As I’ve indicated in previous posts, I have fashion aspirations but little capability of pulling them off. I see many things I like, but never get the gumption to take action while browsing around a store. I’m a steady reader of The Sartorialist blog and envy those who put themselves out there with their clothing choices. It might be the reserve from my Scandinavian heritage holding me back, but I just can’t go there. At least not yet.
But, I’ve had some recent revelations that have led me to pursue items of quality in my clothing over bare-bones cheap. I’ve also been thinking about staples (not the little metal wires that hold paper together) – the basics that everyone should have as they move through life. For guys, these are things like a well-worn pair of blue jeans, a well-fitting white button-up shirt, or a pair of classic charcoal wool pants. These items never are removed from the latest trends, because they always work. They are the foundations for building varied looks around and offer versatility that many other clothing items don’t facilitate.
Classic boots look old from the day they are purchased and only gather further patina with age
So, I decided that a missing staple in my wardrobe was a great pair of shoes. Not just good – but great. Oh, I’ve got a couple that I enjoy (like a pair of Kenneth Cole black shoes that I picked up at DSW), but nothing which could truly be called “classic”. My current shoes are all utility-only and will likely be discarded when they serve their limited, useful life. They aren’t built to last (even with the greatest of intentions) and eventually become embarrassing to wear due to a ragged appearance.
Although I could have pursued the safe route of a good pair of dress shoes, I really wanted to find something more casual. My current shoes are divided into three categories:
- work shoes (decent, business friendly formals)
- athletic shoes (great walkers/runners but not terribly fitting for environments outside the gym)
- outdoor working (hardy, well-structured work shoes for hiking, climbing, or yard work)
I was hoping I could fill a gap that was a casual look that could be used for running around town on errands or a casual night out for drinks. In particular, this shoe would most often be matched with jeans. I also wanted something that I didn’t worry with some ugly environments – such as running around in woods or walking through areas with puddles and general unfriendly environments. There is nothing as restrictive as having any equipment – clothing or otherwise – that limits your mobility.
So my focus steered away from typical shoes and turned toward boots. But, I wasn’t looking for the Doc Marten style of boot with thick soles and general rigid construction. Instead, I was hoping to find a very classic, all-leather boot that looked like it came out of an LL Bean catalog from the 1930s. As I said earlier in the post – I wanted a classic staple and not a style that would mark a specific decade or trend.
Mid-height boots never lose their appeal - regardless of the decade
My first inclination was to look at Red Wings Shoes. There is something about purchasing an all USA-made shoe and finding something that had a local Minnesota connection was even better. Most of Red Wing’s product target the manual labor, working class and offer extremely effective functionality with the essential elements of a classic boot. But, they all looked like work boots and I didn’t really find anything that fit quite what I had in my mind. The closest match was in a style they called the Iron Ranger. Once I saw it, I knew what I was targeting in a new boot for me, as it balanced the classic style of a run-around boot, without looking too much like I should be a lumber jack.
But there was something about the Iron Ranger that turned me away. One – I couldn’t find any store that seemed to carry them in the Cities. There might be a store out there that has them, but they are hard to find. The official Red Wing store in Maple Grove only carried their work line and didn’t have it available to try and see if the style matched my expectations. I was able to find them online at Zappos.com, but I really like to give shoes a try on my actual feet, versus ordering them online and turning them back when the size isn’t quite right.
So I kept looking.
My search eventually turned to another classic American brand called Wolverine. Like Red Wings, Wolverine shoes have been around for a century and have offered products that focus on high quality/craftsmanship and not the cheapest materials/labor available. Although their styles also cater to the workforce, they were advertising a new line they called their 1000 Mile Collection which fit well with my vision for classic boots. Within the varied styles in this collection – their namesake “1000 Mile” version became the one I sought.
I expect these Wolverine 1000 Mile boots to only improve with age, even if I won't
The only local place that seemed to stock them was the Len Druskin store in the Edina Galleria. Granted, both this shop and mall’s clientele didn’t relate to my romantic vision for buying rugged, timeless boots, but if they could facilitate the exchange, I was willing to bear the snooty environment.
Although there was a healthy sticker-shock to the price, once I had the boots on my feet I knew they were the right ones for me. Price-be-damned, I whipped out the credit card and became a new owner of Wolverine 1000 Mile boots in classic brown.
Although it may sound silly, I fully expect that these boots will be with me for the rest of my life. They are that type of thing that only gets better with age and more sought due to the quality they preserve. Construction of this boot is nothing short of amazing. There is nothing used to build the boot but leather and lace. Stitches are meticulously placed and obviously counted. The leather is thick but will soon give way to the detailed organic shapes of my feet – supporting them in all the right places.
They are, as I intended, true classics. With care, I hope to pass them down to coming generations – but not until after they provide me a few decades worth of service.
