The buzz: Timberland recently opened its first Footwear Plus Store, a concept boutique with over 200 styles of men’s and women’s footwear, as well as limited edition collaborative items that are exclusive to the store.
The vibe: Neat and compact, with the full range of boots handily laid out on shelves lining the white brick walls. Heavy on staff numbers there are plenty of people around to help you narrow down your selection.
The goods: While Timberland boots were initially the domain of workmen and hikers, they’re now a solid part of the hipster wardrobe. The focus in the store is definitely on rugged, no-nonsense, waterproof outdoor boots, but there’s also boat shoes, roll-top boots and even sandals. Better yet, Timberland are launching a series of collaborations over the coming months, following the success of collections with Tokyo-based RFW and San Francisco-based Black Scale. The latest partnership is with Japanese brand United Arrows on a collaborative 6” boot ($359), expect to see clean lines, a padded navy collar and a hairy suede fabric in the signature tan color.
Another cool feature of this store is the bespoke customization service that allows you to tailor your shoes with a bit more personal flair. Pick your style—cropped boots, high boots or boat shoes—and then pick your colors, with everything from muted taupes and grays to bright pinks and purples. If you’re the monogrammed personal effects type, you can even have your initials embroidered on the shoes.
Why you’ll be back: There’s a reason Timberland boots haven’t changed that much in 30 years and you know where you stand with a pair of these on your feet. However, we think the cool collaborations and new customization service will haveTimberland acolytes flocking to the store.
