The Sutton Castagnia Waxy Suede Boots from Barker — an English shoemaker that has been in business since 1880. These are solid boots for men looking to elevate their smart-casual everyday wear.
With England’s fading shoemaking industry, Barker and these boots succeed in keeping alive the tradition of quality Chelsea boots that have been a staple in London since 1931. Worn by the likes of Queen Victoria and The Beatles, this truly gender-neutral boot style has seen it all.
Nowadays, when footwear like this is outsourced and mass-produced, Barker maintains their facilities in Northamptonshire, England.
Quick Take
These Chelsea boots have the silhouette of dress boots and are durable enough to endure everyday wear and easy hikes.
While not my herbal non-caffeinated cup of tea, these are a solid choice for guys looking for good-looking, easy-to-put-on boots.
First Impressions
My first impression was that the silhouette is quite good. In other words, I really like the last. However, I do not generally like Chelsea boots. As a result, it took me about a month to try these on. I did like these when I put them on, and the longer I wore them, the more Chelsea boots grew on me.
Colors/Finishes
What you see in this pair of boots is the “Castagnia Waxy Suede” colorway. The elastic paneling, or gusset, and the edges around the sole and heel are all a dark brown. The “Dark Brown Suede” boots are this dark brown color all over.
Barker also offers a couple of non-suede options in the “Sutton” style. The “Brown Pegasus” is a leather boot that is lighter in color than the “Dark Brown Suede”, but still darker than the “Castagnia Waxy Suede”. Each pair of “Sutton” boots has a pull tab on the front and back.
For the darkest color, the “Black Waxy” is another non-suede boot that is entirely black on the exterior. This pair is the dressiest option available among the “Sutton” line of boots.
For comparison, Barker makes a couple of other Chelsea boots in different styles.
The “Bedale” boots draw attention with hi-shine leather and a more narrow toe box. The “Bedale” also only has one pull tab in the back of the boot. Notice the sole of “Bedale” to be full leather, as opposed to the Dainite soles of the “Sutton” line.
If you like the full leather sole, consider the “Hopper” style of Chelsea boots available at Barker. These boots come in two combinations of colors.
The first is the “Cedar Calf / Navy Elastic” duo that features a medium brown, leather body with a bold, brighter navy gusset. The other is the “Dark Walnut / Burgundy Elastic” that proudly displays a red gusset amidst a dark brown boot.