As promised (except that it took me 2 months and not a few days), here are ideas for smart/casual outfits incorporating desert boots (a mix of Opening Ceremony, COS, APC and Kitsuné)
Some casual desert boot outfits
So we start with a particularly successful outfit that is both formal and casual in spirit.
Formal due to the type of pieces worn: gray blazer, white shirt and brown boots.
Casual by the nature of the pieces: first an impeccably cut Kitsuné blazer, very short. The shirt is entirely buttoned, a particular trend called "air tie" and which is often found in Swedish styles. The boots bring a touch of color to the outfit
The proportions are perfect: the width of the lapels of the jacket coincide well with the sides of the collar of the shirt.
To talk about desert boots, which are still the subject of this article, they advantageously replace possible derby/oxford shoes by reinforcing the casual side of the outfit thanks to their material, their color and the white/light brown contrast.
The soles (in rubber here) and the white laces provide a nice reminder ->
Here's an outfit from the APC lookbook with a perfectly cut duffle coat. The white pants form a simple connection, without nuances but which works and allows an effective reminder of the colors. White also highlights the material of the desert boots more.
The sole of the desert boots provides a simple but relevant reminder with the toggles of the duffle coat which deserve to be highlighted: they are made of wood and demonstrate the quality of the piece ->
Proof (in images) that the importance of colors is... to be put into perspective
The next two photos have relatively poor color, but the outfits play a lot on the variation of materials and patterns
A very busy top both in terms of layers (long-sleeved t-shirt, cardi and coats), patterns (a superimposition of horizontal stripes which works, this is not always the case and it is easy to look like an illusion of 'walking optics by trying the same thing again) and colors. It was therefore necessary to have somewhat dull desert boots to both calm down this top while maintaining a casual appearance ->
Certainly clownish and not to be reproduced anyhow, this photo is balanced for me because it manages to bring together several strong pieces in the same outfit.
If you replace the top with something more sober (like black blazer with white shirt), the attention is focused on the desert boots which will eclipse the rest. Likewise, if we remove the desert boots and replace them with a pair in a more classic color, they will probably go unnoticed ->
A more summery style, not much to say about it, except the rolled-up pants and the fully buttoned shirt which once again leaves a casual/formal mix ->
Same with a street photo. In terms of relaxation, the slightly wrinkled chambray shirt replaces the checked shirt advantageously ->
It is also interesting to leave the hem visible when wearing desert boots with jeans, especially when they have a selvedge weave.
For me, the visible hem leaves in this photo an impression of additional work by adding a sober color which makes a transition between the shoe and the jeans, a reminder (the sole with the seam of the jeans) and finally a touch of style and originality with the selvedge weave, as if a detail that makes the difference (not everyone wears selvedge jeans)
In addition to all that, it is not uncommon for a visible hem to allow a more harmonious fit (including less unsightly folds) on the shoe ->
In short, to summarize these outfits, we can say that urban desert boots fit well into casual and falsely formal outfits (but Opening Ceremony would, for example, have no place in a work suit and tie outfit)
The work on the cuts is rarely pronounced and they are often simply adjusted.
