The time has finally come to tuck my flip-flops away for the season. I’ll keep my clogs and canvas sneakers on standby, but thinking about fall footwear is no longer a crazy idea.
Generally, fall dressing is way better because you get to layer and wear interesting textures like corduroy, canvas-twill, cashmere, and even jeans again. Remember what it felt like for denim to grace those pasty thighs of yours? Neither do I, but I’m happy to get back on the jeans wagon.
For footwear, like my clothes, I’m a simple guy who knows what he likes, what looks good on him, and what I’ll actually wear. I’ve never waited in lines for anything and have always found sartorial bliss in, uhhhh, general releases, which can feel basic to most these days. But I don’t usually shy away from neutral tones. If something is electric blue or fuchsia, chances are it’ll collect cobwebs more than it’ll collect footsteps.
Below are five footwear options I’m excited to wear for the season. I’ve been loosely wearing some of them over the summer, but most of these will get tons of wear with the pants, jeans, and outerwear (oh, how I’ve missed her!).
Reebok Club C 85, $85
No, I haven’t been Celine-pilled by their Freestyle Lo collab with Reebok, but I must say, classics are classics for a reason, and sometimes all you need is an all-black colorway with a gum outsole to make them feel fresh again.
I know the all-white versions are cooked these days, so that’s why I don’t mind going with these. I’ll wear them with everything from my Earth\Studies pleated nylon pants to a Canadian tuxedo and charcoal-colored denim. The silhouette reminds me of a skate shoe, and the price tag makes these perfect everyday beaters that’ll look better the more you wear them.
Birkenstock Utti Lace, $165 / $107.25
I’ve only ever owned Boston Clogs and the Naples Clogs from Birkenstock, so I was interested in getting a pair of lace-ups from the heritage German brand. The vamp is similar to Paraboot’s Michael shoes, but with a barefoot, cork-footbed approach.
I’ve always had a soft spot for that kind of geriatric-AARP footwear-core, and I can’t wait to get some fits off with these. They’re surprisingly lightweight, and that cork-brown Pantone is versatile enough to go with everything in my closet.
Danner Trail Field Low GTX, $300
Sometimes brands are late to the product party, but that doesn’t make the executed result any less interesting. Danner’s Trail Field Lows remind me of a mashup between Diemme’s Cornaro hiking boot and Merrell’s 1TRL Wilderness low-top boots, with their slubby suede texture.
Obviously, Danner’s footwear is second to none, and these will log a lot of miles, especially with that hefty GORE-TEX liner and Vibram outsoles. These will most definitely be worn on those sub-30-degree days, too.
Mephisto Adrien Boat Shoes, $369
While I have and love Mephisto’s Match sneakers, I equally love their boat shoes. They’re a good option, too, if you have boat shoe fatigue from the usual nautical suspects, so I was happy to see the French footwear brand offering these.
As I mentioned, I love a shoe that’s comfortable and could probably outlive me (not to get too dark), but the leather on these is primo, and these are the most comfortable boat shoes I’ve ever owned.
They come with their own removable insole, so the comfort is portable enough to grace your other shoes, and the shock absorption won’t have your dogs barking or your back in shambles.
Sabah Bolo Loafers, $375
Loafers are always tricky because my foot is dumb narrow, but these in a 40 (US 8–8.5) are money. The leather is supple and only gets softer with more wear, and the leather outsole is durable enough to last a lifetime; I wouldn't bother wearing them in the rain or snow.
I’m not one to go sockless with my loafers because I’ve been betrayed by blisters before, so I’ll throw on a thicker athletic sock or even a wool sock—now that we’ll start to get a slight chill in the air.
A good shoe rotation is really a lesson in durable preference. Birkenstock has turned that kind of repeat wear into a brand moat, even as comfort became a broader fashion category. We explore the economics here: https://europeandesk.substack.com/p/the-price-of-being-ordinary