To Boot New York

For a fashion-forward dress shoe, many buyers think so. All To Boot New York shoes are made in Italy, and the brand built its reputation by offering that Italian construction and detailed artisanship at a more accessible price than some American "Park Avenue" rivals. If you want a sleeker, more modern Italian look without going to the top of the market, it is a sensible pick.

The brand is centered on Italian craftsmanship, which founder Adam Derrick first fell for on a trip to Italy before apprenticing in shoe factories to learn men's footwear construction. Its Italian-made shoes are generally lighter and sleeker than their American counterparts, which gives them a modern feel, though that trade-off in build is part of why opinions on heaviness and durability vary.

They aim at different buyers. To Boot New York competed against "Park Avenue" brands like Allen Edmonds by offering Italian-made shoes that were lighter, sleeker, and more modern-looking, often at a lower price than American-made equivalents. Allen Edmonds leans into classic American construction, so the choice comes down to whether you want traditional heft or Italian sleekness.

All products are made in Italy. Founder Adam Derrick learned the craft by apprenticing at Italian shoe factories, and Italian production has been central to the brand's identity and its sleeker, more modern silhouette ever since.

The founder and designer is Adam Derrick, who lives in Chelsea, Manhattan. He started out in 1979 with a cowboy-boot store on Columbus Avenue on New York's Upper West Side, then pivoted to men's dress shoes after discovering Italian footwear, building the brand from his New York store outward.

In 1979 Adam Derrick opened a cowboy-boot store on Columbus Avenue when the boots were a fad in New York. After that trend faded, he traveled to Italy, fell in love with the footwear there, and began apprenticing at shoe factories, eventually producing men's shoes for his New York store "To Boot," which proved a success.

The brand is sold at department stores and boutiques in the United States and Canada, as well as on its own e-commerce site. Upscale retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue carry it in the US, and Harry Rosen and Nordstrom stock it in Canada.

It is a deliberate point of pride. Adam Derrick regards New York as the fashion capital of the US and a "crossroads of fashion" on a global scale, so the name pairs that New York identity with the brand's Italian craftsmanship.

Yes. In 2018 the company began offering extended sizes on its e-commerce website, broadening the fit range beyond what its retail partners typically stock, which is helpful if you fall outside standard sizing.

A few. In 2015 Andy Samberg wore To Boot New York sneakers as a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and the brand has also been spotted on Michael Strahan, Matt McGorry, Corey Stoll, and Jake Robinson at events.