Vass dress boot

[Guest]

I ordered the dressiest boot I could get Vass to make me. Delivered they were $615 in brown box calf (including delivery and bank fee). A picture is available in my album ("David's album").

[dopey]

Great boots, David. I am a big fan of that style and I really like the way yours came out. What last were they made on? Why did you get eyelets all the way up instead of hooks at the top? I find two or three sets of hooks pretty helpful.

[Guest]

1) P2
2) Because I thought eyelets were dressier

[dopey]

1) P2
2) Because I thought eyelets were dressier

Eyelets are dressier, but at the top of the boot they are invisible. I would discourage hooks below the top 2 or 3 rows.

I am wearing today a pair of Alden cordovan boots styled in a very similar way, although they have no pull tabs. My one complaint is the lack of hooks at the top as I have on some of my other boots (and a pull tab would be nice too).

Great job, David.

[Guest]

Is there a method to wearing these things? They are so high they limit flexibility in the ankle, if they are laced tightly. If one loosens them at the top, they feel like thjey will fall off.

[bengal-stripe]

Is there a method to wearing these things?

Start off by leaving the top two eyelets undone.
The back of the shoe will soften quickly, then you can lace them higher.

[dopey]

Here is another tip. Lace just the foot part of the boots and, before you start lacing the ankle section, put a partial knot in the laces (meaning start to tie a bow, but don't do the bow, just the knot (maybe even with an extra over and under)). Then lace the ankle part but do that loosely. The partial knot will keep the boot snug on your foot while allowing the ankle section to still be fairly loose.

I often do this with hiking or mountaineering boots when I feel I don't need the full ankle support. It should work with your dress boots to.

[T4phage]

David, if you were looking for a very dressy boot, why did you ask for a double sole?

[Guest]

I did not think it made that much of a difference, and now that I see it, I agree with Eva, it does not.

[mpolanthan]

I quite like these boots as they are. I have a 'countrified' version in the 3636 last.

For anyone who's interested, Vass can make dressier boots than this. Consider jcusey's F-lasted wingtip boots below. Even though they are full-brogued, the last and sole selection combined with the absence of metal rings around the eyelets, makes for a more elegant boot. F-lasted shoes/boots also have slightly bevelled waists which doesn't hurt either.