[…] even if it was inclement weather I could still wear these boots out and about.

Article by – Tie Another Day.

Crockett & Jones Molton brown rough suede boots

Crockett & Jones Molton brown rough suede boots (pre-wax)

The Crockett & Jones Molton brown rough suede boots

Since Skyfall, Crockett & Jones have been the principle shoe supplier to Daniel Craig’s James Bond and I have been a convert to Crockett’s shoes and boots ever since. My collection of shoes include, the Tetbury’s which were heavily featured in Skyfall; the brown Islay boots as seen in the last third of Skyfall; the Norwich shoes which Bond wore in Mexico city for Spectre; and the Camberley’s which Bond wore in Rome. For No Time To Die, Crockett & Jones produced another series of boots and shoes for the film, including a limited edition “James” high shine shoe which was inspired by the character of James Bond. It comes in an amazing presentation set with 007 branded shoe brushes and shoe trees. However, for this review, I bought the Crockett & Jones Molton brown rough suede boots.

Crockett & Jones James Shoe and booklet

Taken in store (Jermyn St)

The boots

The boots themselves are a different last to the Tetbury / Camberley / Norwich, and these previous shoes do have a slightly narrow fit at the top of the shoes. I have been wearing the Tetbury’s for nearly 9 years, and they are my daily wear. It has become a ritual for me to maintain the shine using professional shoe cleaning equipment. However, during lockdown I have not had the chance to wear these very nice shoes. I have since moved from working in a financial environment to a technology company, and the dress code is significantly more relaxed than when I worked in the finance industry.

Crockett & Jones molton suede boots sole

Post wax

Pairing

I was looking at the latest offerings from Crockett & Jones, and was pleasantly surprised by the Molton’s. These rough suede boots looked like a perfect compromise for me, that being a good quality boot, that not only looks smart, but can be paired well with a lot of different trousers and jeans. I also wanted to expand on the brown boot selection, and the dark brown mahogany colour which had a matte finish was something that appealed to me.

Learn more about the relationship between Crockett & Jones and James Bond in the book From Tailors With Love: An Evolution of Menswear Through the Bond Films, available on Amazon.

The fit

Having worn the last 348 which had a narrowing fit at the top of the boot, the 336 last which the Molton’s are based upon gave more room for the top of the foot. Indeed the difference is quite remarkable. When I initially tried it on, it felt that I had a lot more room to breathe, and when I did purchase them. I felt so comfortable, that I decided to wear them out of the store at 92 Jermyn Street. I went for my usual size with the boots, and they fitted fine. However, it might be a case that you would need to go a size down if there is a lot of room around the toes.

 

User experience

These shoes are very hard wearing. The danite sole provides a lot of grip, and the feel of the rough suede is more leathery than a traditional suede. Again, this really appealed to me. I was also able to apply dubbin cream onto the boot to make them water / splashproof, meaning that even if it was inclement weather I could still wear these boots out and about. Something which I am reticent to do with my other suede shoes / boots. It was surprisingly quick to break in the shoes, and I recently met up with Daniel Gaster (@danielgaster) and Pete Brooker (@fromtailorswithlove), and we walked from Harrods to Jermyn Street near Green Park. For those not familiar with London, this is approximately 1.3 miles, and the terrain (whilst being pavement) didn’t cause any issues. Indeed I felt very comfortable in the walk and no bruises.

Where are the shoes seen?

These boots are worn in what is known as the Norway scenes, and that is as much as we know. The boots fit really well for the terrain as they are hard wearing, and they fit really well with the ensemble that Bond is wearing with the Massimo Alba Mauko needle point charcoal cord trousers, the Rag and Bone Henley shirt and the Massimo Alba Duster coat.

The shoes are currently on sale at Crockett & Jones for £395. For those interested, I would highly recommend to get the shoe trees. These will definitely assist in helping the shoe keep its share and potentially reduce the amount of creasing.

Suede Boots no time to die

Conclusion

If you are looking for a comfortable, stylish, durable, and practical boot, look no further. These boots have become my go-to, and they go with almost anything. The Bond connection is a great bonus, and it’s nice that there is a variety in terms of having a range of shoes and boots for almost all occasions.

  • With thanks to Z (@Tie_Another_Day) for posting this review. Be sure to follow him on instagram.