[GrumF14]

As the value of the dollar is horrifically low, does anyone know of any balmoral boots that are reasonably priced for a US buyer?

If not, as Jovan has informed me, these boots are bluchers, but would these then be improper for morning attire?

 

[Simon Myerson]

It's not that they are Derbys. It's that they aren't the right look. There's too much detailing where the leather joins and the colour of the sole and the white stitching is too informal.

I'm afraid I can't help with the well priced balmoral though. On the other hand, the pound is on the way down...

 

[GrumF14]

Yes, thank goodness for America ending its awful run of tanking against the rest of the world's currencies.

 

[jcusey]

Those boots would not be appropriate for morning dress, for a number of reasons. They're bluchers. The contrast stitching on the welt makes them more casual, as do the metal eyelets and the speed-lacer hooks. To tell you the truth, they look like nothing so much as paratrooper jump boots. I like the way jump boots look, but not for formal morning dress.

Bal boots are tough to find. EG has the Shannon, and G&G has the Canterbury; but both of those are very expensive. The most reasonably-priced bal boot that I can think of would be a special order from Rider Boot Company (Ron Rider's venture -- the shoes are made at the same factory that Martegani shoes are made at). Here's an example of the pattern in shell cordovan:

If I were having the pattern made up as a formal boot, I'd do it without the metal eyelets and speed-lacing hooks and on a round-toe last. I'm not exactly sure of what the pricing would be, but I imagine that it would be around $600. Not cheap, but not $1100 or $1200, which is what Shannon or Canterbury would run.

 

[Anthony Jordan]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the £260 Grenson Balmoral yet? Only available from the Natural Shoe Store, I understand.

 

[culverwood]

Also Crockett and Jones - Avebury

 

[GrumF14]

Also Crockett and Jones - Avebury

So, of course I search the entire website, and the English one, and I can't find the Avebury!

 

[Adagio]

GrumF14,

I was looking for a Balmoral boot earlier this year. I checked out all the options and found that the only one available at short notice the Grenson boot that Anthony mentioned above. JL St. James does a bespoke bal boot. The EG Shannon and Shannon II are both MTO, as far as I know, the C&J Avebury cannot be sourced, the C&J Villers is equally scarce, but its not a Bal in any case. There is another very nice model from C&J called the Higham, but it is only made for the Japanese market, so the sizes tend to be quite small. There is also a JM Weston model, I forget the name, but its has an excessive amount of brogueing (for my taste). So I settled on the Grensons. They are nice, but not as nice as sleek a last as the Shannon or the Avebury. I've only worn them twice. I found they did not look terribly well with my morning dress trousers,(the trouser legs are rather narrow), but I may wear them in the rain in winter.

If you have the time to wait and the budget I would say go for the EG Shannon, unless you want to buy a pair of UK size 10 Grensons from me!

Adagio

 

[Sator]

Personally, I think there is nothing wrong with the speed laces myself. I preferentially have them on all of mine.

I think the most important thing of all to mark out an galosh Oxford as a dress boot is a contrasting top. The colour may be the same as the rest of the boot, but the top should be of something softer. The options include suede, nubuck, velvet, linen or canvas.

That does more than anything else to leave no doubt that they are dress boots.

 

[Geoff Gander]

So I settled on the Grensons. They are nice, but not as nice as sleek a last as the Shannon or the Avebury. I've only worn them twice. I found they did not look terribly well with my morning dress trousers,(the trouser legs are rather narrow), but I may wear them in the rain in winter.

Do you have any photos of them being worn? I've seen the stock photo at the Natural Shoe Store, but they look rather bulbous. Tilyou, another member, bought a pair and shared some photos of the boots "in person" and they do look much better. Still, nothing compares to an overhead shot, preferably being worn.

Geoff

 

[Geoff Gander]

If I were having the pattern made up as a formal boot, I'd do it without the metal eyelets and speed-lacing hooks and on a round-toe last. I'm not exactly sure of what the pricing would be, but I imagine that it would be around $600. Not cheap, but not $1100 or $1200, which is what Shannon or Canterbury would run.

I contacted Ron about the feasibility of having a pair made up in black, with regular lacing all the way. He said it could be done, at an additional cost of $125. If I read his price list correctly, the base cost is $525 - so one would be looking at around $650. Not bad at all, and in fact very tempting.

Geoff

 

[Adagio]

Do you have any photos of them being worn? I've seen the stock photo at the Natural Shoe Store, but they look rather bulbous. Tilyou, another member, bought a pair and shared some photos of the boots "in person" and they do look much better. Still, nothing compares to an overhead shot, preferably being worn.

Geoff

I'm planning to take some shots tomorrow for GrumF14, and I'll PM them to you also Geoff.

Adagio

 

[Swann72]

Le Rodson ...

... might be a viable alternative for 260 Euros (about 350 US Dollar), during the soldes maybe even less:

https://www.johnfoster.com/rodson-cuir-noir.html

But as far as I read on German Style-Fora you have to speak or at least write French to accomplish your order - at least if there are any complications. The French don't like to speak cette putain langue, I believe ...
I can't say anything about the quality of the shoes, anyhow. As far as I understood they are manufactured in Portugal and while they where praised by some members of French Style-Fora other criticised their inferior leather quality.

 

[culverwood]

Foster and Son are stocking a black and grey suede balmoral / galosh oxford boot similar to Sators but fully laced and with a cap toe but without any brogueing. They are at a similar price to C&J handgrade but I suspect there will be some in the sale come July or January.

 

[JibranK]

... might be a viable alternative for 260 Euros (about 350 US Dollar), during the soldes maybe even less:

https://www.johnfoster.com/rodson-cuir-noir.html

But as far as I read on German Style-Fora you have to speak or at least write French to accomplish your order - at least if there are any complications. The French don't like to speak cette putain langue, I believe ...
I can't say anything about the quality of the shoes, anyhow. As far as I understood they are manufactured in Portugal and while they where praised by some members of French Style-Fora other criticised their inferior leather quality.

I'm Francophone and willing to assist if forumites require it.