Prominent representatives of comfortable everyday shoes are chukka boots. Until recently, they were considered exclusively for men, but today there are also female models.
Chukka - shoes with open lacing (standard version - 2-3 holes for laces) and a rounded toe. The height of the boots is up to the ankles. They have a simple cut, which does not provide for the presence of additional decorative elements. These shoes match many wardrobe items, and therefore allow you to create many everyday but stylish looks.
The Chukkas began their history in India at a time when it was an English colony and not an independent state. It was the British who gave this name to these shoes, taking as a basis a similar Hindi word - “chukkar”, which translates as “circle”, “turn”.
It is believed that back then the British often played horse polo. There was a seven and a half minute break between halves during which the players removed their heavy and uncomfortable playing boots and put on their chukkas to rest their feet.
There is another version according to which these boots were worn by English soldiers who served in colonial India.The boots familiar to Britain in the humid and hot Indian climate caused a lot of inconvenience, and therefore they were “shortened” and supplemented with laces.
However, the Chukkas became truly famous in the 20th century. Already at the beginning of the century, Europeans and Americans actively wore them, and in 1924, the Duke of Windsor, who later became King Edward VIII, began to actively appear in public wearing these boots. Of course, this could not go unnoticed, and by the middle of the twentieth century, chukkas were adorned on the legs of men, both rich and not so rich.
Europeans value chukka boots. For example, in Italy they are worn with a classic suit, and in England they are used as casual walking shoes. However, there are many options for successful combinations with them, but they all depend on the material from which the boots are made.
For example, the classic model is brown suede chukkas with thin soles. They look good with jeans and a sweater, but do not go well with a classic suit (jacket and trousers).
Creating a competent business image with a chukka is difficult. For this purpose, only black boots made of smooth genuine leather are suitable (not only the top, but also the sole is made of it). But even in combination with a classic suit, they are appropriate only in an informal work environment, and it is not customary to wear them with a tuxedo.
As a rule, the degree of formality of boots is influenced by the materials from which different parts are made. For example, a top made of smooth leather in black, burgundy or dark brown is considered to be the most “businesslike”.
The sole of formal office chukkas should be leather.Thickness matters: a thin sole is considered a sign that the boots are not made for business meetings, while a thick sole, on the contrary, is ideal for such events.
If we talk about the everyday option, then suede shoes with leather or rubber soles are good for it. Today, the color can be anything: from pitch black to almost white. Depending on the shade of the shoes, choose jeans (chinos are ideal), a shirt or a sweater.
In the female version, chukkas are magnificent. The materials for their manufacture and style are practically no different from what is in demand in men's models. They are ideal for casual looks - everyday, as simple as possible and incredibly comfortable. This ensemble successfully combines a chukka, jeans, a coat or raincoat in calm shades and a classic pullover.