

[RogerP]

EG Kentmere. Enough straps and buckles to satisfy even a biker.
View attachment 27695

I love the Kentmere but I think black is my least favorite shade for that boot.

 

[momsdoc]

Shaver had it easy for all footwear:
Black bals, quarter brogue and above = Dressy.
Black bals, half or full brogue = Casual and confused.
Black Bluchers = Abomination.

Us for boots:
Black bal, quarter brogues and above, that look appropriate with a suit/tux = Dressy.
Everything else = Casual.

The subjective part is at what point does a casual black boot = Abomination.

Somewhere in the area below a black derby chiseled captoe with a York sole and hidden eyelets I would think.