How many of you are into Western/Exotic boots....

[NothingToSeeHere]

I saw the shoe thread and couldn't find a comparable thread for Western boots... so here it is. If there is one, mods please delete this and redirect me to the proper thread.

Backstory. I'm not a cowboy. I'm not from the country. I grew up in the suburbs and never put on boots other than at Rodeo. When I was 23ish I bought my first pair of boots. Lucchese Classics Cognac Ostrich ropers. It was a huge purchase for me and I saved for some time (for those who don't know these run about $1000 for a pair). One of my favorite outfits is jeans/button down/sport coat/boots. I'd only wear them every now and then.

They were very noticeable, to the point I was self-conscious in them. So when I was around 25 I purchase the exact same boots, but in black. These I wore a lot more often, but only with my favorite outfit style. I NEVER wore boots during my normal day. It felt odd.

My career affords me a lot of leeway and luxury in dress. I can wear shorts/sneakers to work and a polo if I want, although I mostly wore jeans/sneakers/polo. When I was 28ish I started feeling sloppy. I have zero sense of trendy style so I really didn't know what to do, and I didn't want to be overdressed. I'm in the industrial world and slacks and Ferragamo will get you nowhere. If anything, they may hurt you with small customers. So I started researching and found another pair of Lucchese. THis time I went with their budget line called "1883". It was around $400 for a pair of distressed antique finish goat roper boots. I started wearing these every day and they grew on me fast. The roper heel is great because you don't look like a cowboy with them. THey go well with almost anything. I've already had these boots resoled.

And this is where it started getting out of hand. I started working my black ostrich into the rotation. Then the Cognac. And in the past 6 months (I'm 34 now) I've purchased 3 new pairs, this time all Western heels, all Lucchese classic. I bought a pair of Crocodile belly, then a pair Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (for casual fun wear), and then I custom ordered a pair of sueded elephant.

Now I find myself wanting Hippo, Calf, Baby Buffalo, Stingray, and more. So I've got 5 pair of boots constantly in rotation. There are a lot of other great custom boots (more custom) that I'd like to add in the future such as ML Leddy or JB Hill or others, but for now I've stopped.

So who else is in to boots? Exotic or normal. Please post up pics and information! I love Lucchese but I definitely want to branch out in the future, and I'm sure there are a lot of great bootmakers I'm not familiar with.

Pics to follow!

[NothingToSeeHere]

Here are a few:

[texasmade]

I have a couple of pairs of boots both by Black Jack. One is a black cherry gator belly and the other is a brown hippo. I used to wear them quite often to work when I was younger but I don't wear them as much anymore. I wear my dress shoes instead.

If I were to ever get another pair, it would definitely be JB Hill. Probably some of the cleanest looking boots I've seen.

[Sperry]

If you're even in Scottsdale, visit Jerry Hill at Saba's. He'll talk with you about boots until closing time!

[Abdullah71601]

Just these Lucchese 1883's.

[dddrees]

Two pairs of Lucchese boots.


Lizard and Elephant.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Two pairs of Lucchese boots.


Lizard and Elephant.

Isn't elephant leather only obtained by poaching?

[texex91]

Texas Tennis shoes...

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Originally Posted by texex91

Texas Tennis shoes...

Those are some stylin boots right there

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Isn't elephant leather only obtained by poaching?

No. Elephant is harvested legally in a number of places.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

No. Elephant is harvested legally in a number of places.

I didn't know that, my apologies.

[NothingToSeeHere]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Isn't elephant leather only obtained by poaching?

Elephant, hippo, etc. They must wait for the animal to naturally "expire". They do not use hunted hides. So when I ordered my elephant, they ran out of hide so 6 weeks turned into over 4 months.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I didn't know that, my apologies.

They don't talk about it on the Discovery channel, but hippo, elephant, and other big exotic species are available.

[texex91]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Those are some stylin boots right there

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

They don't talk about it on the Discovery channel, but hippo, elephant, and other big exotic species are available.

I just watched the ivory wars on Netflix, that is why I thought hunting any elephants is illegal. Thanks for clarifying.

I have nothing against hunting or exotic animal skins, as long as it is legal. As a matter of fact, I aspire to be a hunter in the near future.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by texex91

Texas Tennis shoes...

Nice!

[NothingToSeeHere]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Those are some stylin boots right there

Yup those are sharp! It looks like French Toe? I have that on my caiman/croc and elephant. Love it!

[KDS777]

I've got a pair of handmade belly cut boa constrictor boots from Alberta Boot Company. It's my third pair in the last 20 years.....due for new ones again.......properly fitted snakeskin boots are like a good pair of old running shoes......you can keep them on for 24 hours.

[mikea]

3 pair of lucchese's here...full quill ostrich, ostrich leg and a traditional burnished leather

[Wesley Crusher]

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

[NothingToSeeHere]

I saw one of these in Japan, another at Allen's Boots in Austin, and saw the third online.

[ameza45]

The square toe almost pass as dress shoes...

These ariat are the most comfortable pair I own and cost less than the lucchese....only $550. They come with a tennis shoe style insole.

These are costum made by a local cobbler.


Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by texex91

Texas Tennis shoes...

Nice!!

[Lawman77]

I just like expensive things. Boots--sure.

[dddrees]

By the way being somewhat of a boot person although western style boots are nice there are plenty of other styles of which are just as nice.

Split toe with a hand sewn apron in Kudu (Antelope).

[NothingToSeeHere]

Originally Posted by dddrees

By the way being somewhat of a boot person although western style boots are nice there are plenty of other styles of which are just as nice.

Split toe with a hand sewn apron in Kudu (Antelope).

Those are nice. We could just call this a boot thread in general

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by NothingToSeeHere

Those are nice. We could just call this a boot thread in general

Thank you sir.

If we did and I have there would be quite a bit more for sure.

[johnny80s]

2 pairs of Paul Bond here. Ostrich, a buffalo/kangaroo combo roper, and a pair of Dan Post with a snip toe.