Dr. Martens Women's Triumph 1914 Boot

I haven't worn Dr. Martens since I was in my twenties. It wasn't that I disliked them, or anything. It just never happened that I bought any, for one reason or another. Perhaps cost. I admittedly love getting a good deal. And I got a great deal on these boots to the tune of $60 + free two day shipping. Okay, okay I am done doing my "look what I found!" bragging. :-)I had a number of pairs of Docs in my youth. Boots, oxfords and wingtips. They were heavy, they were sturdy, they took a smidge of effort to get perfectly comfy to my foot and then they were golden for hard wear for years upon years. I was a stompy-clompy teen and young person in these boots. I wore them to work in restaurants and on deliveries and stocking stores. They were tough and reliable.These Triumph 1914 boots are a little different from the Docs of old, which relied on heavy-duty, utilitarian and classic features. Yes, Docs have catered more to fashion and less to function in some of their new shoes and these Triumphs are no different. However, after carefully inspecting and wearing these boots I have to say that I think Dr. Martens struck a good balance of form and function with the Triumph 1914.The Function:-The same classic sole is present. Comfy, expected, welded on and stitched up as usual. GOOD!-The same metal lace eyes are there. GOOD!-The stitching all looks even and well-placed. GOOD!-The leather is of good quality and cut. Excepting the where the leather is stretched across the cap toe and the heel, which have structural supports, this leather *is* a lot softer than any Docs I have owned. It does not, however, feel cheap. PRETTY GOOD!The Form:-The lining-- I've never had lined Docs and this is a thin flannel. It is a pretty pastel pink/blue/green plaid that coordinates with the cool pink eyelets which show when you peel the boot shaft down to wear it in the shorty-cute style. It looks good so far, but if I was mean to these shoes it might tear or pull off from the leather as it is sewn only along the very edges of the boot shaft and the strip up the back. COULD BE BETTER!-Ribbon laces! These look adorable! They offer a softness to the rough and tumble look of combat boots. I love them, but it's good the boot comes with plain old laces, too. Please note: I searched on amazon and found replacements when searching for "ribbon shoe laces". There are some supposedly made by Dr. Martens. (I may grab some in blue and pink just cause I am kinda in love with this ribbony look!) ADORABLE! (the ribbons, that is) and GOOD! (the standard boot laces)-Fold-over style. I wasn't sure I would like this. I had a pair of mid-calf Converse that were the same way but for some reason I just never liked them down. These, however, look great folded. The plaid lining and the pink eyelets are a very cute and girly touch.Fit:Fit can be tricky, especially with European sizing and with buying online. Although I cannot guarantee my suggestion will help you I can offer my experience as follows:For reference I have a wide foot that can fit in a B-width if the cut is right. I have thinnish ankles and mediumish calves. I am not a skinny lady. Pretty "normal" wearing usually an 8-10 in clothes. I pretty consistently wear a 7.5, although sometimes I can get away with a 7 if the shoe is wide and boxy-toed. For the Triumph 1914 (and all my past Docs shoes) I chose 5 F (M) UK / 7 B (M) US shoe. Docs seem to run maaaaybe a 1/2 size big. So, since I usually wear a 7.5 US, I chose the 7 US from Docs, AKA 5 UK. The shoes may be snug, but that is a good thing. Stretch them and break them in (as I mention down below at the end of the review) and these shoes will perfectly conform to your feet!So: I wear 7.5 US. I got 5 UK / 7 US boot from Dr. Marten.Docs How-To make 'em comfy!:Condition:-Before you wear them rub 'em down with saddle soap, leather conditioner or something to protect and soften the leather. I use Fiebing's Saddle Soap. It is cheap and it works. Apply using a sponge, cloth or brush. Then buff-buff-buff across the leather. Be sure to remove or avoid your laces- especially the pretty ribbony ones! "Work" the leather with your fingers, gently stretching and bending it as you rub in the conditioner. You will notice a marked difference in the suppleness and condition of the leather, which is apparent when you move from the finished first boot to the comparatively dry and stiff second boot. (Please note: You may need to buff extra across exposed stitching, or use a brush/fingernail to get out the extra goo that can cling to little grooves in the threads.)Break-in:-Now that your boots have a fresh layer of protection and softening - if the heels of the boots feel stiff and rub your heel or ankle, take the boot heel (with your foot removed! :P) and gently bend it into the foot bed area. Repeat from slightly different angles. Repeat on second boot. Check how it makes the boot feel and check to make sure the leather and heel cup are not being damaged by this "working". Again this is a gentle smooshing, not a thoughtless hulk-smashing. Repeat as needed.-Wear the boots around the house before you go for a long trek. Wear socks - maybe two pairs! (I wore a long knee sock and a short running shoe sock which provided extra cushioning at my heel bone but no extra padding in the boot shaft.) Make lots of silly stretching motions. Point your toes! Flex your feet! Do running squats!-Repeat the above as needed until your boots are soft and comfy! Then make sure you use saddle soap on a regular basis to keep your boots nice.I hope you love your Docs and that my review helps! :DSide note: Be sure to check out my attached photos which show what the amazon marketplace is currently calling "Black". I show the boot in the normal upright position and folded over. It's really cute folded! It is the blackish boot with the pastel plaid lining. Please note that some have said their boots arrived as a forest green. I was hoping for this but it didn't happen. My boots are pretty-darned black. It might depend on the production run. I wish there was a guarantee, but without buying in person it seems hard to say what you might get.

So beautiful and perf wonderful sunshine angelcake shoes, I can't even with my feelings for these boots <3Really though, I'd wanted a pair of docs since I was a teenager, so this review might be an ~eensy bit biased by hardcore wish fulfillment because I think they're the absolute bee's knees, and it's possible I took some moody glamour shots of them at the grand canyon. *coughs*Serious business feedbacks: sturdy as all heck. They can sometimes hurt me after a while, but I've worn them for 2+ days STRAIGHT while driving+sleeping in car+ driving marathoning so my use patterns are a little odd. Not great for climbing, they can scar-scuff too easily if you slip, and the tread isn't ideal, but that's not really what they're for tbh. I also can't spend more than a few hours walking in them, but I get pain from any shoe, even tennis shoes, doing that, so YMMV.I don't know what the finish is like for everyone, I kinda got the feeling it varies a little shoe by shoe, by mine have a nice sort of faintly green-almost-teal underhue to the black, rather than pure black, and they are super-super soft.I've had them a couple years now - they make a HORRIBLE winter boot btw, tho, if you live in a severe climate, which I was not used to and discovered the nasty way. That big metal support thing conducts negative degrees all too well. They also probably shouldn't be allowed to get soaked, so. - and the arch bit seems to be less supportive than it used to, so I'm planning on getting insoles. Best shoes ever tho.

These came with ribbon laces and ordinary, round, black laces.These are really roomy, and I probably could have gotten a size 3 instead of a size 4 (I'm a 6.5), but there's a spot in the left boot that is really narrow and rubs against the top arch of my foot in a really painful way. I've broken these in a bit so that it doesn't hurt as much, but it's still bothersome.The boots I got are black, no green at all. I chose the "black victorian" option, which has the rose print fabric on the inside.These look better folded down. The top edge of the boot slopes down in the back (for calf room I guess), which looks awkward. Unfolded, these look like something a policeman would wear.

I have small narrow feet and arch issues. I am normally a size 8. I first bought the size 5 uk (us 7) and they hurt cause they were too small, like a perfect painted on fit. The uk 5 fits like a us 7.5. I returned them for a 6 uk (8 us) and fits like an 8.5. Since i do have the arch issues I don't mind because they are very comfortable with my arch support insole added and I could even loosen them and wear thick socks in the winter too then. I have had them less than a week but after the first day they became pretty comfortable. the leather is a stiff leather. I ordered the black victorian and it is a true black with a pretty floral print inside. I have been looking for combat boots that do not zip up the side because the zippers always break and also for a sole that will last because mine always wear out and fall off (litterally I have shoe glued many a pair of boots) and these are sewn on the sole and not that hollow rubber where you wear them and then have random holes because the sole is this weird hollow rubber.so far I absolutely love them and understand why the UK loves their docs now (more than just Doctor Who I mean). When I can afford it I might be purchasing the brown as well :)

love these boots they are a christmas present for my daughter and she has only just found out that they are not being made by Dr Martens so finding them on Amazon and on your web page has just made her xmas this is the third pair of doc's she has had like these so we are so luck to find them

Love them. Have them in brown already and they are being re souled which takes 6 weeks. I could not bear to be without them! The black is also great. These are triumph boots if anyone querying and they are adult sizes contrary to other reviews. 41 fits me and I am usually uk 7. These boots are fabulous.

I've worn them for all occasions, posh with a frock, rocked them in jeans, covered miles over fields, through forrests, up hill and down dale. Comfortable and enduring they will last if you take care of them. I polish mine with mink oil.. Great buy!

Much cheaper here than buying from Schuh or Dr Marten shop.Only downside ribbon laces supplied cannot be laced up to the top they are only designed to be used with the boot folded over hence 1 star off perfect.

Fantastic boots as always

Estas botas aunque parecen de color negro, tienen un pequeño toque verdoso que la hace diferente.Excelentes y se adaptan muy bien, se las recomiendo a cualquiera que le guste lo cómodo

They are beautiful!!! They fit perfectly!! Thanks to reviews who advised going a size smaller than regular fit. Perfect advice!! They came packaged properly. Thank you The Shadow Company!! Excellent Customer Service!! Would definitely purchase from you again!!

Perfect, fast shipping, just as pictured. Would buy again.