I know that I usually will do a full post on Mondays, but today I moved the majority of my stuff from Brighton to London and am simply too tired to write a 2-3 hour post. I promise, though, that tomorrow I will be back on track with a full post on driving loafers, so be on the look out!!
That aside, I wanted to share with all of you this beautiful spat boot by J.M. Weston. It’s not everyday, or any day really, that you see one of these in a store’s window, or in the store period for that matter. I mean, obviously, they are not really practical in today’s work environment and most people don’t have the gumption to walk down the street in a pair of these, so I can’t really blame most makers for not actually producing some for their collection. That’s why it’s nice to see that J.M. Weston, albeit did not commission a line of them, will at least make one on a MTO basis, as they did for the owner of the boots in this top picture.
It’s a shame really, that we do not see more dress boots on a normal day-to-day basis, as they used to back in the Edwardian/Victorian era. I do think that they are slightly coming back, but I am still awaiting the day that every shoemaker has a pair in every single fall/winter season that they produce. They can be just as elegant as a regular oxford yet can be even more versatile, as they might go better with your average pair of jeans or more casual outfit where as some oxfords are simply just too dressy. For that reason, I am awaiting the day of their return, and will promise to at least try and make them more popular with my line. But in all honesty, it will only help if there is demand, so if you, the readers, want to see more of these, be vocal about it and it will happen!!
Weston spat boots… amazing shoes – what o wear with though! Jeans would stain the white leather…
I am looking forward to your driving loafers post – I love my Gucci drivers – really comfy and I want to buy another pair in tan leather. I looked at the Church driving loafers, but they don’t feel as comfy, so would love some other options!
BTW thanks for the job you did on my shoes a couple of weeks ago, they look great!
Cheers Grant
Grant – Yea, they would be tough to go with but a pair of smart trousers would always look nice with them. Glad that you enjoyed the shine, I will look forward to next pair that you bring me.
-Justin, “The Shoe Snob”
been hunting for someone in the uk to make these but to no avail!! asked a couple bootmakers and they want 2500 upwards and the button holes won’t work? they plan to charge that amount for a velcro fastening!! outrageous!!
Millerja74 – That’s crazy!! For that price, you should definitely get something that is proper, like fastening buttons! You might check out JM Weston and ask what it would be to have those MTO, I am sure that it is much less and they seem to be working buttons.
-Justin, “The Shoe Snob”
Hello,
I would like to see more posts about spats, spat boots and similiar footwear! I wrote about boots and shoes I like here:
Link
It is in Polish, but I mean the pictures mainly. 😉 I am particularly fond of black boots with white uppers.
Best regards, Dr
Dr Kilroy – I, too, am an avid fan of these boots, but you have to understand that they are hard to come by, and that is why you don’t see a lot of pictures of them. It is not a style that is made by a lot of shoemakers. But when I do find the pictures of spat boots, I will definitely put them up.
-Justin, “The Shoe Snob”
I am currently commissioning a pair of galosh-top button boots from a shoemaker called Clifford Roberts based in Northampton. That was almost 2 years ago and he kept having problems trying to make them as he never made a pair before and the closer kept putting it off, delaying the process! I managed to get a pair of Oxford boots from him as compensation for the very long wait time but he said he will be able to finish them in a few weeks or so (fingers crossed) after only paying the �100 deposit on them 2 years back! They will be black with grey suede galoshes and smoke MOP buttons (all working). Watch this space to see what comes of this.
They are indeed very difficult to come by and the only other place that I know that makes them to order is this Japanese shoemaker called Rakuten and even then they only open the order book four times a year in a limited number which gets filled up in a matter of hours…
Chwolfenbloode – Well,I sure do hope that everything works out in the end, and please do send me pics or something of the nature, as I would love to see them and put them up on the blog! Thanks for sharing.
-Justin
Oh my, that is a stunning boot.
Justin, what would be your thoughts on using a boot like this when one is either the groom at a a wedding, or in the wedding party?
PS Frank Gehry is a Canadian architect of international renown, and it doesn’t surprise me that such an amazing desgner requested such a shoe.
MSR – I think that it would be a beautiful shoe at a wedding, no matter who was wearing it, but particularly cool if it happened to be the groom!
-Justin