Wednesday boots! (or whatever day your hunt goes out informally)
Actually, the purpose of the patent tops is one of practicality, post-hunting- ladies don’t get shoe polish on their breeches when crossing their legs, lady-like, ya know, at the breakfast.
Regarding a few other posts: Believe it or not I have seen black field boots with brown tops worn by one huntsman. Plain brown boots are very cool.
Here is what William P. Wadsworth decrees regarding books in ‘Riding to Hounds in America,’ generally regarded as the attire bible in the US:
With ‘ratcatcher’ attire (cubhunting and for some hunts informal days during the formal season): “Black or brown plain, without tops or lacings. (Brown worn only for cubbing, so unless you already own brown, black is more economical).” Note that those of us who love brown field boots violate this edict!
During the formal season:
Gentlemen w/o colors: Black frock coat with rounded skirts, white breeches, black boots with brown tops and white garters (I am paraphrasing, see pp 11-12 of the book).
Gentlemen with colors: Same as above in terms of boots (dressed same as staff, meaning in scarlet, except coats have rounded skirts, and top hat is the appropriate traditional headgear).
For everybody else: Plain black boots. Note that as with field boots above being considered appropriate for cubhunting, patent tops are considered appropriate (but NOT required unless you are wearing a shadbelly) for ladies with colors.
P.S., if you wear spurs, the strap color should match the boot color.
