Numerous events require a tux or fancy dark business suit. If you want to escape looking like just one more in a herd of similarly dressed pinguins w/o resorting to some stupid looking polka dot bow tie, these boots are "the" ticket. The super supple leather uppers make them a bit hard to get on for me, but once on, they are wonderfully comfortable despite the lower portion being as tough and indestructible as any material I know of. They also go great with jeans, so i wear them with anything and everything and get constant complements. For every day, I more commonly wear my Heritage sharkskin boots, but for dressing up, you cannot beat these boots.
I have these in both black and brown. Although I have 5+ pairs of boots from Heritage, these are my daily "go to" boots.
They are comfortable, very tough (i've resoled each several times and the boots look like new), and look great with jeans or business suits. I ride motorcycles and the top left toe area fo many shoes gets worn looking from using the upshift on the bikes. Both pair of my sharkskin boots are still flawless - how they are so damn tough despite being comfortable I don't know, but they are. I have more expensive boots, but none are better or worn more often.
I own a bunch of boots - various makers, various types. I have not bought anyone else's boots since I bought my first pair of Heritage boots, such is the value and quality quotient and comfort. Of all my boots, I wear my French toe, brown sharks more than any other by far. My wife doesn't love the "wrinkly" style of the skin, and these are not fancy boots. What they are is indestructible, super useful and (while my wife and I may disagree), very stylish and cool.
I own and operate a heavily industrial business. While I own and enjoy dress shoes and loafers and wear such footwear to work with some frequency, I find that sturdy cowboy boots serve me best, given the varied environments in which I work. Yes, I may be in dress pants and speaking with business people over lunch, but during the day, I may be in a dirty wearhouse, climbing on a railroad car or up into the trailer of a truck... loafers don't always fit the bill; these always do. These boots more than any others can take a beating. Shark skin is chain mail. It is so tough. I would use the word indestructible even. Shark cleans up so easily: I spray on reptile skin cleaner and then wipe it off when it foams. I then put a high quality boot cream around the welt and clean up the heel. Done faster than any of my other boots.
I get compliments on these boots, usually from working men. "Is that regular leather?" is the question I'm asked a lot, and when I say "shark skin," people think that's really cool. I have other boots that dress up a bit better. If not working, I would wear other boots with dress trousers, but these will work for that fine. These boots work great with jeans. I'm not a motorcycle guy, but if I were, I think these would be fantastic for that application as they can take a beating and look absolutely AOK.
If you have not purchased Heritage Boots, let me tell you that the quality is second to none and the people who help you are awesome. Can't wait to buy another pair.
I'm at work right now wearing a pencil skirt, cotton shirt and these boots! I had no expectation that my Austin Packers would be more than the occasional gitty-up-goin'-out in jeans boot, but they are SO MUCH MORE. I wear them weekly, sometimes several times a week. These boots put my other booties to shame. Of course, the Heritage quality is there, but there is something about these AP's that make them go with everything from jeans, to flirty dresses, to smart business attire, to long and short skirts. And comfort? The leather is so soft and yet holds up like they are brand new.
I was looking for a classic boot that will last a lifetime and this is it. No break in time and it is so comfortable. I can wear with skirt, dresses or jeans. Best boots ever!