Unexpected ways to wear boat shoes

We’ve achieved peak boat shoe. How to wear them without looking preppy

The obvious way to wear boat shoes is the same way you’d wear anything for the motions of your day to day life: with the security blankets of your closet. These security blankets often look like jeans and a t-shirt/sweater, and sometimes this uniform can really do you right, but at the beginning of a season that calls for emergence (as opposed to retreat) — a step away from the staling soup of self-ness, you might find your risk threshold getting higher.

Renggli Studio jacket, Michael Kors surf t-shirt (found her on TRR for about this price), Miu Miu shorts (also from TRR; these from Tory Sport feel like a reasonable alt), Gianvito Rossi boat shoes

No doubt we’ve arrived at peak boat shoe. The trend has been burgeoning for years, but the explosion officially landed last Spring as a result of Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection.

Mrs. Prada has a way to anchoring a trend that is hard to imitate though the strategy is simple: she challenges the status quo.

In this case, it’s the subversive way she styled the shoes with Speedo-style underwear bottoms, or a completely exposed chest, then decorated their surroundings with ankle bracelets that brought a new context to our preconceived ideas of how to wear boat shoes, who can wear boat shoes, and when to wear…boat shoes.

What followed has been a parade of luxury variations by: Loewe and J.W. Anderson, Jacquemus, Tom Ford, Valentino and — I could go on.

Loewe, Valentino, Aeyde, Louboutin; and these from Sperry for $100 are a dead ringer for the Miu Mius

Scarosso (yellow, on sale), Bally (red), J.W. Anderson (center), Valentino (fuschia), Loewe

Each designer has infused their take with a new signature that has further expanded the breadth of ways to wear them.

But I maintain that we always fall back on the uniform — because it takes the least effort and it’s pretty fool proof. Still, if you like me have bought into this trend and yearn for a new, unexpected way to do it, I offer these use cases, starting with a pair of jeans to drive home what a difference your shirt pairing can make.

Aritzia tube top, Jean Paul Gaultier jeans, Gianvito Rossi boat shoes (the same ones are worn throughout)

Marisa Klass necklace, I love this or this as alts to the clutch. Or here’s the most modern interp (not to be confused with twerp).

And one more for the jeans!

Your shirt pairing, yes, and some weird edge that the jeans might maintain. This one could have worked with a simple pair of raw jeans (like these or these) because you want to create a contrast by including a new vibe and something about raw denim (as opposed to a true blue or worn in/stretch pair) often reads more sleek and rigid but cool.

Within a similar realm, though executed differently, you can pile on the leather, like this —

Khaite leather jacket (here is a softer alt, navy suede or this one from Re/done is p good too), a navy polo for you here, St. Agni white bateau neck tank (it gives good arms), Magda Butrym leather shorts (these or these are a good, slightly fuller shape alt)

Sunglasses for you here, and here’s a good belt (here too)

I wouldn’t wear this outfit if it were not for the boat shoes, which create a completely new dynamic that softens the outfit without feminizing it too literally (the way a pair of ballet flats for example would). The navy polo (which ties back to the navy suede on the shoes) and the belt (kind of snobby) make more sense of the footwear but I think it’s the tininess of the shorts combined with the shoes that give permission to both items to step out of their labels. Another way you could manufacture:

Pucci mesh turtleneck, Magda Butrym khaki shorts

Hot on skintight base layers as the only layer these days; I will try this with a pair of long line shorts and heels too

With khaki shorts, which are more traditionally compatible w boat shoes, but still a risk because of their shape. I’m pretty sure also that we’re entering our SKIN TIGHT TOP ERA, so the base layer as ultimate layer is an expression of that. I like it with a housecoat to fuck shit up further:

A cashmere duster with traditional Moroccan embroidery on the trim, from Folkloore. This is a totally different vibe but I’d wear it w the same shorts and shoes, maybe substitute in a white polo or tee

Now how would you do it for work? Like this, but with a white t-shirt instead of a bra —

The details include a Fleur du Mal bra (this is comparable; and she seems romantic), a belt from The Row, and Marissa Klass’ amethyst globe on a leather chord

Argent tux jacket and pants (I really like the new schoolboy blazer), Rayban sunglasses, Gianvito sapatos

The seasonless black wool bounces off the navy suede in a way that makes enough tension to carry all the work of creating personality here. And because the jacket has satin lapels, it gave me more leeway to add a raffia belt that 10/10 could be worn on a boat.

Here is a tiny tassel alt for you, another in wood, or this if you are into the first art deco alt; this would work too

Or on your bare skin, if you, too, are in your Carrie B. season-5 era.

Another one that employs work pants —