A guide to wearing men’s dress boots for work and play
More than just for walking trails or riding your Harley Davidson, boots have stepped out of the great outdoors into offices, meetings, and urban environments. With firm step, boots for men have become iconic must-haves in our collection of dress shoes & boots for men.
Getting familiarised with the heel-to-toe tips for wearing a bespoke dress boot is the key: their versatile purposes and benefits and how it sits functionally in your casual, smart casual and formal wardrobe. Men’s dress boot is just the beginning. We will walk you through a simple style guide in which we will outline the many roles a pair of dress boots for men can play.
The elegant Balmoral Boot
To begin with, we need to know what are Balmorals Boots. There are a few key characteristics of this dress boot you could pay attention to, in order to identify them.
The first key characteristic is that similar to the Oxfords dress shoes, Balmoral boots have a closed-lacing system. What is the benefit? That you would look elegant when having them paired with formal outfits, and will not comprise the overall formality of the outfit. As a matter of the fact, this is the main factor to why Balmoral boots can still be considered as a pair of dress shoes.
Open and closed lacing system in men's dress shoes
When compared with for instance the Chukka boot, the top part of the Balmoral boot extends beyond the ankle. This feature in their design allows you to have the option to pair your Balmoral boots with trousers in different lengths and widths; making them an extremely versatile piece in your closet.
With regards to the colour and the style of your bespoke Balmoral boots, we recommend starting off by getting a brown, black or burgundy one with cap toe and in box calf. If you want to elevate your style adding an extra touch of style to your Balmoral boots, we would suggest you to combine box calf with suede in the same tone.
The Classic Chelsea Boot
The Chelsea boot is a model that dates all the way back to the Victorian era. The boot was invented by J. Sparkes-Hall, who was a bootmaker for Queen Victoria. Chelsea boots were designed to slip easily on and off the foot thanks to its laceless design featuring an elastic on the side ankle.
The boot’s current name arouse from its popularity in the Chelsea region of London during the ’50s and ’60s when mods, the Beatles, and even the Rolling Stones all rocked the boot style.
When it comes to rocking Chelsea boots, there are two main styles from which you can choose. The first one, being the one we recommend you beginning with, is the classic leather Chelsea boot.
Thanks to their elegant lines and smooth overall aesthetic, leather Chelsea boots are sleek and versatile. This characteristic allows them to be easily worn as dress shoes with your elegant and polished outfits. You can even pair their style with a suit for more formal occasions. It his is your intention, we recommend you to choose a pair of black leather Chelsea boots. A safe bet 😉
On the other hand, brown leather Chelsea boots also make an excellent footwear style and can suit many semi-formal, smart casual, and business casual looks.
The second type of Chelsea boot we want to recommend you is the suede variety. Thanks to its unique texture, Chelsea boots in suede appear to be more casual than the traditional leather Chelsea boots. Precisely this feature can infuse outfits with a more overall relaxed aesthetic.
Suede Chelsea boots can indeed seem a little less formal, hence ideal to pair them with more casual and smart casual outfits. Like leather Chelsea boots, suede boots are also typically manufactured in classic black and brown shades.
When choosing the right colour, keep in mind that while black suede is best for creating an urban outfit, brown suede offers a more relaxed and casual look.
The amazing Wingtip Brogue boot
Easily recognised by its patterned hole punch detailing, “brogueing” is a British footwear classic. This ornamental shoe technique originated in Ireland and Scotland and is typically made in a double-layer luxurious leather or suede.
Cambrillón’s Wingtip Brogue boot features an open lacing system similar to the one in the Derby dress shoe.
Having said this, why brogueing? The answer goes back to the very beginnings, were the hole patterns are designed to quicken dry-time after the shoes get wet. Nowadays, Brogue Boots are a stylish and classic way to personalise your look while adding textural depth to your bespoke boots.
Brogue wingtip boots are one of the most versatile footwear choices nowadays. A simple rule of thumb: Choose black leather Brogue Boots if you are looking for a dress shoe to wear with a suit. Choose brown leather Brogue boots if you want to get the perfect business casual look. In recent years, the timeless brown brogue boot has found its place in the office, paired with snug under slim wool trousers.
Black box calf brogue boots are an excellent stand-in for your standard black work shoe, they perfectly pair with a suit, especially if your suit is navy or charcoal.
For the perfect weekend vibe, pair your wingtip brogue boots with slim fit denims or chinos and a bomber jacket or a blazer.
The Colonial Jodhpur boot
Jodhpur boots are an equestrian-inspired ankle boot with a strap-and-buckle fastener that wraps around the boot’s shaft. They are an exceptional dress boot for the modern and discerning gentleman. The rarity and flamboyance of its lines lends them a certain je ne sais quoi, and as such they are an easy way to add a lot of style points to your wardrobe.
In modern times, Jodhpur boots are on par with dressy Balmoral boots. The proportions are sleek and handsome, and it’s probably the most unique style of ankle boot available on the market. They are not incredibly common, but you can create your pair of bespoke Jodhpur boots at Cambrillón.
Jodhpur boots are surely on the dressier side of men’s’ boots nowadays. In suede, Jodhpur boots pair perfectly with dark denim (light or dark colour boots).
In black, brown, or burgundy leather, a pair of Jodhpur boots pair with dark denim, trousers, and suits.
Since they are boots, they are more suitable to be worn in the colder months of the year. Hence, we recommend you to wear a medium brown tone leather or suede for autumn, while for winter, dark brown or black leather will work perfectly fine.
