Shopping for women's boots one can quickly notice a disastrous trend. All of the boots in popular markets have zippers. The platform boots, the block heel boots, the stiletto boots, all of the boots from ankle to knee are zippered. There is a zipper on every single boot. Sure, one can seek and buy a pair of Dr. Marten's, but even some of them are plagued with a zipper.
Zippers are annoying for several reasons.
One, the zipper is not a guarantee hold - how often does one find him or herself bending over to pull the zipper up along the front ankle to re-adjust because the pull tab has slipped, now exposing a a bare ankle? Though minimal exposure of a woman's body is still a sexy rarity, Victorian Times have come and gone and exposing an ankle for mystique should still be a voluntary choice instead of a consequence of lazy manufacturing.
Two, a boot zipper occasionally nips the ankle or shin when traveling up a naked leg.
Three, a boot zipper sometimes catches on surrounding fabric and prevents the closing of the boot.
A quick google search on the history of zippered boots will lay a time line between the 1850's and 1890's. The Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha (YKK) company became the popular choice among many companies. Zippers on jackets are useful because they provide an initial layer of closure. Zippers on jackets have allowed manufacturers to create another slice of cloth to cross over the zipper and fasten with buttons or loops to seal warmth in.
Boot zippers rarely have this fabric slice. As a consequence, a foot can become cold because of the draft flowing through the zipper track.
A fine shoemaker would produce a boot complete with thick outer material and a full set of laces to bind the foot in 360 degree protection. A fine pair of boots would take a bit extra time to close the foot into each boot, but this is extra security for the user, and therefore time spent well.
Yes, the Real boot offers confidence.
If one has not found Real Boots yet, this winter, one can bring a customized sweatshirt, hoodie or t-shirt as a unique gift to his or her self, a friend or loved one. Photos, thoughts and sketches can be sent to the custom request department at [email protected].
Yes, 100% agree with this post. I bought a pair of knee high lace up Alpine Boots last year for winter, sourced them from Italy. I suspect one could get a decent pair made by the Amish, though.