by: Alex Germain
With fall in full swing, many of us are switching out our wardrobes, transitioning from the shorts and sneakers of summer to the jeans and boots of fall. One boot which has become a fall mainstay is the Chelsea boot, with it’s more dressed up feel and easy to style appearance. However, despite its recent popularity, the Chelsea boot has a long history, and has been around for over 100 years.
The Chelsea boot got its start in Victorian England in 1837, where royal bootmaker J Sparkes-Hall designed a boot which was easy for the Queen to slide on and off. The recent invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear allowed for the elastic strips on either side, which allowed them to be slid on and off. The Chelsea boot was originally called the Paddock boot, and was used for horse riding. They were also worn for labor positions during the World Wars, and even some military use.
The boots got their name during the 1950s and 1960s, as America was going through a cultural period known as the British Invasion, in which British culture was sweeping the country with bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones gaining massive popularity. This extended to fashion, with the boots being named Chelsea boots after the area in England, which was an epicenter of youth culture. The aforementioned artists were wearing Chelsea boots, so the youth who were following these artists started wearing them too. This gave the boots a rock and roll edge, which still persists to this day.
Today, the Chelsea boots remain a staple in fashion, with many modern day celebrities enjoying the style. Designers such as Hedi Slimane have drawn upon rock and roll styles of the past and modernized them for the current day, including the Chelsea boot. They’ve become a versatile footwear option, with people styling them with everything from distressed jeans to suit pants. Chelsea boots are a safe and smart choice for your fall wardrobe, and are sure to stay in style throughout the ages.