BOAT SHOES ARE BACK... BUT NOT HOW YOU REMEMBER THEM
April 29, 2025

2012 was a wild time. If you were a young dude trying to stay clean on a budget, you already know: Sperry Top-Sider was the go-to. You pair them with some rolled chinos, an oxford shirt or a clean polo—bonus points if it was Ralph Lauren. (And just to be clear: Ralph is forever. I’d never switch.)

The Sperry era was real. Affordable. Versatile. Respectable. They got us through when we couldn't keep up with sneaker drops every weekend. But let’s be honest, we ran those into the ground. So much so, seeing a pair today might make your stomach turn.

But don’t get it twisted. Boat shoes are back... they just grew up.

See, now we in a different tax bracket—mentally if not financially—and the shoes gotta reflect that. We don’t need the “I’m just trying to look decent for under $90” boat shoe no more. Nah. We need pieces that speak to taste and presence. You feel me?

Enter the new wave:

Jacquemus x Timberland “La Bateau” – luxury lug sole, loud in the right ways, and dipped in banana yellow like a glass of summer.
Hender Scheme x Timberland – grown man artisan steeze with just the right dose of quiet wealth.
Vinny’s Boat Shoes – premium minimalism, Denmark-crafted, and built to pull compliments from art dealers and shorties.

But it’s more than the shoe—it’s the presentation. Don't hit ‘em with the recycled polo/chino combo. We elevating. Throw on an asymmetric Comme des Garçons button-up. Layer with intention. Let your silhouette talk slick. These ain’t everyday kicks like back in college—you pull these out like you just got a surprise stock dividend or a crazy Shopify notification.

Boat shoes now? They're occasion-based. Statement-driven. Reserved for weekends when the vibe is mature, but the energy still got bass.

Let the big boy boat shoes sail and give the skreets hell.
Yeah...we still those guys. Just sharper.

Follow me on x.com/onlyonejaevonn
Visit gettothecorner.com