Dress Boots

Dress boots are a style of formal or casual footwear constructed in a similar fashion to shoes but with an upper part that extends to cover the ankle.

Dress boots can be formal, in which case they come in colors like black, brown and (occasionally) beige to wear with formal attire – typically men’s suits – during the day.

Construction and materials are essentially those of the dress shoe, with leather always the preferred options for uppers, linings and soles. The boots sometimes have toe caps, with or without decorative perforations and a brogued seam.

There is less tolerance for fit with this kind of footwear, so dress boots can be relatively more expensive than shoes.

Outdoor or working boots are derived from utilitarian working men’s footwear and are intended to be worn with casual outfits. While not as substantial as a true heavy-duty work boot, these boots are more durable than a dress boot and can survive harsher conditions.

These boots do not necessarily look very elegant, as they often use materials chosen for their longevity rather than their looks – typically manmade or ruggedised leather uppers and double leather or rubber soles.