Ode to… Dr. Martens 1461

I own 6 pairs of Dr. Martens. Yes 6 pairs. It all started with the classic 1460: the eyelet boot that made the brand famous. It was a pain to break them in and even though I did, they still hurt my feet as my heel rub the back of the shoe too much. But I loved how comfy they were and so when I thought of buying my next pair of Docs, I opted for the 3 eyelet shoe style shoe: the 1461.

Dr. Martens 1461 in black

How I exactly found out about the 1461, I’m not entirely sure anymore. What I do remember is this: I bought them in the UK, it again took some time to break them in, but now, they are my favorite shoes the wear in the fall and winter. Not only does it have a thick and sturdy sole that is great for your feet, but they also come in a variety of styles. 3 out of 6 pairs of Dr Martens that I own are the 1461. Apart from this black pair, I also own a black patent leather pair and a pair of brown ones that are more lightweight and great for spring/ summer.

But this black pair is what got it all started. Why? Because they are the comfiest pair of shoes on the planet. Not only that, I find that they work with so many outfits. I wear these with everything: jeans, dresses, skirts, trousers. You name it, but if it’s an outfit, chances are that a pair of Dr. Martens 1461 works with it. Don’t believe me? Check out these older blog posts:

• Lookbook autumn 2014
• Random outfits #4
• Lookbook cozy transitionals
• Random outfits #3
• Lookbook fall 2015

But comfort is of course one thing: you also want a bit of style. And that is exactly why I own this shoe in different finishes and colors. A standard pair of black 1461s will only get you so far. That is why I bought the black patent leather version last winter. It has a slimmer and more feminine look to it and the patent leather gives it a nice texture to play around with. For spring/ summer I opted for a brown pair of the 1461 PW. They are more lightweight and thus better for the warmer weather. Moreover, the brown color works better with my spring wardrobe.

As you can tell from the picture, my black pair are a bit beat up and have started to look well worn. And again, that is exactly how I like it. Dr. Martens should never look too new. They look best with a few scuffs here and there. Add in the contrasting yellow stitching these have and you can easily amp up any outfit from looking too pretty and neat to giving it a bit more edge and flare. At least, that’s what I like to do.

If you don’t already own a pair of 1461s I’d highly recommend them. After breaking them in, you have a shoe that will last a long time, is incredibly comfy and what’s more: incredibly versatile. If you’re vegan or vegetarian and would rather not wear leather shoes: they also do this in a vegan version. Perhaps a bit less warm, but the look of them is still the same.

What is your pair of go to fall shoes?