Perfect for Fall (and other seasons): The Desert Boot

Hello Again!
Another accepted school of thought (sartorially speaking of course) is the McQue theory; a rough translation is that, if Steve McQueen did it, one can't go wrong. McQueen wore Persol sunglasses, which are are beautiful testaments to handmade Italian eyewear (Jack Nicholson rocks them too) that look amazing today. The chambray shirt, mentioned in a previous post, was sported by McQueen. I would even go so far as to say that if a man wants to get a huge butterfly tattooed across his chest, this would be perfectly acceptable considering that Steve McQueen did it in Papillon. It may even be that men look so good in a killer pair of chinos and a white t-shirt simply because Steve McQueen sported the ensemble.
Well, men, today we feature another McQueenism that is as equally stylish today as it was in his time; the desert boot. Mine are made by Clark's, as were McQueen's, but a number of designers have lovely offerings today, from Tod's to J. Crew. The design of the Clark's desert boot as been virtually unchanged since 1950, and now, I shall offer my brief yet obligatory history of the shoe.
The desert boot represents Clark's very first "original" and was the brainchild of Nathan Clark, the great grandson of one of the founding Clark's brothers. He got the idea from the crepe-soled rough suede boots that English army officers had merchants make for them in the bazaars in Cairo that enabled comfortable travel through, yes, the desert. In the US we see them comonly in Fall, but the boots' design was to allow comfort in heat as well, often over uneven terrain.
The simplicity of the design of these "cheese bottom" shoes, as the Jamaicans call them, has lent itself to timeless style in a variety of climates, and can be worn with anything from jeans and a t-shirt to chinos and a shirt and tie. They have, after, been the dress code of Princeton University. McQueen is pictured wearing them on his motorcycle. I have seen hipsters wearing these lose and sockless with shorts, and I've seen them paired with more straight-laced business casual ensembles as well.
If you are looking to expand your footwear wardrobe by adding a versatile staple, I would highly recommend the desert boot. These are available in a variety of colors in suede or in beeswax leather as well at www.clarks.com.
Until next time,
Cheers!
-Paul