Help me pick the better boots

[DreadPirateRobots]

Pls help me make a choice of no consequence just for fun.

Hobbs Farrah black boots

or

Whistles Piper black boots?

I like both. My instinct is that the Whistles ones have a bit more chunkiness and now fashion cred, but the Hobbs ones might have more longevity precisely because they are a bit less overtly of the moment.

Hit me.

@Jaehee , you missed that they are leather, flat and black, and probably could be described as combat boots.

By that reasoning, a pair of cropped jeans from Tesco are just the same as a pair of cropped jeans from Versace.

The zip puts me off, I find that zip up boots tend to sag on the zip side after a while. I swear by M&S chunky pull on boots, I have a black pair which are still great after 2 years of hard wearing and have just bought a bordeaux coloured pair.....

Oh good, someone else dislikes the zip + laces look. I know zips are less faff, but having both seems excessive.

Eh, that bit I totally get. I want the laces aesthetically but having to lace and unlace every time I take the boots off, especially for relatively tall ones, is a bear. In an ideal aesthetic world I'd do without the zip, but in this one I'm lazy and impatient enough that I want it.

Same here. I had some full length lace-up boots years ago and omg they were a pain to get in and out of! They've put me off for life.

I used to live in Timberland 'premium slim' boots before I started having foot issues, which have laces only. I generally dislike it when things that are meant to perform a function are added to clothes and shoes for the sake of it, like buckles on boots, pointless pockets, buttons that don't do anything, or god forbid a jumper with a built in shirt.

My choices were limited when trying to find lace up boots that wouldn't hurt my feet though, so I ended up having to buy some with a zip as well. I'd rather they didn't but to be fair, it does make them less of a faff to take off. For me the laces aren't just about the style, they do actually serve an important purpose as I have narrow heels and being able to tighten laces stops my feet from slipping around.

Chelsea boots with a zip are just wrong though.

My full length boots were Timberland. Sigh they were nice, once they were on. 😁

Chelsea boots with a zip? <shudders>

With great sadness I need to get round to putting my collection of Timberlands on Vinted

Seconded. May I never sink that low.

TW: these ones have a double zip https://www.fatface.com/style/su068617/d25377

the laces aren't just about the style, they do actually serve an important purpose This.
I have ankle boots with zips, but the zips are the detail.
I have a pair of mid-calf /almost knee-highs, with a buckle - the buckle rips shopping bags and catches my shopping basket.
More than about 6 laces means boots will probably be a PITA to lace up.

Ohhhhhh I want to go shopping for boots!! I've had to get rid of so many over the past several years as they were just too high heeled for my poor middle aged feet...2025 is going to be my year of building up a new and improved wardrobe that works better for me.

@Jaehee , I'm not sure I like those but they're not bad for the price.

6 eyelets not laces, obviously.

I find lace-ups fit better than zip-ups and pull-ons.

Nothing like Docs.

So the verdict is in: the Hobbs ones have a certain sort of... masculine elegance that I can't help liking, but for my purposes the Whistles ones look better. Both fit well and are lovely leather.

I agree. Keep the Whistles!

Given the whistles ones are cheaper and you like them more, whistles ones!

I’ve changed my mind since seeing them on and now prefer the Hobbs 😂 They have a kind of witchy vibe that I love.

Me too I much prefer the Hobbs on. They’re more elegant and make your ankles and legs look slimmer. The Whistles look galumphing.

The Hobbs look better quality on but would suit that kind of velvet trench coat kind of look. The Whistles ones look slightly more casual so could work with jeans and non-formal winter dresses. Not sure the Hobbs would so depends how you want to wear them.

Interesting!

The Hobbs has a neat, smooth, sleek look that I associate with a city. To go with urban Cos clothes, sharp coats, bias skirts and the like.

The Whistles has a cleated sole that to me looks more rustic, arty and (mildly) alternative. To go with Toast clothes, chunky jumpers, dark academia and the like.

I prefer the Whistles look but it absolutely depends on your personal style! My friend is more Hobbs-y and always looks great.

Hobbs

Whistles- the Hobbs one is too plain and not attractive at all