Boots

Boots are often less versatile than sneakers, but are just as vital to a wardrobe. Two pairs, one black & one brown, is a good start. Beeswax Clarks Desert Boots, while overplayed, can be a great casual boot. Decent brands include: Wolverine, Doc Martens, and Red Wing.

ADD MORE STUFF ABOUT BOOTS

STYLES: Work Boot Hiking Boot Chukka Chelsea Dress

—Boot features The sole is probably the most important part of a boot. Materials are:

Leather: dress and fashion boots; good all-around but terrible in rain/snow/ice. Lightest weight. Crepe: same pros/cons as leather, but more casual, arguably more comfortable. Cork: like rubber; hard-wearing and decent traction, but rarely lugged. Rubber/Vibram: most work boots, many fashion boots. Probably the standard material. Heaviest.

And forms include:

Flat: leather, crepe, and many cork-soled boots have flat soles. Traction depends on material. Wedge/marshmallow: good insulation, decent traction. Polarizing look--personally I like them a lot. Lugged/commando: best for harsh weather. Don't go overboard on lug size; a little goes a long way. Dainite: a type of lugged sole often found on dress boots.

Lacing: almost all boots are open-vamp, Derby-style, but a few (particularly dress boots) are closed-vamp Oxford-style. Some are no-vamp, eg. Chelsea- or Cowboy-style.

Height: the lowest boots are probably Chukkas, but most have a 4-6" shaft height and are called ankle- or mid-height. Some are 8" or more and you should probably avoid them. Toe box: Plain-toe or cap-toe boots are the most versatile. Wingtip-toe boots are somewhat dressy, and moc-toe boots are much more casual.