A book I read recently (called ‘Doctor at Large’) was published in 1955. In it, there was a scene where the young doctor visited an ancient secretary for some career advice. Part of the decription of the old man is that he ‘must have been the last person in London to wear elastic-sided boots’
Now what I’d like to know is what these sort of boots would be like. Would they look like the ubiquitous elastic sided workboots that I and other construction industry types wear? because that would seem to be quite unusual for inside a hospital office in the fifties in england where people would presumably be wearing suits.
So was there a fashion for formal boots with elastic sided boots in the early part of the twentieth century? and what did they look like?
In 1955, he wasn’t. Within a few years, the Beatles were wearing elastic-sided boots, and they were back in fashion. Then again in the mid-70s and late 90s.
I’m wearing a pair of chelsea boots right now, as it happens. I’ve no idea whether they’re in fashion at the moment – though the fact that I’m wearing them suggests not.
They’re fairly prevalent right now–the wiki article noted they are back in fashion. Searching for chelsea boot at Zappos turns up quite a few, from $60 to over $600. I like 'em, I have four different styles, from work boot to more dressy (like the To Boot New York at Zappos).
Thanks Guys and gals, That’s pretty much the perfect set of answers. I buy a pair of these work boots every couple of years and wear them to pretty much anything short of black tie. Who needs laces!
Now that I know the proper term I can see what the more refined versions look like.