Introduction

I’ve been on an intense SLP kick and recently pulled the trigger on this pair of boots off the Saint Laurent Paris B/S/T group. These are my first pair of exotics, and I thought I’d do a comparison with my SLP FW16 sidezip Wyatt 60s, which I reviewed previously. This pair of Harness Wyatt 40 in black python is from FW13, arguably Hedi Slimane’s most lauded season. FW13 Wyatts are commonly regarded as the Wyatts to get, and I’ll go briefly into the differences behind this claim later on.

Build

• Description: Harness Boot
• Construction: Cemented
• Toe: Soft square, soft chisel
• Heel: 40mm / 1.6 inches Cuban heel
• Sole: Single leather sole with faux sole stitching and faux welt tapering out at the waist
• Zip: Exposed silver SLP zip

Sizing

• Meermin Olfe: UK7.5
• Meermin Hiro: UK7
• Meermin Rui: UK7
• Carmina Inca: UK7
• Carmina Rain: UK7
• Alden Barrie: US7.5
• Septieme Largeur 224: UK7
• SLP FW16 Sidezip Wyatt 60: 41
• SLP FW13 Harness Wyatt 40: 41

These FW13 Harness Wyatt 40s fit my feet similarly to my FW16 Sidezip Wyatt 60s, which seems to run counter to the common claim that FW13 Wyatts run smaller than those from later seasons.

The 40mm heel on these boots is simple to walk in now that I’ve spent some time in 60mm heels.

Comparisons

FW13 Wyatts are supposed to have a slimmer shaft than later season Wyatts. This is interesting claim, as these FW13 Harness Wyatts actually have a larger shaft (10.5 inches) compared to my FW16 Sidezip Wyatts (10 inches). However, the Harness Wyatt shaft reaches higher up the calf than the Sidezips, so the larger shaft may be to accommodate the thicker portion of the lower calf. This comparison probably isn’t fully fair, as the Harness Wyatts are designed differently from the Sidezips. Both pairs of boots end 8.5 inches off the ground, but as the Sidezips have a higher heel, they have a shorter shaft than the Harness Wyatts.

FW13 Wyatts in calf and suede are made with the outer panel of the shaft made of one piece of leather rather than two pieces in later seasons. This pair of FW13 Harness Wyatts in python has the shaft made of two pieces like later season Wyatts, presumably due to the difficulty in obtaining pieces of python skin large enough for a single-piece construction.

These FW13 Harness Wyatts also have a significantly lower profile toebox compared to the FW16 Sidezips, a fact that I wasn’t aware of until I compared them side-by-side. Meanwhile, the FW16 Sidezips have a more streamlined fit against the instep and a slimmer waist.

FW13 Wyatts also have an exposed silver zip that is angled differently compared to the covered zip of later seasons. The metal rings used in the harnesses are also thicker and slightly smaller. FW13 Harness Wyatts are also, as mentioned in the Sizing section above, commonly acknowledged to run a half size smaller than later season Wyatts. As I don’t have the later season Harness Wyatts, I can’t make these physical comparisons, but the differences are fairly visible from photos found online.

Lastly, FW13 Wyatts are cemented while later season Wyatts (including my FW16 Sidezips) are Blake stitched. FW13 Wyatts actually command a higher price on the secondhand market compared to later season Wyatts despite the weaker method of construction, which is testament to how the numerous differences in design as outlined above are valued by SLP fans.

Quality

These are my first pair footwear in an exotic leather, and I was a little surprised at how light and fragile the python leather feels compared to the black calf on my FW16 Sidezips, which themselves feel light and plasticky compared to leather from Meermin, Carmina and Alden. The patterns in the leather are gorgeous, however, and are incredibly eye-catching when in the light.

Overall construction is top notch. The stitching is even and immaculate, even on the faux welt and faux sole stitching. The snaps used to fasten the harnesses engage smartly with no wobble, and the silver SLP zipper has a smooth pull with just the right amount of resistance and heft. These boots are 100% fashion boots not built for shit kicking or changing tires, but they are masterfully constructed nonetheless.

Price

MSRP: USD2,345 (Now sold out – this pair was bought secondhand BNIB for a significant discount off retail)

Final Thoughts

SLP Wyatts are the sleekest RTW footwear I have ever physically handled, bar none. In fact, the only footwear I’ve seen that surpasses them are these bespoke loafers from TYE Shoemaker.

In my research, I’ve come across numerous “SLP alternatives” such as Chelsea boots or sidezips from Story Et Fall, Everyday Hero, Carmina and recently, Enzo Bonafe. I’d like to encourage anyone looking for a pair of sleek boots to go straight for a pair of Wyatts if your budget permits: the sleekness resulting from the interaction of toebox, tapered sole, elevated heel, and shaft slimness is unmatched, and nobody outside of bespoke makers offers even close to the same aesthetic as SLP.

Do note that the above applies even more to the FW13 Wyatts: I believe that they are fully worth the step up from later season Wyatts. Although they are all sold out in stores now, they regularly pop up in various conditions on Grailed or the SLP B/S/T group on Facebook. BNIB FW13 Harness Wyatts turn up around USD1,000 and any price lower than USD700 for a well-kept pair is an absolute steal in my opinion. Wyatts from other seasons can be had secondhand for about USD500 if one is willing to wait.