Footwear for rainy weather and the office
What are people wearing on your feet when you’ve got to dress business casual in the office (I’m in NYC) but also need to go through the rain? Are there good waterproof boots that are business casual? I wear a pair of Timberlands if I need to but that doesn’t really fit the look. I like the look of leather boots like Thursday boots, but not really sure if those are rain appropriate, but think they would look good in a business casual setting.
19 Replies
Chelsea boots here
it's not really business casual but I think a lot of places even with dress codes are willing to fudge it if the weather is shit
(for footwear and other wear)
Regular Chelsea boots? Or rain Chelsea boots like Hunter?
Regular Chelsea Boots
Really? I thought leather would be bad for rain.
I work nicely for me , I even commute by bike with them when it’s rainy
Leather is probably the best you’re going to get before going into full plastics/rubber
Basically any leather shoe that’s not Blake stitched is going to be pretty decent for rain - short of stepping in puddles. Waxed suedes are probably one of the better bets aesthetically, but they’ll all do pretty well
If it's an option for you, you could leave a pair of nice shoes at the office and wear some bad weather boots for your commute
Also don't buy from Thursday
I always heard suede should never be worn in rain
Definitely a lie
Unlined suede would kinda suck for rain just by virtue of it being unlined (if you’re trying to stay dry), but leather is leather, and it’s pretty much all functionally similar enough that it doesn’t matter.
Basically any variety of leather is just as capable as any other variety for some specific task — with the exception of aesthetics and truly hard-core applications
So unless you want an unblemished shoe, or you’re doing some crazy shit where you basically need armor, just get whatever you fancy most
Chelsea boots are my best option. My NB 990 also resist the rain quite well
I just heard thay suede shouldn't be in contact with water.
Suede is NOT Delicate
Myth: suede is delicate.
I don’t know how the myth got started, it’s entirely false. Real suede is an incredibly durable leather. It doesn’t show surface scratches or stains very much. It can get literally soaked and bounce right back. It’s incredibly easy to care for; it’s receptive to neglect and papering.
Oak Street Bootmakers +7yrs of wear
...
When I get home I can bust out a pair of suede Thursdays that I wore for a thunderdome (read: every day for 7 months, rain or shine). The upper took more of a hit from road salt than rain, and even then it’s fine.
What don’t I know about Thursday that I should know? I have a pair of Chelsea’s from them that I like
they support anti-abortion PACs. also you can find better shoes from other makers in their price bracket
grant stone, astorflex, blundstone for chelseas specifically, and if you're willing to buy secondhand you can even buy Aldens for thursday prices
not really familiar with any of those but if you want to learn more I'd recommend making another thread in #questions-and-advice
Bridlen is pretty affordable - can’t speak to their quality, but they’re carried by Arterton London which otherwise has good taste.
TLB is great, and I love the MTO I got from them. Best MTO process I’ve ever done.
Carlos Santos is cheapest from Noble Shoe. Good quality for the price - I like them more than Meermin, but they’re not gonna blow your mind. Very solid middle ground shoe.
J Fitz is out there, and I’m somewhat sure is made by Andres Sendra. Fine shoes, the man himself tho had a bit of a weird anti-mask streak a few years back.
CNES has improved over the years for sure, but I can’t tell you how good they are presently.
I mean. If you polish your boots with a wax polish they're going to shed water like a ducks back.