INDstyle

Ask Amanda: Hiking boots with shorts

by Amanda Bedgood

How dads can pass the fashion test (in comfort)

While our first Ask Amanda fella wants to remain anonymous, no doubt there are other countless dads out there looking for ways to keep their look comfy and true to themselves without the grief of their daughters. So, we found some easy options that will take this dad off the beaten path of his favorite hiking boots.

Q: Is it "OK" for a guy to wear hiking boots with shorts, even if he's not going hiking ... say, to the mall or wherever?  My daughter gives me a lot of grief about this, but I don't see what the big deal is.  It's not like I have my socks pulled up to my knees or anything like that.

The hiking boot/short combo depends on a few factors. First, glad to hear there are no high socks involved. Other factors: if your overall look has a kind of Backpacker outdoorsy thing going, it can certainly work. (And if the shorts are on the longer side as well.)

The question is: are there some other options that may work better? (Especially in South Louisiana in the heat.) You could always swap out the comfy boots for an equally comfy pair of casual sandals or a pair of easy loafers with no socks. Maven has some really cool tennis shoes that are comfy and work at any age with shorts for a casual look that's still on the trendy side (but not too young). And there's the go-with-everything Tom's the guys over at Genterie Supply Co. carry. Pick a neutral color for a no brainer option the next time you hit the mall with your style discerning daughter.

Happy Trails!