Chelsea Boots, for as long as we can remember have been a constant fixture in men’s fashion when it comes to footwear. In fact they originate from the Victorian times and the design of the ‘Chelsea Boot’ is attributed to a gentleman called J.Sparkes-Hall who was a boot-maker to Queen Victoria. At the time, what allowed the boot to come into fruition was the invention of vulcanized rubber; this type of rubber played a pivotal role in the design of the Chelsea boot as it allowed the boot to be slipped on and off with ease. FYI: they were initially known was ‘elastic sided ankle boots’.
The three primary characteristics of Chelsea Boots in addition to the vulcanized rubber element are 1. The boots come up to ankle length, 2. They have rounded toes and are accompanied by 3. Low lying heels. However the key distinction that separates Chelsea boots from other boots is the strip of elastic that extends to just below the ankle but not all the way down to the sole, so just above the welt.
Chelsea Boots were originally walking shoes for both men and women and were often refereed to as Paddock boots. Eventually, in the mid 1950s they were the popular choice of footwear for young budding artists and film directors and so forth; these guys spent a lot of time in West London, the word “Chelsea” effectively became synonymous with a new way of living and dressing, ergo “Chelsea Boots”. Next minute they are being worn by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and even made an appearance on Star Wars (Stormtroopers had them in white, just for the record)! Chelsea Boots are still a timeless piece of footwear that signals eloquence and heritage, hence their popularity today: simplistic and classic.