Doc Martens Shoes

The Birth of Doc Martens Shoes

The first Dr. Martens were born on April 1, 1960. The working class loved them, youth loved them, and subcultures adopted them. Now, over 30 years after their birth, Doc Martens shoes are found in all types of closets.

Different Styles

Classic Doc Martens come as both shoes and boots, and which style you choose is entirely up to you. The eight eyelet and fourteen eyelet styles tend to be the most popular, although the company also makes a twenty eyelet boot for the very brave!

Black and oxblood red are the classic Doc Marten colors, although white is fast becoming a popular alternative.

Shoes range in style from classic black dress shoes to more funky styles such as the peanut grizzly.

Most of these shoes have a "clunky" style heel. You can see that there's something special about the soles by looking at them. Some of the heels are more understated than others. It really depends on the type and style of the overall shoe. These have colors like light blue available along with the browns and blacks that are the standards of any shoe collection. Doc Martens shoes range from dressy-casual to laidback and fun. Choose from lace-ups or pull-ons.

What to Wear With Your Docs

As Doc Marten shoes are such a masculine style, it can be difficult for women to know what to wear with them. While jeans are always a good bet with a pair of Doctor Martens shoes, they can create a look which is just a little bit too masculine for some women. If you do want to wear jeans with your Docs, choose a loose, baggy style rather than the skinny jeans that have been so popular this season; they'll make you look like you have oversized feet!

Combat pants are another good choice that looks great over a pair of Doc Marten boots or shoes. To lighten up the look, choose a feminine top or sweater for a nice contrast.

Finally, don't rule out wearing skirts or dresses with your Doc Martens shoes. Docs can look good with long skirts, such as the peasant style pieces which were so popular last summer. During the grunge craze in the early nineties, Doc Martens were frequently seen paired with feminine, floaty dresses and skirts; it's a look that doesn't sound as if it should work, but you may well be surprised. The contrast between the feminine dress and chunky black Doc Marten shoes can actually look refreshingly different.

Sizing

Since the shoes were first sold in the UK, sizes are different than those in the US. There's a sizing chart on the Doc Martens website. For example, a UK size 5 equates to a size 6 in men's and a 7 in women's shoes in the US. In Europe, the same UK size 5 is a size 38. The website recommends that you try the shoe on before buying when possible. Some styles may fit differently than your usual size.

Where to Buy

You'll find Doc Martens shoes in most good shoe stores, or order online from their website. The company also sells a range of t-shirts and hats, all containing the Doc Marten logo.

You can also find Doc Martens shoes at Zappos.