BALLY (Boutique)
High Vamp All-Weather Dress Jodhpur
Circa 2000
Euro 780

This magnificent boot, when it was still available in the half-dozen Bally boutiques, world wide, sold for over Euro 1200.  The last pair now available is in Japan, marked up to Euro 1800 (US$ 2040), no doubt for its rarity. Ordinary Bally shoes now hover around Euro 700. It appears that this brand, very well thought of in Europe and America during most of the 20th century, is making a comeback with some superlative products.

This particular boot is distinguished by a more than usually high vamp or shaft, not only a handsome feature but a practical one, preventing the trouser leg from climbing the boot as you walk. Moreover the proprietary rubber inset in the sole and rubber heel make this a truly all-weather boot and a very comfortable one too. Of course, with such an elegant dress boot, you would hardly choose it for heavy weather but if caught in the rain, you would return home high and dry.

Indeed, this is a boot for dress occasions, equally handsome under suit trousers or jeans. The plain front shows as a dress shoe until you sit down and your trouser leg rising reveals that you are in boots!