Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

In Review: The JC Penney Stafford Deacon & Gunner Boot

September 22, 2014 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Stafford Cognac “Deacon” Wingtip Boot or Black Cap-Toe “Gunner” – $51.99 ($99)

NOTE: You’ll need the 20% off code (there are always codes) VIPSAVE for that $51.99 price ^

How appropriate that they’re calling this new cognac Stafford boot the “Deacon“, being that it’s a nicer Camlin, complete with a better sole.

Hooray for Homophonic Humor*

These are legit. Both pairs. The new Deacon takes the old Camlin and improves on the few details that could have gotten a boost. The Gunner is a new model, and is on par in terms of quality & design as last year’s Camlin (only in a black, cap-toe option). Being that both, with sales, will go for between $50 and $70 a pair, JCP is once again the best place to find a great looking pair of boots for an absurdly affordable price.

The new Stafford Deacon | Reviewed on Dappered.com

About the Deacon: Four bits have been upgraded in comparison to the Camlin:

  1. The Leather is even better: Forget using black shoe polish to give the Deacon’s leather some depth and color variation. They already have it. The leather is just as soft and pliable (ridiculously so for this cheap), but this time around there’s some more variation to the color. The Camlin’s color, while just fine for a $50 – $60 boot, was awfully uniform. The Deacon has more variation in shading, and it looks terrific.
  2. The Sole is Sleeker: Gone is the slightly nubby sole of the Camlin. Instead, a still-grippy yet lower profile sole has been used. Much sleeker looking for city-wear, and thanks to the texture on the rubber/synthetic bottom, you won’t be sliding around as much as if it were an all leather or smooth synth bottom.
  3. Eye up those eyelets: They’re now reinforced with grommets instead of simply being punched. It’s a small detail, but for a boot this inexpensive, it helps make them look a little more finished.
  4. Sizing seems to be true: No more sizing down a full size. A 10.5 fits like a 10.5. Some say size down half a size, but a 10 on my normally 10.5D feet felt slightly cramped through the ball of the foot.

Styling is almost identical to the Camlin (the medallion is slightly different, and now there’s now an extra line of broguing up at the top of the boot’s shaft), the shape is still sleek without being pointy, and they’re once again comfortable right out of the box. They’re the Camlin, only better.

The New Stafford Gunner | Reviewed by Dappered.com

About the Gunner: Maybe it’s just because they’re all black (it’s black, none more black), and thus, can’t have the depth that color variation delivers, but the leather doesn’t look quite as good on the Gunner when compared to the Deacon.

!!!**NECESSARY PRICE PERSPECTIVE INTERRUPTION**!!!

They’re a $50 boot for crying out loud, and the leather is still great for the price.

Like the old Camlin, the leather just looks super-uniform out of the box (especially in bright sun, as seen above). Some wear and tear will probably help that out. there is some wrinkling already on the boot shaft, but again, the leather is quite soft and flexible. Those wrinkles shouldn’t crack and develop into flakes.

The New Stafford Boots reviewed by Dappered.com

Silhouette, sizing, and sole are all the same as the Deacon. A quarter-brogue cap-toe with some perfs and pinking around the heel, there’s a lot of clean space on these. That can be a bit of a challenge for less expensive leather, but they look good and dressy here. Oxford-style closed lacing might have been a nice added touch, but that might be asking a lot, being that they’re built on the same chassis & frame that the Deacon is made on.

PRICING: Both the Deacon and Gunner were going for $55 with a code last week. They “retail” for $99, but it appears that JCP is applying their “always 30-50% off” model to these things when you combine ever present sale prices and codes. Going for $51.99 through tomorrow with the 20% off code VIPSALE. That’s good news. Seems like more than a few of you picked up a pair late last week or over the weekend. Feel free to leave your impressions in the comments below…

Perspective | Dappered.com

 The new Deacon and Gunner between a pair of well worn Camlins from 2012.

*And as always, also, alliteration
**Miss J is actually back on America’s Next Top Model. And who knew that America’s Next Top Model was still on.

Filed Under: Reviews, Shoes Tagged With: Camlin, Deacon, Dress Boot, Gunner, JC Penney boot, JC Penney Boot Review, wingtip boot

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

They’re calling it their Red Label line. So… why another line? And how?

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Idea starters including neck massages, pickleball, and a little Sherlock Holmes.

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

Why having Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT as stylists probably isn’t a great idea.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • 10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Rugged Boots, Italian wool trousers, & More
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Italian Traveler Wool Blazers, Nordy’s NOT final sale section, & More
  • The Dappered Space: 5 Essential Home Decor Items for any grown-guy’s home
  • Style Scenario: It’s still winter. (Nothing over $100 edition)
  • MTO Suits, Goodyear Welted Boots, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.