In one corner of contemporary men's fashion sits what we call the New American Menswear: the post-streetwear, post-Ralph Lauren way of dressing that seems to grow more popular by the week.
And in the other corner, we have the true fashion freaks: eccentric dressers who go crazy tailored skirts, fuzzy slippers, and tripped-out cardigans. Now that official winter is here, there is a boot for each corner—thanks to a top-tier collaboration between JJJJound and Danner and one showy stomper from Swedish label Our Legacy.
With his JJJJound creative studio, Justin Saunders is great at taking existing wares and tweaking them ever so slightly, elevating them from ordinary to in-the-know. (Sometimes, a little “JJJJound” stamp is all it takes.) We’ve seen the brand do this with Vans, Eddie Bauer, and Reebok—just to name a few. This time around, JJJJound has teamed up with heritage brand Danner on a duo of made-in-USA hiking boots: the Feather Light and the Mountain Light. The two silhouettes were introduced in the 1980s and have remained a mainstay on the trails ever since. Each boot is made of ultra-rugged suede, has a Gore-tex waterproof-yet-breathable lining, and sits atop a hard-wearing Vibram outsole.
On the other hand, the “Yeti” boot from Our Legacy is a total head-turner. The sleek, laceless boot comes decked out in white leather and suede and is lined with fuzzy interiors to keep things as cozy as it gets. (It also comes in black if an all-white winter boot isn’t your vibe.) The zipper closure on the sides gives things a futuristic touch, and the boot is rounded out with a Vibram’s RollinGait System midsole and lugged outsole. So yes, it’s a bit of an avant-garde boot, but it packs enough rugged utility to get you through the cold days ahead.
Yeti White Shearling
Even as the winter season rolls in, rest assured that menswear designers will still be firing on all cylinders and putting out boots for each and every corner of this marvelous little world. This is also just the tip of the boot iceberg; 3sixteen have a minimalist collaboration with longtime bootmakers Padmore & Barnes dropping this week, and the ever-popular Aimé Leon Dore is gearing up to release their latest boldly printed Clarks collaboration. All of this is to say that when it comes to boots—whether you’re looking for something tried-and-true or more fashion-forward—it’s truly the most wonderful time of year.