THE JOURNAL
The footwear to take you from summer to winter.
How’s the weather where you are? We only ask because this week in London has been glorious. Sorry to brag. The skies have been crystal clear, the sunsets #nofilter Instagram-worthy and the early mornings crisp enough to see your breath hang momentarily in the air. Yes, after a long, sultry summer that verged at times on the oppressive, it appears that autumn has arrived at last.
All of which means that it’s time, dear readers, to start giving some serious thought to the contents of our wardrobes. Because, let’s face it, while the fashion magazines and billboard ads have been telling us for a month now that it’s time to invest in a new coat, scarf and gloves, their arguments are a lot less persuasive than a few days of cool weather.
Where to start? Common wisdom suggests that the first thing on your shopping list should be a coat, but there’s another, big-ticket item that you should really consider picking up, too. We’re talking about a proper pair of boots. You can’t kick through the fallen leaves in a pair of box-fresh Common Projects, can you? To celebrate the arrival of autumn in all its glory, we’ve picked out five of our favourite pairs.
Are you the kind of person whose first instinct on buying a new pair of boots is to find the nearest kerb and scuff them up? If so, you’ll love these brogues from Officine Creative. Through a painstaking process known as the Leather Time Machine, this artisanal Italian shoemaker applies a beautiful patina to its boots, which leaves them looking like they’ve walked 100 miles before you’ve even slipped them onto your feet.
If you subscribe to the widely held view that Northampton is the global capital of high-quality men’s shoemaking, then it follows that Edward Green, which has a reputation as one of the best cobblers in the city, is also one of the best cobblers in the world. You’ll pay a premium for its footwear, but it’s worth every penny if you can afford it. These dark brown Galway boots have the sort of timeless silhouette and hard-wearing construction that’ll ensure you’re still wearing them years from now, and they come fitted with a rubber Dainite sole, allowing you to stroll through the wet autumn leaves with ease.
Tod’s may be better known for its impeccable suede moccasins than for its boots, but the Italian purveyor of la dolce vita also does a fine line in winter-appropriate footwear, of which these desert boots are a rather lovely example. Cut from a rich chocolate-brown nubuck leather, they may not be the smartest choice for wet weather, but we can’t think of many better options for a crisp autumn day. Just add dark selvedge denim and a cashmere sweater and you’re good to go.
Looking for all the world like something Sir Edmund Hillary might have pulled on before saying cheerio to the sherpas at Everest base camp in the 1950s, these fleece-lined hiking boots from the ultra-luxe Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli are perfect for the urban explorer who wants to tap into the current trend for all things outdoorsy. We ought to point out, though, that while they may look the part, you really shouldn’t wear them up a mountain. They’re far too nice for that.
A refined take on the traditional hiking boot, this chunky creation combines rugged touches such as hiking-inspired brass eyelet hooks and a sturdy rubber sole with the high level of finishing you’d expect from something that bears the name Tom Ford. Wear them with thick socks and flannel trousers and stride through the park with purpose.
Keep up to date with The Daily by signing up to our weekly email roundup. Click here to update your email preferences.