REVIEW: (YVES) SAINT LAURENT WYATT HARNESS BOOTS
When it came to shoes, I once regarded myself strictly as a (Gucci) loafer boy; that was the quintessential “Nolan Starter Pack” shoe. I thought I would never deviate. Turns out, I was wrong and there would be a new shoe in town and his name is Wyatt Saint Laurent. Wyatt also arrived with a harness, very sexy. Witty wording aside, the Saint Laurent Wyatt harness boots have been around. However, I never noticed just how incredible and stunning these boots are until I got my cherished YSL private sale email. Said email comes but only twice a year, an email that has gotten me to throw my money at this fashion house three times in a row now. Clicking on the men’s sale link I was skeptical, I truly felt I wouldn’t want anything in the sale. Wrong, so wrong. Among the array of pret-a-porte and fine leather goods was a pair of caramel brown boots so fine, I felt emotions. Better yet, said caramel boots were 50% off. Originally $1,145 these gorgeous boots were only $595.60 after tax, and I couldn’t pull my debit card out fast enough.
I went into a first world tailspin as I have one golden shoe shopping rule: never buy shoes online, especially if they aren’t returnable. I am a gambling man though, and a pair of shoes this fine were worth the risk. I rang up Saint Laurent, talked to an associate, asked if I should size up or down. They said size up, and thus I settled on a US size 11.5. My order was canceled five days later by YSL claiming they didn’t have the shoes in stock. I went into a second first world tailspin, which lasted about two hours. After asking my spirit guides if I should get the size 11, as that was my true shoe size, and reading some YSL message boards, I pulled the trigger on the size 11s.
Days later my boots arrived and fortunately sexy-beautiful Wyatt fit me like a glove. It was love. It was also divine intervention, as if I got the size 11.5s they would have been too big. God gave me a second chance with that cancelation and I am thankful.
THE DETAILS:
ANKLE BOOTS WITH HARNESS-STYLE TIES, ZIP CLOSURE, AND STACKED HEEL.
-TOTAL HEEL HEIGHT 1.6 INCHES
-100% CALFSKIN LEATHER
-LEATHER SOLE
-INTERIOR ZIPPERED CLOSURE
-STYLE ID 502721DWE007660
-MADE IN ITALY
“We must never confuse elegance with snobbery.”
I can confess these shoes are worth the hefty price tag, but at nearly $600 they are a steal for any shoe freak. Wyatt is a fantastically classic boot that will last me years and years to come. The stitching is perfect, the leather is rich, the hardware is brassy, and the heel height allows me to stand at a towering 6’2.6”. The toe box is pointed in such an elegantly French way that I feel 5% less ridiculously American.
Wyatt was good on paper and is even better in person. However, he wasn’t without his flaws. Wyatt clearly wasn’t planning on being sold to an OCD psycho like myself, and I have some critiques. First, the stitched upper piece above the leather strap on the front of the shoes are of different heights, which irks me. Also, one shoe seems darker than its twin, but I am in denial about it. Are these two things deal breakers? No, if anything it speaks to the fact that these shoes weren’t made by a robotic AI, and maybe we should all start to treasure such human imperfections.
THE LAST WORD
I have worn these shoes a couple of times now, primarily to school. They are pretty comfortable, but given that they are in the process of being broken in by my feet, Wyatt definitely can leave his mark. However, a little temporary foot pain for a gorgeous pair of shoes is nothing when they make you feel like you’re walking on pure Saint Laurent sunshine; just the way Yves would have wanted.
