You're in luck, we can all celebrate the return of boots.

I've a pair of Allen Edmonds Dalton boots, they've been worn quite a bit over, what, 8-10 years, I think they'd fit the bill.

Standard double oak soles, blucher wingtips with a lot of broguing mean they dress up or down nicely. Worn with trousers, you wouldn't know they were boots, but with cuffed jeans they stand out.

The Higgins Mills you mention are a nice all-purpose old school workboot, but speed laces, a broad last, and simple design means they would look out of place dressier than jeans and flannel -- depending upon what work and night out is, this might not be what you want.

AE actually makes a bal boot now which is pretty cool, but that would have the opposite problem for you and so not the right idea.

Enjoy!