ZIP UP & BUCKLED BOOTS

Falling somewhere in between the mod iconography of a Chelsea boot and the signifier-heavy ruggedness of the combat boot, a wide range of zip-up and buckle boots have made their way into the latest offering of men’s footwear. By using buckled straps either to a functional or ornamental end, this range of boots serves as a reminder that minimal design benefits greatly from carefully-considered details, no matter how minor. The line proposes modernized edits without straying too far from their original context, with harness straps harking back to equestrian origins while handcrafted leather silhouettes nod towards biker culture. Yet experimentations with stacked heels and extended collar heights push for a forward-thinking androgyny that coalesces nicely with burlier styles. A subtle interplay between the moody futurism of jet black buffed leather forms and warmer suede, tan-colored pieces attest to the versatile nature of these zip-up and ankle boots. Lending themselves to a variety of styling contexts despite containing insular characteristics, these boot designs showcase the unexpected merits of stylistic fluidity.