El Canelo El Paso Black Buck Ankle Boot

The El Paso in black buck — the matte version of the black. Buck is a napped leather: soft underhand, no shine, closer to suede than to polished hide. Against the smooth Caisson version, this one reads more casual and less formal, which for a lot of people is exactly the point.

Handmade in Mexico by El Canelo. Ankle height, so it sits under a pant leg without announcing itself as a western boot.

Buck asks for a little more care than smooth leather — a suede brush to lift the nap and a protective spray against water. In exchange you get a finish that hides scuffs instead of showing them.

Available in EE width, sizes 6 through 11.

If you'd rather have the smooth, polishable version in black, that's the El Paso Caisson.