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Leather Chukka -- Dressy enough for suit wear?

33K views 29 replies 21 participants last post by  Angeland  
#1 ·
I like the look and feel of the leather chukkah, especially the Alden or Peal & Co. varieties. My question is weather the leather chukkah is appropriate for wear with a suit? Thanks!

Jay
 
#4 ·
Hmm. Well what would you say to an Alden monk-strap chukkah? Or a military style zip-up chukkah?
Vince Guaraldi does this look on the back of the Charlie Brown Christmas Album. It's probably a mistake anyway.

I have done it, with my tan cotton suit, but I probably wouldn't with anything else.
 
#5 ·
Hmm. Well what would you say to an Alden monk-strap chukkah? Or a military style zip-up chukkah?
'No' and 'No'. In that order. :icon_smile_wink:

Whilst I don't own any chukkahs, I do not dislike them but they are simply too casual for suits.

I don't know what a 'military style zip up chukka' is and google doesn't seem to want to show me. However my dear old gran used to wear fleece lined zip up chukka style boots so they have a very negative connotation for me.
 
#6 ·
It all depends on where you work. If you are wearing a suit so you can work with and meet people who are properly attired, then no. If you are wearing a suit in order to satisfy your own reasons, then sure.

I wore chukkas in university with my suits. But I also wear cowboy boots and loafers with suits, so if you are seeking an old school answer, I'm not a good choice.

Tom
 
#7 · (Edited)
Depends.

But first, I wish to find some in Weather Leather too! :icon_smile_wink:

I wear them happily (And have long done so.) with casual country suits of tweed, corduroy or twills. And if the weather is lousy, and my mood as well, I just might say the heck with it (Though you know that's not what I would say!) and stick them under a city suit that perhaps isn't too formal.
 
#11 ·
For city wear or in a legal or financial company, absolutely not! Never! However, if you work in a suburban office park where the suit of choice never has stripes and frequently is a windowpane or a glencheck, then perhaps you can pull it off. It depends on so many things. Where you work, what your position is, what your reputation is. Are you the office oddball, tolerated for ability but the source of shaking heads as you pass? In those circumstances, it could work. But I sure wouldn't try it if I was a very junior new hire!
 
#13 · (Edited)
I have a nice pair of these as a weather shoe. Personally, I don't think I'd wear them with a suit. I don't get to wear a suit very frequently so I just wouldn't have any need to wear other than plain or punch cap.
 
#15 ·
I have seen many well dressed folks in the New York-New Jersey legal and financial communities wear chukkas, including cordovan chukkas with suits. It looks fine to me.
Alternatively, one could think of them as well dressed in spite of their chukkas.
 
#18 ·
I don't see what's wrong with wearing chukkas with a suit, provided they don't interfere with the break of the trouser. I wear George boots on the very rare occasions when I wear black tie for dinner, and occasionally see others do so. I agree though there is something a bit less formal about the style - even louche perhaps? I can't say why that is.
 
#19 ·
Another member of the grumpy "absolutely no" camp checking in. Love the style - they are perfect for dressing up a casual outfit. I definitely wouldn't dress down a suit with a pair, though.

That said, if it's a very dressy pair, I wouldn't consider it an horrendous transgression on someone else. Not a choice I would make for myself, though.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Not unless you are in the desert, in that case I have to question the suit.

I have a nice pair of AE shell Dundees, they go well with jeans/chinos. When I'm wearing a suit, I'm not planning on chasing anyone down the street ala 007, he wore the shoes in Skyfall for a reason. If your situation in such that you will be riding a motorcycle, running down the street, by all means wear the boots, they will be safer.
 
#25 ·
I don't care for it, but I don't much care for chukkas in general; boots need more eyelets than shoes, not less! As far as the pairing with suits, I don't see it done much in my area, for what that's worth. It may be well-accepted in New York.