Exclusive: Paul Newman’s Go-To Boots Can Finally Be Yours

Paul Newman is known for starring in cinematic bangers like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Color of Money, but these days he’s equally remembered as a guy who helped to define classic American style. As such, pictures of Newman looking effortlessly cool in everything from racing jumpsuits to tuxes to sweats have been moodboard staples for decades, helping to shape countless wardrobes and the aesthetics of beloved menswear brands from Ralph Lauren to Buck Mason. And that’s to say nothing of his status as the most important watch influencer of all time. For anyone in search of an authentic taste of Newman’s style that doesn’t cost $17 million, however, Vogel’s new Paul Newman Roper Boot can be yours for a comparably reasonable $2,500.Introduced this week, the riding boot is a limited-edition silhouette modeled after ones the brand made for Newman in the 1980s and handmade in the USA. A relative of the cowboy boot and the engineer boot, the roper’s durability, simplicity, and versatility earned it a place as part of Newman’s regular uniform. As such, Vogel’s Paul Newman Roper Boot offers a fine complement to a Canadian tuxedo or a Navy deck jacket, not to mention an irrefutable connection to Newman’s legacy of classic American style.Courtesy of VogelFor those unfamiliar with the stalwart bootmaker, Vogel was founded in New York City in 1879 by German-trained shoemaker Egidius Vogel. From its atelier on Wall Street, Vogel would become renowned for its equestrian boots, a reputation it retains nearly 150 years later. These days, Vogel maintains the distinction of being among America’s oldest footwear brands, but more importantly, it’s also one of the few remaining shoemakers that does things the old-fashioned way, building each pair from a custom last, and pattern-making, lasting, welting, stitching, finishing, and polishing them by hand.“Vogel is committed to something increasingly rare: the preservation of American craftsmanship,” explains Craig Arthur von Schroeder, Vogel’s creative director. “Our philosophy values innovation, artistry, and human skill. Clients are not simply purchasing footwear; they are participating in the continuation of a living craft tradition that has existed since 1879.”Courtesy of VogelCourtesy of VogelIn addition to being an Oscar-winning leading man, a professional race car driver, and a style icon, Newman also made his mark as a philanthropist through the Newman’s Own Foundation, a nonprofit that has given away more than $600 million since 1982. Accordingly, every Paul Newman Roper Boot sold supports the work of Newman's Own Foundation, further deepening the boot’s connection to Newman’s legacy. "Paul Newman remains an eternal style reference because he understood that the best things in a wardrobe are not only well made, but they’re worn with ease," says von Schroeder. A pair of Paul Newman Roper Boots is undoubtedly the former, but cultivating a sense of effortless ease—and imbuing them with a Newman-worthy patina—is entirely on you.Vogel’s Paul Newman Roper Boots are available for pre-order via the brand’s website for $2,500.