Shoes that look better with age...

[shredwin_206]

[mlwdp]

Nicks paloose?

[shredwin_206]

@mlwdp correct 

[mlwdp]

On 5/26/2026 at 9:57 PM, CSL said:

Yes. I wondered what that was about. I associate engineer boots with Marlon Brando in The Wild One.

I suppose Rebel Without A Cause was a similar vibe but the iconic garment worn by Dean in that movie was his red wind cheater jacket.

I do vaguely recall that Dean's nemesis played by Tab Hunter wore engineer boots.

I’m divided on this boot, don’t know if I like it or not.

https://whitesboots.com/products/the-james-dean?fbclid=PAdGRleASKsZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaekRawiM90gPEh6vp6rxw3NtlI9RFxJU7B3q0ipdzmuR5fq9N1VoaVxhI9QyA_aem_aRVdZPtiAgzl1SG83U2kvw

Edited June 1 by mlwdp

[ATWM]

If you’re looking for input, not knowing your situation, but knowing you’ve posted on my no/limited buy thread, i would say to let that wave pass.

There’s also the fact that engineers are just not for me. But that’s a round trip ticket to a nice place to visit right there. 

[mlwdp]

1 hour ago, ATWM said:

If you’re looking for input, not knowing your situation, but knowing you’ve posted on my no/limited buy thread, i would say to let that wave pass.

 

No that ship has sailed for me, unfortunately.  Between my job, tariffs, and weight gain now weight loss, I am not inclined to buy anything for a while after that last purchase I posted about.  
 

 

Edited June 1 by mlwdp

[CSL]

21 hours ago, mlwdp said:

I’m divided on this boot, don’t know if I like it or not.

https://whitesboots.com/products/the-james-dean?fbclid=PAdGRleASKsZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaekRawiM90gPEh6vp6rxw3NtlI9RFxJU7B3q0ipdzmuR5fq9N1VoaVxhI9QyA_aem_aRVdZPtiAgzl1SG83U2kvw

I don't think they're bad looking, just a strange styling choice in that they appear to be an engineer boot with the lower strap omitted. 
I did an image search to make sure my memories of what James Dean wore were accurate and not imagined. I did find various pics of him in standard engineer boots, and while the Whites blurb mentions a 'riding boot' he wore in his daily life, I can't find any photos to confirm that.

Edited June 2 by CSL

[JDelage]

New pair of Alden, here worn with Roy’s.

Ivy, moi?

 

 

[mlwdp]

Mr Porter has a decent sale on Yuketen and Red Wing right now.

[MJF9]

We don't have a thread for destroyed footwear, hence posting these deconstructed Birks here... 

13 years unlucky... about 12 daily wear as house slippers, then a year taped up for walking into the garden... one night in the rain and finally game over... fair to say I got my money's worth

Edited July 5 by MJF9

[indigoeagle]

2 hours ago, MJF9 said:

We don't have a thread for destroyed footwear, hence posting these deconstructed Birks here... 

13 years unlucky... about 12 daily wear as house slippers, then a year taped up for walking into the garden... one night in the rain and finally game over... fair to say I got my money's worth

They really last long. 

[Geeman]

I get mocked about my house slipper birks as they are slowly disintegrating after about 6 years... 

I'll reference this post

[MJF9]

Ahhh mate I feel for ya as it was a similar story in my house... very happy the post helped position your Birks as merely middle-aged, with plenty of life life in 'em.

Mine had gaffer tape on the heel for maybe the last 18 months before they were relegated to wear for hanging out the washing... then one night someone left them out in the summer rain and kaput, end of an era.  I told Mrs MJF9 they were still structurally sound, albeit in pieces, and asked her where she had put the Superglue... but she threw me a deaf 'un... and so it was RIP my dear old Birks

[CSL]

Not Birks, but I had kept a pair of sandals that had shed their soles in the garage for a few years. Throwing away the leather parts just felt wrong. Recently the handle on my 30 year old Briggs And Riley folding bag gave way and I was able to repair it with the sandal leather. Justification for the endless clutter I can't seem to help accumulating? Probably not...

[Geeman]

Did you not try and use the B&R lifetime guarantee @CSL

[CSL]

3 hours ago, Geeman said:

Did you not try and use the B&R lifetime guarantee @CSL

Geeman,
I did consider it. Figured they might want to see a receipt, or some kind of proof of purchase. I wouldn't be able to come up with that. 

Also figured it'd be a pain in the a** shipping it to them.

I guess it's still potentially an option for further repairs.

[Geeman]

I may be wrong CSL but if you can give them the serial number from inside they will honour it. (I use a B&R bag for work) 

Wether they argue its fair wear and tear after this time though...

[CSL]

2 hours ago, Geeman said:

I may be wrong CSL but if you can give them the serial number from inside they will honour it. (I use a B&R bag for work) 

Wether they argue its fair wear and tear after this time though...

Thanks, Geeman. That's a good tip. 
I may write them and see what they say. 
I've thought about sending in pics just to show them it's still rolling after 30-ish years.
I've done various repairs over those years. 

I guess the death- knell will be when the wheels give way. I'm doubtful I could deal with replacing those. 

[cultpop 0217]

On 6/2/2026 at 12:39 AM, CSL said:

I don't think they're bad looking, just a strange styling choice in that they appear to be an engineer boot with the lower strap omitted. 
I did an image search to make sure my memories of what James Dean wore were accurate and not imagined. I did find various pics of him in standard engineer boots, and while the Whites blurb mentions a 'riding boot' he wore in his daily life, I can't find any photos to confirm that.

@mlwdp I think they are kind of a miss. I dig the missing strap (although some implication that there *were* straps would have be cool.) but that low heel looks off. 

They combined his everyday personal roper boots with the strapless engineer from "Rebel" and honestly I think it does neither boot justice. 

Dean's daily drivers: 

 And possibly screenworn Rebel boots. Notice the missing strap. 

[cultpop 0217]

Oddly enough, the same day White's revealed the Jimmy Dean boots I picked up these old Carolina Engineers where someone had cut the straps. I actually really dig how they look. Looked black with brown undertones but in the sunlight they are a very dark reddish, not quite oxblood. 

Direct sun: you can see one boot is lighter/ browner. Might try a little Saphir cordovan polish to even it out. 

 

Edited July 7 by cultpop 0217

[CSL]

Those are really nice! And good job digging up the Dean info and pics.

I was aware that some people cut the straps off. Frankly I always thought the straps seemed to be more an intended function than an actual one. 

[cultpop 0217]

And on my feet. 

You can really see the color differnce here. Àaaaaa AI

 

[cultpop 0217]

After what felt like a few hundred light coats of burgundy and black cream polish and a case of tennis elbow they finally match well enough to not feel weird about it. 

[crownzip]

WWII paratrooper boots made by Herman's Shoes and boots!

[ATWM]

Horseman Joe sandals at a few months. As I noted when I ordered them I’m not a huge fan of sandals - this was a practical buy, but if I’m gonna do it might as well get something I’m into. They took a few weeks to feel really comfortable but on a value per use basis I rate these higher than most of my footwear. Would definitely buy again. 

[julian-wolf]

Fresh British-countryside-looking joints in from Django Atour, I think produced by Makers

First impressions are almost all positive: nice and lightweight, and the fit’s great. Looking forward to getting half-soles + toe taps put on and wearing the hell out of them

[cultpop 0217]

Not quite sure where to post these... 

Vintage Made in USA TEXAS Boot Co. Pee Wee Cowboy boots with Butterfly Inlays, cloth pulls, and an unusual amount of man made components. 

The sole, insole, and possibly some of the shaft seem to be synthetic. 

The heels are mint, the soles are close to perfect, but there are still some random scratches and dents. Some threads on the outseam were broken and coming loose but the boots appear to be completely unworn. 

The inside seems to read: Split Leather Leg, Man Made Insole, Leg Lining, and Heel Pad so who knows? 

The style screams 1950s but the sythentic parts seem to imply something a bit newer. 

Not sure yet if I will keep them, wear them, or sell them. 

Any thoughts on age? 

 

 

 

 

 

[cultpop 0217]

A few more shots including the synthetic sole. 

[cultpop 0217]

Ok I'm back with the "better with age" part.

Vtg TEXAS Boot Co Pee Wee cowboy boots with Butterfly inlays. Nearly deadstock, unworn, and minty

Vs. 

Vtg SEARS cowboy boots with Thunderbird inlays. Well worn and toasty. 

Both boots are Made in the USA, both have identical toe shapes and toe bugs, and both boots were made sometime between the late 1950s and early 70s.  Although the Butterflys are close to perfect condition the shorter shaft, heel shape, and cloth pull tabs indicate these are older. 

 And while the Sears boots have a leather sole, the Butterflys have a synthetic one. Both boots have the same rubber heel caps. 

The leather on both feels the same, kinda thin, likely a split leather utilizing the top grain. These were never meant to be work boots but rather they were made for fashion; the result of Hollywood and the public's ongoing mid century obsession with the Western and western wear. 

Since it is believed TEXAS Boot co  made the boots for SEARS it is likely these boots were manufactured by the same folks on the same lasts in the same factory. 

Really fascinating to see the evolution of wear on such a unique old boot.

 

 

 

[julian-wolf]

^ Both really sweet pick-ups. Maybe a weird take, but I actually prefer the look of the Texas Boot Co. joints to the Sears, here