As legend has it, the classic Chelsea boot dates back to 1837. Originally named paddock boots, they were designed by Queen Victoria’s bootmaker, Mr J Sparkes-Hall, in response to her majesty’s laces getting caught in her stirrups whilst riding - quelle horreur!
Fast forward to the 1960s, the elasticated-side-panel design adopted a new name thanks to its association with the King’s Road in London’s borough of Chelsea, which, at the time, was a creative hub of rock stars and designers alike. Worn by the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as a streamlined addition to the slim tailored trousers of the time, they were given a distinctly rock’n’roll edge.
