A better pair of boots starts from the ground up – the difference is in the details, and the difference is evident when you step into a pair that’s made with care and craftsmanship in mind.
The best dress boot brands serve a dual purpose: They’re a functional choice for meeting the moment when it comes to spring rain, brisk fall breezes and winter’s worst. And yet, they add a dash of rugged good looks to plenty of tailored occasions. The term “suited and booted” is especially apt when it comes to the top dress boot brands on the market.
The great news is, with dress boots, you’re not beholden to one type of style: Top boot brands are making lace-up boots, classic wingtip versions and visually appealing, sleek Chelsea boots.
They lend a bit of a devil-may-care edge to many a look, particularly tried-and-true combinations like a navy suit and a white dress shirt. Add handsome, polished dress boots from one of the best dress boot brands on the market, and your next #OOTD is complete in fine form.
Not all dress boots are created equal – Meermin’s dress boots have a sense of flair and eye-catching appeal to them, using a proprietary last and a range of tastefully elegant leathers, like shell cordovan and calf leather. Its suede Chelsea boots are especially tasteful, and look as dapper with denim as they do with tailored wool suit trousers.
Dress boots once served a highly functional purpose – for instance, boots with brogue designs were preferred for their utility in the wet highlands.
Bridlen draws on a mix of British heritage and Japanese style inspiration, which results in a highly diverse offering, including chukka boots, Chelsea boots and yes, moc toe dress boots.
If the idea of a Texas boot brand conjures up cowboy boots and traditional Western boots – the kind that can sometimes be tricky to dress up – think again. HELM finds a classically cool, stylish middle ground between Western boots and dress boots, using eye-catching leathers like burgundy, plus rich shades of brown.
If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of the best dress boots, it’s hard to go wrong with Allen Edmonds. The iconic American footwear maker keeps things simple and yet remarkably stylish, from cap toe dress boots to sleek, handsome wingtip boots – straightforward, built to last and wearable with everything from stretch chinos to your finest suit.
The best dress boots should truly be built to last – after all, they’ll likely have to put up with some wear and tear across the seasons. That’s where Grant Stone comes into play – using beautiful Horween leathers in a range of streamlined silhouettes, the company offers a whopping 44 size configurations to suit every foot shape, and each pair is Goodyear welted.
Recall what I said about the best dress boot brands offering something different in each and every step – Viberg epitomizes that approach to a T, using an ingenious range of leather options and incredibly careful construction. Its boots seem pricey on the surface, but in my experience, they’re more than worth it.
Grenson knows a thing or two about remarkable boots – bearing names like G-One and G-Two, the company has been making reliably stylish pairs with care for hundreds of years. Its textured wingtip options are particularly well-suited (pun intended) to pairing with thicker fabrics like tweed and wool in the colder months.
Dress boots from one of the best dress boot brands tend to impart a sense of confidence when worn the right way – Blkbrd Shoemaker’s handsome boots certainly fit the bill.
Goodyear welted construction ensures long-lasting durability, while the collection’s variety is particularly appealing, from rich shades of brown to waxy black leather boots.
It’s hard to compete with a dress boot brand like Beckett Simonon – for its versatile wingtip, lace-up and Chelsea boots, you very well might not find a better price. Each pair also boasts near-made-to-order quality, plus the gold standard (for the price) in Goodyear-welted construction.
The best dress boot brands, one might say, should go all-out in taking a look from good to great. That’s the idea behind TAFT, which uses fabrics like wool and tweed – the same you might find in a cold-weather suit – to finish its boots in eye-catching fashion.