FASHION | Five Different Types of Chelsea Boot

The Chelsea boot is an autumn-winter 2013 gem! The great thing about this footwear trend is that there are many different Chelsea boot styles to choose from – so you can work the look to suit your style and budget. Here’s a look at five of the current Chelsea boot options:

Traditional

Celebrate the traditional, and historic, design of the classic Chelsea boot. This ankle boot design was originally invented in the Victorian Era when Queen Victoria’s boot maker came up with a shoe that busy men and women could easily slip on and off. It was revolutionary due to its elastic panelled side, a feature that still remains key to the boot today. Traditional Chelsea boots are produced from black or brown suede or leather, with a low-mid heel. A unisex design, the classic Chelsea boot wouldn’t look out of place in a male or female wardrobe. 

Heeled Chelsea Boot

The heeled Chelsea boot is definitely one to look out for this season, providing a glamorous twist on the traditional design, it’s going to be on the feet of many Christmas and New Year party gal! The heeled Chelsea is again mostly seen in black suede or leather, but can feature edgy addition details such as straps, buckles, chains and studs. There some nice fusions between Chelsea boot and biker boot currently on the high street.

If you’re not a fan of high heels, but do appreciate a bit of added height, wedge heel Chelsea boots are another nice option. Moving away from the traditional Chelsea boot, the wedge design typically has a lower cut ankle fit and at the moment dark red and other autumnal shades are popular.

Animal Print

Fancy something a bit more quirky? Animal print in general is seeing a revival this season, and so it’s no surprise it’s found its way onto Chelsea boots.  Leopard print and snake skin effects are the common finish for the animal print style Chelsea, often teamed with a heel too just to add to the drama.

Chunky

Whilst Chelsea boots are traditionally sophisticated and plain, this

year they’ve been given a modern twist with the ‘chunky’ style. These chunky Chelsea boots thick tractor soles, buckles, high ankle cuts and usually a buckle or two as well.

Cut-out

Finally, the most glamorous type of Chelsea boot currently on the market – the cut-out. This plays on the recent trend of

having cut-out portions of material on dresses and tops. However, with the Chelsea boot, the ‘cut-out’ element is actually recreated through the clever placement of buckles and straps, providing a sandal-boot effect. This unusual form of Chelsea boot has a modern-gothic feel and will make a real style statement. Show off a bit of foot flesh or team with patterned tights or a printed sock. Perhaps not the most practical choice in wet weather, it’s certainly not the Chelsea boot of choice if you intend to go riding (as many of the Victorian wearers frequently did).

Love Lilla xx