Channels like this changed my outlook on how I was leading my life. I started out a little over a year ago wearing jeans, t-shirt, baseball cap and tennis shoes. I was also at 280 Lbs. Now I have a classic wardrobe with dress pants, dress shirts, Chinos, Polos and two suits. I just had to pass on my entire wardrobe (the third time) because I am now 212 Lbs. The only items that have not had to be changed are the shoes. The vast majority of shoes have been from the Goodwill and under $10.00. Churches, Alden, Allen Edmonds and old Florshiem among the collection. I walk 3 miles a day and have discovered that my dress shoes are very comfortable. BTW Jeans are now worn for yardwork and camping so the rest of me is dressed for that walk. My most casual shoes for lounging/working around the house went from flip flops to boat shoes - when I get them dirty I just rinse them off in the pool. When I wear them out there will be another search of the Goodwill. Thanks for the Inspiration.
I have a pair of black suede Derby's from a brand called Red-Tape and due to a Sketchers like memory foam innersole and a soft rubber grip, they feel like trainers. I usually wear them if I know i'm going for a long drive.
I still wear my Churchs' buckskin brogues that I bought nearly 40 years ago. They've been around the block a bit and have had many repairs over the years (including one Church re-last)..they were pretty expensive to buy, but when you consider the amount of years I've been wearing them they are well worth the outlay initially..Still look jolly smart by the way
Last year I started to do a much needed overhaul of my wardrobe. The obvious starting point was shoes as I didn't have anything between the black dressy shoe and the outdoors-y casual shoes I used for my everyday needs. I visited a local cobbler that's also a C&J dealership and ended up with a pair of Tetbury chukka boots in dark brown suede. Very versatile and comfortable. Since then I have slowly and methodically expanded the range of good quality shoes in my wardrobe along with other essential items I was lacking.
Hi, we same to be walk the same road by overhauling the old wardrobe.I just bought the C&J Chiltern in dark green suede, my first experience with C&J, and I am impressed. Not many people here in Aus are fimiliar with British made shoes.
Moving to more casual does not mean you have to choice a lower quality shoe, move away from made in China Clarks, Hush Puppies to Walsh for trainers (sneakers) Judd's for Dessert boots, and William Lennon for hand crafted work/ heritage boots etc Replace Doc M with Solivar
Now we are talking! All of these British makes deserve a mention: Walsh, Jadd, William Lennon and Solivair. In particular I like those old-fashioned boots made by William Lennon in the Peak District: good (partly hobnailed!) boots that are made to last. And they don't break the bank either: mostly they are below 200 GBP. And all this is achievd with a workforce of eight (according to their current website)!
I bought a pair of Clark’s suede chukka boots on Ash’s recommendation and I couldn’t be happier! They are now my go to casual shoe. Stylish, comfortable and they go with anything. Would like to see a tutorial on dying suede. BTW theUS military switched to suede over black leather a few years back and we haven’t looked back. However, I still insist on polishing my dress shoes to a high gloss..
I did a quick visit the brogue traders the other week, and picked up a pair of suede dark brown cukka boots with a crepe sole. Perfect shoe to wander a city, but also allows you to head out along a country lane.
Ash. I have always considered leather brogues as a casual shoe I know most people today don't but when I explain to them the history of the shoe they understand. I just know from experience that a good pair of leather brogues like Allen Edmonds are far more comfortable then any other shoe. Cheers Ron
A wear a desert shoe most days as my more formal shoe for most of the year. It seemed the most appropriate compromise when I moved to a hot country (up to 40 degrees).
(Of course) I concur with the assertion that the lack of repairability is an absolute downer in modern shoes! ...of course I'm deeply biased.😅 I nie have finally convinced myself to get a pair of suede desert boots but I still find it problematic to find a place for them in my wardrobe, maybe I should really bite the bullet and build a pair of "less informal" desert boots, because my normal relaxed informal shoes are three pairs of somewhat clunky bluchers I build for relaxed but not entirely informal work wear and these essentially boil down open laced semi formals... Maybe a suede derby.... Those look always stunning when you bring them.😻 And the Jadd shoe looks like something we build all the time... Actually like my aforementioned work shoes... I suppose it's just the best simple relaxed style... open lacing and pretty much nothing else, simple, relaxed, clean.👍🏻 Best regards Raoul G. Kunz
Ehm... please don't misunderstand, I'm just meaning to show a proof of these shoes existing, not trying to toot my horn or anything (🙄)... these are to ugly to do anything like that anyway😅. Just felt that I should show what I mean about these mysterious shoes that define "informal, boring, somewhat ugly but comfy" to me. => abload.de/img/workshoesh0inm.jpg Best regards Raoul G. Kunz edit: and *worn* , my are they worn by now😅...
I mainly prefer loafers during Spring/Summer along with a Canvas but hoping to add a pair of Derbies and Wingtips to wear for the cooler months as well. Any brands that are affordable but decent quality that you'd recommend? $100 is normally my max and while I understand it isn't going to be the highest quality as long as it can last at least 10 years is a winner to me. Not everyone can do $500 on shoes but no judgement at all just being honest. My knitted loafers at the moment are actually the most I've spent on shoes and so far I am pleased with the comfort and quality.
@@jonstern7511 I appreciate the response. Absolutely! Unfortunately shoes shipped from the UK would be more expensive so it's easier if I stick to US brands. Is Loake the label you'd recommend then? I'm hoping to get a pair of Derbies and a pair of Wingtips both in Brown. Thanks again for your kind input.
@@jonstern7511 I definitely understand. Honestly most of the time I prefer to try shoes on in the department stores anyway since at times they tend to fit differently. Most of the time I tend to be a size 12 but other times I can actually wear an 11 and a half so sizing can be a bit strange. My knitted loafers are actually a size larger than what my normal size is since that's what was recommended on their website in order to fit properly so like I said I suppose the majority of times it's better to try on in person though when it comes to other brands. If anything I can get 1 shoe at a time if I do purchase online such as Loake. We do have TJ Maxx yes. Do they have decent brogues or Derbies? Thanks again.
@@verykeen2please And don't forget: those manufacturers that have outsourced to places like, China, India or Vietnam haven't done so because the quality there is superior. The bill is always footed by the poorly payed workers in the sweat shops.
Good morning sirs. One of my go to shoes is a Clarkes waxed leather desert shoe. Thinking at looking at Jadd shoes ie a tan suede desert chukka boot for next year.
Loving this sort of useful content. I was already done with sneakers at the age of 50 but couldn't find casual alternatives. Now I'm on the hunt for some decent suede chukka shoes. Well done, sir.
@@iansoutryer3189 Can’t argue with you on saving jobs in the UK. LionRock Hong Kong owns 51% of Clark’s but I still love my Clark’s chukkas. I’m wearing them now.✌️
One problem is when you have feet over size 12. Most manufacturers stop at 12, and clothing wise, the larger the size, the wider the fit, the length isn't adjusted accordingly.
George Cox make desert shoes and desert boots in the UK ("popboys") with quite thick soles. Not sure how they are constructed, if they're just cemented etc. Loake 1880 make a goodyear welted desert boot as well as a cemented one
Excellent work as always. For your American viewers, Thursday Boot Company makes a quite decent desert boot, as does Allen Edmonds, available in wide widths as well.
I live in Las Vegas. It gets brutally hot here. The soles of your shoes pick up dirt and tar from the sun baked asphalt pavement. So I eschew crepe soled shoes. Clarks Bushacre rubber soled chukkas are my choice over the original crepe soled Desert Boots.
Also CrownNorthampton shoes makes desert boots and desert shoes, and because they are handmande, resolable with high quality leather and materials, their quality is at top as for their sneakers which in my opinion are the best handmade sneakers in the world.
About three years ago, I transitioned from running shoes for casual wear, to desert boots. I've got the natural sand color (American), red, blue and black. As a side note, I no longer wear dress shoes. I wear Chelsea boots (black or oxblood) with suits.
Similar to me, I wore trainers as an every day wear for far too long, to at least 36 until I decided that enough was enough it's time to wear proper shoes and boots a little over 10 years later I have only worn trainers while working out.
I’ve largely got dress type shoes in my collection and can confirm that they are superior to trainers in nearly all situations. I’ll look into Jadd shoes they look good!
I bought a couple of desert boots last year on the strength of your recommendation from one of your previous videos and I was amazed how comfortable they are. I bought a suede pair and a leather pair and I am very pleased with them both, with the leather pair now being one of my favourite shoes in the wardrobe.
I bought some Loake suede Hiker boots recently. They are not cheap but I got lucky with a low price otherwise I don't think I would have bought them. They are a beautful design. One thing I wasn't expecting was that people notice them. That's a reason to seek good looking clothes. You'll stand out because so many clothes are not good looking. I did discover one problem though which might be something to investigate. If you are used to wearing flat shoes, anything with a heel can feel a bit uncomfortable. I'm sure there must be some smart flat or lower heel shoes and ones that fit a more natural foot shape because your feet will return to this shape if you wear shows with wider shape. Clarkes shoes seem to be a good fit. I have also been buying a lot of outdoor clothing. Even a lot of these clothes do not look that good but Swedish brands are good. For example if you buy a Fjalllraven shirt it will have a much slimmer cut than ones you find in the high street. Maybe because people in Scandinavia are slimmer. It just looks much smarter. However, not that cheap.
Couldn’t agree more 👍 desert boots are definitely a great pick for a casual everyday shoe, though I never liked how they look with shorts. Another pick should be loafers as they can easily be pair with jeans and even a smarter outfit with a sports jacket. I’m also personally a fan of moccasins and boat shoes for casual outfits in the summer 🙂👍
As always, great video! I tried some desert boots from Clarks, but while they were easy to dress up and down, they lacked arch support. Do all desert boots lack arch support or do more expensive versions offer some type of shank?
As the DB is generally a flat boot, I think most would likely be the same, but a chukka may be a viable alternative in suede. A similar look but the structure of a dress boot.
I agree that the DB doesn’t have much support and for the heavier guy (I’m in this camp) a good insole will help you. I’m wearing Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts and they are comfortable. Cheers! Joe
I don't own even 1 pair of derbies, oxfords only and I'll wear a tan full brogue before a derby, I think it's because I've seen too many cheap shoes that are derbies
Channels like this changed my outlook on how I was leading my life. I started out a little over a year ago wearing jeans, t-shirt, baseball cap and tennis shoes. I was also at 280 Lbs. Now I have a classic wardrobe with dress pants, dress shirts, Chinos, Polos and two suits. I just had to pass on my entire wardrobe (the third time) because I am now 212 Lbs. The only items that have not had to be changed are the shoes. The vast majority of shoes have been from the Goodwill and under $10.00. Churches, Alden, Allen Edmonds and old Florshiem among the collection. I walk 3 miles a day and have discovered that my dress shoes are very comfortable. BTW Jeans are now worn for yardwork and camping so the rest of me is dressed for that walk. My most casual shoes for lounging/working around the house went from flip flops to boat shoes - when I get them dirty I just rinse them off in the pool. When I wear them out there will be another search of the Goodwill. Thanks for the Inspiration.
How old are you?
@@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday 58
I have a pair of black suede Derby's from a brand called Red-Tape and due to a Sketchers like memory foam innersole and a soft rubber grip, they feel like trainers. I usually wear them if I know i'm going for a long drive.
I still wear my Churchs' buckskin brogues that I bought nearly 40 years ago. They've been around the block a bit and have had many repairs over the years (including one Church re-last)..they were pretty expensive to buy, but when you consider the amount of years I've been wearing them they are well worth the outlay initially..Still look jolly smart by the way
Last year I started to do a much needed overhaul of my wardrobe.
The obvious starting point was shoes as I didn't have anything between the black dressy shoe and the outdoors-y casual shoes I used for my everyday needs. I visited a local cobbler that's also a C&J dealership and ended up with a pair of Tetbury chukka boots in dark brown suede. Very versatile and comfortable.
Since then I have slowly and methodically expanded the range of good quality shoes in my wardrobe along with other essential items I was lacking.
Tetbury are an excellent choice - as worn by James Bond in fact!
Hi, we same to be walk the same road by overhauling the old wardrobe.I just bought the C&J Chiltern in dark green suede, my first experience with C&J, and I am impressed. Not many people here in Aus are fimiliar with British made shoes.
Moving to more casual does not mean you have to choice a lower quality shoe, move away from made in China Clarks, Hush Puppies to Walsh for trainers (sneakers) Judd's for Dessert boots, and William Lennon for hand crafted work/ heritage boots etc Replace Doc M with Solivar
Now we are talking! All of these British makes deserve a mention: Walsh, Jadd, William Lennon and Solivair. In particular I like those old-fashioned boots made by William Lennon in the Peak District: good (partly hobnailed!) boots that are made to last. And they don't break the bank either: mostly they are below 200 GBP. And all this is achievd with a workforce of eight (according to their current website)!
Dark brown Chelsea Boots with a leather sole for the summer for me in addition to my Desert Boots, Boat/Deck Shoes and Loafers 👍🏻
I bought a pair of Clark’s suede chukka boots on Ash’s recommendation and I couldn’t be happier! They are now my go to casual shoe. Stylish, comfortable and they go with anything.
Would like to see a tutorial on dying suede.
BTW theUS military switched to suede over black leather a few years back and we haven’t looked back. However, I still insist on polishing my dress shoes to a high gloss..
Suede is a much easier boot for maintenance, but sadly it does lack the panache of that mirror shine!
@@TheChapsGuide Yes sir! Nothing competes with a mirror polish when in a dress uniform.
I did a quick visit the brogue traders the other week, and picked up a pair of suede dark brown cukka boots with a crepe sole. Perfect shoe to wander a city, but also allows you to head out along a country lane.
Ash. I have always considered leather brogues as a casual shoe I know most people today don't but when I explain to them the history of the shoe they understand. I just know from experience that a good pair of leather brogues like Allen Edmonds are far more comfortable then any other shoe. Cheers Ron
I have had a pair of Loakes brogues for over 30 years now, with regular maintenance they look as good as new.
A wear a desert shoe most days as my more formal shoe for most of the year. It seemed the most appropriate compromise when I moved to a hot country (up to 40 degrees).
"fewer and fewer men" - not 'less and less men'. Just a finer point as I see you appreciate excellence
(Of course) I concur with the assertion that the lack of repairability is an absolute downer in modern shoes!
...of course I'm deeply biased.😅
I nie have finally convinced myself to get a pair of suede desert boots but I still find it problematic to find a place for them in my wardrobe, maybe I should really bite the bullet and build a pair of "less informal" desert boots, because my normal relaxed informal shoes are three pairs of somewhat clunky bluchers I build for relaxed but not entirely informal work wear and these essentially boil down open laced semi formals...
Maybe a suede derby.... Those look always stunning when you bring them.😻
And the Jadd shoe looks like something we build all the time... Actually like my aforementioned work shoes... I suppose it's just the best simple relaxed style... open lacing and pretty much nothing else, simple, relaxed, clean.👍🏻
Best regards
Raoul G. Kunz
Ehm... please don't misunderstand, I'm just meaning to show a proof of these shoes existing, not trying to toot my horn or anything (🙄)... these are to ugly to do anything like that anyway😅. Just felt that I should show what I mean about these mysterious shoes that define "informal, boring, somewhat ugly but comfy" to me.
=> abload.de/img/workshoesh0inm.jpg
Best regards
Raoul G. Kunz
edit: and *worn* , my are they worn by now😅...
I mainly prefer loafers during Spring/Summer along with a Canvas but hoping to add a pair of Derbies and Wingtips to wear for the cooler months as well. Any brands that are affordable but decent quality that you'd recommend? $100 is normally my max and while I understand it isn't going to be the highest quality as long as it can last at least 10 years is a winner to me. Not everyone can do $500 on shoes but no judgement at all just being honest. My knitted loafers at the moment are actually the most I've spent on shoes and so far I am pleased with the comfort and quality.
@@jonstern7511 I appreciate the response. Absolutely! Unfortunately shoes shipped from the UK would be more expensive so it's easier if I stick to US brands. Is Loake the label you'd recommend then? I'm hoping to get a pair of Derbies and a pair of Wingtips both in Brown. Thanks again for your kind input.
@@jonstern7511 I definitely understand. Honestly most of the time I prefer to try shoes on in the department stores anyway since at times they tend to fit differently. Most of the time I tend to be a size 12 but other times I can actually wear an 11 and a half so sizing can be a bit strange. My knitted loafers are actually a size larger than what my normal size is since that's what was recommended on their website in order to fit properly so like I said I suppose the majority of times it's better to try on in person though when it comes to other brands. If anything I can get 1 shoe at a time if I do purchase online such as Loake. We do have TJ Maxx yes. Do they have decent brogues or Derbies? Thanks again.
@@jonstern7511 Indeed thanks! There is variety out here as well so no worries. I'll search in person first and then online. Thanks a lot!
@@jonstern7511 I was able to find a pair of Cap toes so I imagine I can find the others I mentioned as well:)
Those Jadd shoes are pretty nice looking!
great quality for the price and made in UK too
@@verykeen2please And don't forget: those manufacturers that have outsourced to places like, China, India or Vietnam haven't done so because the quality there is superior. The bill is always footed by the poorly payed workers in the sweat shops.
Good morning sirs. One of my go to shoes is a Clarkes waxed leather desert shoe. Thinking at looking at Jadd shoes ie a tan suede desert chukka boot for next year.
Good choice
Alden long wings in snuff suede! They're comfortable, and the perfect mix of casual and dress!
Loving this sort of useful content. I was already done with sneakers at the age of 50 but couldn't find casual alternatives. Now I'm on the hunt for some decent suede chukka shoes. Well done, sir.
Try JADD shoes. These are really made to last.
Try Loake boots if your in the UK. I got a nice Brown suede pair of Chukka boots from them.
I bought a pair of Clark’s online and couldn’t be happier!
@@realwarriorscholar Yes but they're made in China and owned by a Chinese company. Why not invest a bit more in Jadd's and save a few British jobs?
@@iansoutryer3189 Can’t argue with you on saving jobs in the UK. LionRock Hong Kong owns 51% of Clark’s but I still love my Clark’s chukkas. I’m wearing them now.✌️
One problem is when you have feet over size 12. Most manufacturers stop at 12, and clothing wise, the larger the size, the wider the fit, the length isn't adjusted accordingly.
George Cox make desert shoes and desert boots in the UK ("popboys") with quite thick soles. Not sure how they are constructed, if they're just cemented etc. Loake 1880 make a goodyear welted desert boot as well as a cemented one
Excellent work as always. For your American viewers, Thursday Boot Company makes a quite decent desert boot, as does Allen Edmonds, available in wide widths as well.
I live in Las Vegas. It gets brutally hot here. The soles of your shoes pick up dirt and tar from the sun baked asphalt pavement. So I eschew crepe soled shoes. Clarks Bushacre rubber soled chukkas are my choice over the original crepe soled Desert Boots.
Brown suede shoes with red laces???
Yes, as an easy means to spice things up a bit. Of course not for the more formal occasion.
Also CrownNorthampton shoes makes desert boots and desert shoes, and because they are handmande, resolable with high quality leather and materials, their quality is at top as for their sneakers which in my opinion are the best handmade sneakers in the world.
Interesting you made this video, because I am going to purchase shoes very soon. Thanks for the info, sir.
About three years ago, I transitioned from running shoes for casual wear, to desert boots. I've got the natural sand color (American), red, blue and black. As a side note, I no longer wear dress shoes. I wear Chelsea boots (black or oxblood) with suits.
I can't find oxblood shoes or accessories these days.
Similar to me, I wore trainers as an every day wear for far too long, to at least 36 until I decided that enough was enough it's time to wear proper shoes and boots a little over 10 years later I have only worn trainers while working out.
Get a medium brown shoe, and put oxblood polish on it. That's what I did
Nice advice!
I’ve largely got dress type shoes in my collection and can confirm that they are superior to trainers in nearly all situations. I’ll look into Jadd shoes they look good!
I bought a couple of desert boots last year on the strength of your recommendation from one of your previous videos and I was amazed how comfortable they are. I bought a suede pair and a leather pair and I am very pleased with them both, with the leather pair now being one of my favourite shoes in the wardrobe.
They are great aren’t they..
I love my leather chukkas. They are stylish and super comfortable.
Blue suede dessert boots with Sevledge jeans or Stone Sta Press trousers, can't beat it.
Ash that outfit is crying out for a rolex gmt lhd to compliment it!
Have you subscribed to Sartorial Talks. A slightly similar youtube channel. Interesting tho ?
Great channel with lots of great info.
I like how you pronounce 's' in casual
I bought some Loake suede Hiker boots recently. They are not cheap but I got lucky with a low price otherwise I don't think I would have bought them. They are a beautful design. One thing I wasn't expecting was that people notice them. That's a reason to seek good looking clothes. You'll stand out because so many clothes are not good looking.
I did discover one problem though which might be something to investigate. If you are used to wearing flat shoes, anything with a heel can feel a bit uncomfortable. I'm sure there must be some smart flat or lower heel shoes and ones that fit a more natural foot shape because your feet will return to this shape if you wear shows with wider shape. Clarkes shoes seem to be a good fit.
I have also been buying a lot of outdoor clothing. Even a lot of these clothes do not look that good but Swedish brands are good. For example if you buy a Fjalllraven shirt it will have a much slimmer cut than ones you find in the high street. Maybe because people in Scandinavia are slimmer. It just looks much smarter. However, not that cheap.
Most better quality things do attract a higher cost - but it is well worth the investment.
Couldn’t agree more 👍 desert boots are definitely a great pick for a casual everyday shoe, though I never liked how they look with shorts. Another pick should be loafers as they can easily be pair with jeans and even a smarter outfit with a sports jacket. I’m also personally a fan of moccasins and boat shoes for casual outfits in the summer 🙂👍
I can see your point that loafers and shorts are more common, but I like shorts and suede chukkas. Very posh!
Love the Desert Boot
As always, great video! I tried some desert boots from Clarks, but while they were easy to dress up and down, they lacked arch support. Do all desert boots lack arch support or do more expensive versions offer some type of shank?
As the DB is generally a flat boot, I think most would likely be the same, but a chukka may be a viable alternative in suede. A similar look but the structure of a dress boot.
I agree that the DB doesn’t have much support and for the heavier guy (I’m in this camp) a good insole will help you. I’m wearing Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts and they are comfortable.
Cheers!
Joe
Love the suede shoes
Thank you
I don't own even 1 pair of derbies, oxfords only and I'll wear a tan full brogue before a derby, I think it's because I've seen too many cheap shoes that are derbies
Would you recommend dessert shoes with a linen suit in a hot climate?
Absolutely..... a great combo!
@@TheChapsGuide thanks