The Fancy House Shoes Are Always Worth It

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the type of shoes they wear. My dad was a loafer man. My Mom always had a pair of Birkenstocks. Well, the shoes I wear most often are slippers.

That makes me sound like I’m, at best, retired and, at worst, lazy. I’m neither. Maybe you’re picturing a robe-wearing Hugh Hefner aesthetic. That’d be fair. The reality is that at my place of employment, shoes are optional. No, I’m not a lifeguard. I just work from home.

As my work wardrobe becomes increasingly Lululemoned—that is, stretchy and casual—having some pretty nice house shoes helps me retain some dignity. Sure, I’m wearing expensive sweatpants all day. But at least my shoes are pretty nice—even if they cannot go outdoors.

Like regular shoes, house shoes get worn out (especially when you wear them as much as I do). So I’ve been around the fancy house shoe block. For a long time, I preferred wool. Warm, thermoregulating. Not stinky. I was a Glerups guy—those high-top wool slippers are classy. Great house shoes.

I’m a leather man now. I recently came into these Vermont House Shoes from Queen City Dry Goods. If anyone should know their house shoes, it’s Vermonters, and these are designed, cut, and sewn in-house out of Williston. They make my hightops with buttery bison leather, merino wool inserts, and internal cushion foam inserts.

Vermont House Shoes Hi-Top ($160)

Buy Now

They’re warm but not stifling—more of an all-season house shoe, whereas some wool slippers can only be worn in fall and winter. Plus, they come with a very handsome carry bag so you can take them with you. And yes, I will probably be that guy.

Most importantly, they look really good. Even if my 8-month-old daughter and wife are the only ones who see me wear them, that matters. Because ya know, look good, feel good—or something like that.

I did worry about how durable the thin leather would be, but after a couple of months of daily use—even regularly walking out onto a not clean patio to grab firewood, they’re holding up just fine.

Let’s address the elephant in the room, though. Yes, they cost $160—more than a lot of outdoor shoes. So why not get these leopard print bad boys from Target for $17? Those slippers have some real style—and they cost $143 less. I would not begrudge you for wearing those. In fact, I’d probably applaud you.

But if the shoes tell us a lot about the wearer, I guess I’m a sucker for classic style and boutique brands. I’d rather support a team of six craftspeople in the Champlain Valley than, well, Target. Ultimately, the Queen City Dry Goods house shoes and other fancy slippers don’t just look good. They last long. They’re comfortable. And even if nobody ever sees them, I feel like I look good wearing them. In the end, that’s all that matters.