Chelsea boots are shoes with an elongated toe and elastic bands on the sides. They first appeared in England, and their history goes back hundreds of years.
Story
Chelsea boots originally appeared as ankle boots for women riding horses. They were designed by Joseph Sparks-Hall, who tried to combine the comfort and grace typical of women's shoes at that time. The results of his work were an unprecedented success - representatives of the upper strata of society began to wear the new product, and in the mid-nineteenth century, Queen Victoria herself put on such boots.
Comfortable, lightweight boots that saved the already complex women's toilet of that time from having to lace up again - this is the secret of such a spread of Chelsea boots. Shoes that did not need to be fastened or laced, and the process of putting them on in a matter of seconds - unheard of in the 1830s and an absolute success for their creator. Gradually, this wardrobe element moved into men's shoe closets and has not gone out of fashion to this day.
Peculiarities
It is difficult to confuse Chelsea with other types of boots - such ankle boots appear in every woman at some point and are a fairly common model. They are easy to distinguish from other boots by several characteristic features:
- Elastic strap on the side of the boot, which allows the shoe not to hinder the wearer’s movements;
- A neat rounded toe that is slightly pulled forward;
- The boot barely covers the ankle and ends slightly higher;
- Low “flat” heel.
Note! The original boots do not have a zipper, buttons, or any other type of fastener. Models with zippers are fakes or similar versions that are not “classic”.
Why Chelsea
The unusual name of the boots still remains a mystery even to historians, however, there is a version that they were named after the London district of the same name.
Chelsea in modern fashion
Today, Chelsea boots continue to enjoy steady popularity, mainly as an analogue for spring shoes or a replacement for autumn boots. Originally created as a sports shoe, today these boots have evolved into an everyday option that goes well with most outfits.
The combinations of “Chelsea plus jeans” and “Chelsea plus dress” are win-win options that are preferred by most owners of these boots. At the same time, you should not be shy about dresses and skirts made of thin chiffon fabric - on the contrary, the light brutality of the boots and the emphasized weightlessness of the skirt will look great together.
Slightly casual business outfits and formal dresses are also a great pair for these shoes. What you should definitely avoid are evening dresses and suits that require more conservative shoes.
What should you pay attention to when purchasing? Elastic bets are both a characteristic detail and a sore spot of Chelsea. It is important that they are of high quality, tight and well sewn with the rest of the shoe. In this case, the upper part of the boot should not tightly fit the ankle, but be relatively loose.
Important! People with larger feet should be careful with these boots. Due to the elongated toe, they visually increase the size of the foot, so you should pay attention to a model with a more rounded and shortened toe.
Chelsea is a shoe that every woman should have in her arsenal. This is an excellent option for everyday wear, which has a property that not all beautiful shoes can boast of - comfort.