James Lace-Up Boot

The boot represents Frye's heritage of functional workwear that evolved into fashion footwear. Founded in 1863 in Marlboro, Massachusetts, Frye is the oldest continuously operating footwear brand in America. The company initially created boots for factory workers before experiencing a cultural transformation during the early 1970s when their boots became fashion icons.

The James Lace-Up Boot is handcrafted from soft full grain leather selected for comfort and durability. The boot features waxed fabric laces paired with antique brass hardware, creating a traditional work boot appearance. Leather lining runs throughout the interior of the boot.

The sole uses Goodyear welt construction, a method that provides durability and allows the boot to be resoled repeatedly over years of wear. The smooth leather outsole has been noted by customers as providing limited traction on certain surfaces, particularly when new. The construction includes a pinked tongue and distressed finish that gives the boot a worn-in appearance from initial purchase.

Frye recommends ordering up a half size if a customer's foot falls between standard sizes. Customers who typically wear wide sizes should consider ordering a half size up when wide options are not available. The company advises trying boots on in the afternoon, as feet tend to be largest at that time of day. New boots should be tested indoors on carpeted surfaces while wearing the socks or tights that would normally be worn with the boots.

A small amount of heel slippage is normal with new boots and decreases gradually with wear. Customer reviews indicate the boots tend to run large, with multiple reviewers recommending ordering a full to half size smaller than normal shoe size. Customer feedback consistently mentions that these boots require a break-in period, with the leather being quite stiff initially. After approximately three weeks of wear, the leather begins to limber up, though some customers report finding them comfortable immediately out of the box.

The boots have been described in customer reviews as pairing well with jeans and having a coloring that provides a broken-in appearance. They can dress down casual outfits but also work with more formal attire when polished.

The James Lace-Up Boot retails for $298.00 USD. Model number 87124 represents the standard James Lace Up in black leather with medium width (D, M). The boot is currently listed as out of stock at some retailers.