A Winter For Chelsea Boots

It’s been a relatively mild winter in Toronto this year, which means it’s been an interesting season for wearing winter boots.

If you don’t live in a very cold and snowy climate, then you might not understand that one usually has an assortment of winter boots. For example, you have your ‘snow’ boots, which are higher, warmer, waterproof, and come with a tread sole. You need snow boots for when it’s snowing, when you’re shovelling snow, and when you have to walk on the snow-covered sidewalks, streets, or ravine paths.

But, when it’s cold and dry and the sidewalks aren’t snow-covered, your boot options are practically endless. Translation: you can wear fashion boots! This means the boot can have a smooth sole, be made out of suede or leather, and be as impractical as you want. This is where my obsession for Chelsea boots comes in.

The Chelsea boot is an ankle high boot with elastic side panels, as well as a tab on the back of the boot for easy wear. According to Wikipedia, Chelsea boots were patented by Queen Victoria’s shoemaker in 1851, and meant to be a practical shoe. The boots became known as Chelsea boots in the 1950s and 60s when they were popular in the Chelsea part of London. The Beatles and many rock stars have worn them.

Over the years, I’ve owned a few pairs of Chelsea boots, especially as rain boots. The elastic side panels make it easy to put the boots on and off and the ankle height means they’re easy to wear with pants or jeans. This year, I bought two pairs of everyday Chelsea boots, with a thick, tread sole. They’re the same style because I fell in love with the boots and asked the store to make me another pair in another color. Yup, that happened.

The Chelsea boots in these photos are comfortable and so easy to slip on and off. They’re sleek and form-fitting. They have a wing-tip detail as well as a patent, smooth, and suede leather mix. I love the thick sole because I feel secure in the mild winter weather, even when it snows. They’re almost the only boots I’ve been wearing these days.

Chelsea boots come in all kinds of heel heights, materials, colors, soles, and styles. The popular Blundstones are a sturdy, casual style. Other than with jeans, the more ‘casual chic’ and dressier Chelsea boots can be worn with suits, skirts, and dresses. I’m usually in denim, so I go for the casual look most days.

Here are a few examples of the wide variety of Chelsea boots that you can wear all year round.

Let me know what you think of Chelsea boots, and, fingers crossed, I hope I haven’t jinxed our mild-ish winter!

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4 thoughts on “A Winter For Chelsea Boots

    1. Thanks, Natalie! Although the weather is volatile, there are still more days for wearing these boots than not!! xoxo Mary

  1. Love the Chelsea! Have been rocking a rain boot version since the fall and just picked up a black leather pair for work 🙂

    1. Hi Lisa,
      Thank you so much. It’s been a relatively mild winter, so Chelsea boots were/are perfect! You reminded me about a rainboot version that I had put away last fall! Mary

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