boots Archives - From Squalor to Baller

One Year Later: Paraboot ‘Avoriaz’ Hiking Boots

May 5, 2021 No Comments

Like many of you, I haven’t made many menswear purchases over the past year. And though many pieces of my wardrobe have collected a literal layer of dust, some have become even dearer to me over these strange months. One such piece is my pair of boots from the aptly named Paraboot, which have become go-tos for anything that requires more performance than a simple sneaker can provide. Anyway, I figured it was high time to revisit my “One Year Later” series and show how these have fared over the past 18 months. […]

Reviews

Meermin Wholecut Chelsea Boot Review

February 19, 2020 No Comments

It’s been about eight years since Meermin entered the menswear scene and was almost immediately hailed as the best value footwear out there. The market for high quality shoes has evolved since then and there are many more places to buy entry-level footwear, but Meermin is still a popular choice for many menswear noobs and pros alike. […]

Editorials

Buying Guide: Alpine Boots

January 23, 2020 No Comments

Boots are one of those few pieces of menswear that we can all appreciate – whether ivy prep or goth ninja, everyone can get behind a good pair of boots. And truly, there seems to be a boot for every occasion. Chelsea boots for sleek contemporary clothing, service boots for workwear, balmoral boots for the […]

Reviews

Product Review: Sons of Henrey Wholecut Chelsea Boot

December 11, 2018 No Comments

The menswear resurgence of the past 10 years has been wonderful for the discerning customer, but tough for mid-market brands. It seems like every week there is a new story about a brand or retailer in trouble, stuck between customers that want fast fashion prices and those that want luxury products. Personally, I love the middle of the market – I find that it’s where the products of highest value often exist, and that’s usually my first priority when deciding where to purchase. A new member to the club of “not expensive, not cheap, but definitely good” is footwear brand Sons of Henrey, founded earlier this year. […]

Editorials

Buying Guide: the Contemporary Chelsea

October 29, 2018 No Comments

When it comes to footwear, I have a pretty good understanding of what I like. My shoe collection is centered around classic styles that bridge the gap between casual and formal, in safe and conservative colors and materials. I love the shoes I have, but there are times that I wish I had something with a bit more of a punch to them – something a bit more interesting, a tad more ‘cool guy’ than my normal ‘grandpa’ vibe. Whenever I get that feeling, my mind turns to Chelsea boots. […]

Editorials

Fall Favorites – 10 Essential Autumn Items

October 22, 2018 No Comments

Five years ago I wrote a series on my favorite pieces from each season. A lot of those items are still near and dear to me, but I thought it would be worth updating things to reflect my current lifestyle and wardrobe. My fall favorites have changed a bit, but many of the concepts are still the same – textured materials, earthy colors, and a bit of protection from inclement weather. Here are my go-to pieces for the cool weather ahead: […]

What I Wore

What I Wore: Cold Snap

March 7, 2018 No Comments

It was weirdly cold in San Francisco last week – not nearly as cold as most of the northern hemisphere right now, but colder than usual. The temperatures have been in the 40s (even dipping into the 30s at night!), which has allowed me to wear some pieces of mine that don’t get the attention they deserve. […]

Reviews

Product Review: Crockett & Jones Skye in Shell Cordovan

January 10, 2018 6 Comments

When I was in London early last year, I spent a good deal of time at the Crockett & Jones store(s) on Jermyn street, as I discussed earlier. While I wasn’t really planning on purchasing anything initially, the very favorable 1.25:1 exchange rate at the time (along with my ability to try things on – such a rare treat for the online shopper) got the best of me and I ended up leaving with something very special. […]

Editorials

Meermin’s Expanding Empire

December 19, 2017 8 Comments

Earlier this month I was able to catch up with the Meermin team when they conveniently hosted a trunk show in Amsterdam, just a few blocks from where I was staying. The brand has perhaps not received as much chatter as they did a few years ago when they were new to the market, but they’re still doing what they do best – making attractive, well-made shoes and selling them at a pricepoint that nobody can touch. […]

Notifications

It’s On Sale: Loake Footwear

September 27, 2017 No Comments

Kinda feels like this is a blog about shoes lately, hasn’t it? It’s juste a coincidence, I promise. Anyway, here’s a noteworthy sale for those that don’t like spending $500+ on footwear but still like nice things (a group that includes myself). […]