As a general rule, I don’t have to wear dress shoes when I go to work. If I did have a job like that, I would consider the Northfield Shoe by Rockport.
Made with a lightweight EVA outsole and Hydra-shield waterproofing technology, the Northfield is a classic take on the casual dress shoe. I found these shoes to be fairly comfortable to walk in and easy to wear. The waterproofing adds a level of practicality that I appreciate (especially here in Seattle) and it is done in a way that does not compromise the style.
I will admit that these shoes felt a little stiff at first. But after a decent break in period they began to soften up. I feel like these shoes would be a good choice if you worked in an office or were planning a business trip and needed a casual dress shoe that was comfortable enough to walk around town in. This is a shoe that can easily transition from work mode to wander mode.
They are available in Black, Dark Brown and my personal favorite, Espresso NBK*. Mine felt like they ran a little large, by about ½ size. So, consider that when ordering.
The good
- comfortable
- stylish (in that business casual kind of way)
- waterproof
The bad
- require a slight break in period (but what dress shoes don’t)
- run a little large
Available from Amazon for about $80.00
The more you know: Nubuk is a top grain cattle leather that is similar to suede. It is made by sanding or buffing the outer side of the hide in order to produce a short nap of protein fibers with a velvet-like surface
Boring stuff: Lockport provided me with a free review sample. This in no way effected the opinions expressed in this review. All images via Rockport.