Boat Shoes: Why The Hate?

[Nath6644]

Okay the lines are drawn. Load up and prepare for battle.

Pick a side:

1) Boat shoes are great. They are the "fashionable man's flipflops", they're timeless and classic. Yes, the market is saturated with them but as long as you wear them well, they're a great addition to any outfit.

2) Boat shoes are the worst thing ever to adorn the feet of humanity.

Or somewhere in the middle, whatever...

[Pin Money]

Nuff said.

I think the hate for boat shoes stem from the cheap high street knock offs and such. A quality pair in a unique colourway is a great focal point to any outfit. A cheap pair in brown and navy 2-tone panels is utterly cliché.

Hating boat shoes is like hating espadrilles just because of Toms

[Nath6644]

Very well said Pins.

That said, by chance, I did actually buy a brown pair off the highstreet today. They were half-price to be fair and I don't care what anyone says: with a slim pair of white trousers, a navy double-breased blazer, a blue oxford and a knitted burgundy tie, they look the part!

[Jay]

Copy/pasted from Line of Contempt blog.

Ok, enough. Boat shoes must be stopped. NOW. People, I can't express just how ugly these shoes are. Most fashion faux pas have their brief moment in the sun, but eventually end up being retired to Savers. Hammer pants, light-up LA Gears, and Hyper-colour t-shirts all went away after a few painful years, but Boat Shoes have been around for about thirty years, and the fuckers are still going strong. Why? Why, God, why? Even fashion-retards generally learn from their fashion mistakes and eventually move on to new fashion mistakes, but some men seem to obliviously wear Boat Shoes their entire adult life. Why doesn't someone tell them? Why doesn't someone say, "Sorry mate, but I feel after ten years I've gotta say this - those are the fucking ugliest shoes ever. They make you look like a total prat. I'm not sure we can remain mates if you keep wearing them." Friends don't let friends wear Boat Shoes.

And then there are the ones with TASSELS, like the shoes weren't ugly enough already. Tassels are for stripper's tits, not footwear. In fact, I'd rather wear stripper's tits on my feet than Boat Shoes. I bet even the cows who are slaughtered to make boat shoes are embarrassed. The other cows up in cow heaven are probably like, "Dude, I was only killed to be mixed up with rat meat in McDonald's burgers, but even I think you're a total joke. Boat Shoes are fucking ugly."

Seriously. Why can't people see how insanely ugly Boat Shoes are? Why won't they just DIE?

The hate is justified.

[Nath6644]

Quote from a fairly recent fashionbeans article

Despite their bad associations or stereotypes, boat shoes are still hugely important. They are versatile, practical and stylish, working well in a number of key trends. It would a great shame to ignore them just because too many other people are wearing them.

I agree. The boat shoes I've bought, despite their cheapness and unexciting colour, are smart, well-structured and stylish. I think it would be a shame for guys like us to not wear them because of people walking around in trashed up sperrys with the laces undone, which I agree with you Jay, are undoubtably ugly.

If anything, we should set a precedent, it's a challenge to try and pull them better off than the crowd. (Which isn't hard...)

[Tone]

Boat shoes are a bit meh, but they aren't hideous! I would personally go with a loafer as they are more stylish and versatile. The only hate I've seen is in the 'Shoe & Boot' section of the forum.

[Seekwal]

with regards to the trashy american article above

[Nath6644]

I too would go for a loafer in an ideal world, but unfortunately I can't find any that I like atm.

Having quite a formal style, it's hard to find stylish shoes that I can kind of trash about in and are fairly casual. Boat shoes serve this purpose perfectly. They are my plimsoles, if you like.

[Ares]

boat shoes are ok i guess, but depends on the outfit...

Example A (Boat shoes = GOOD)


Example B (Boat Shoes = BAD)

[Tone]

Good examples Ares! However example A would look way cleaner if he was wearing a loafer.