Personality of a well-dressed man, when scrutinized, usually starts from the top all the way down to the footwear. But is there any shoe style that can reverse the game from ground to top?
Chelsea boots, in particular, change your style game forever since it comes as less extreme of a dress shoe but simultaneously dressier. Conversely, it is not as casual as loafers but can instantly handle t shirt and denim mood.
And why not? With sleeker design and pointed toe front, Chelsea looks just as aerodynamic as an aero plane ready to take you anywhere, just any time! Slipping them on is as easy as taking off, thanks to the side panels that provide extra flexibility and pull tab.
Chelsea boot was first worn by Queen Victoria and later made popular by Beatles, a music band. This boot literally goes with anything- suit, denim, separates, and smart casual, casual business attire.
Either wear black leather Chelsea boot with a business suit or brown suede variant with denim and leather jacket you will always look spot on.
This ever-modern quintessential design holds a middle rank in shoe range from formal to casual and it will not be an overstatement that Chelsea is the classiest, most impeccable and highly refined design in the boot family.
It is business casual appropriate; fits perfectly in the smart casual wardrobe; looks more stylish than some other semi-casual shoes- e.g. monk straps.
While we walk you into styling strategy of this state-of-the-art multidimensional boot it deserves a brief introduction
Fashion-forward men love to have minimum but powerful shoe stock and Chelsea comes as an essential boot type for men’s wardrobe.
Free from all elaborate details and crafted with fewer leather pieces, Chelsea boot is a work of an artisan. It has the least number of stitching lines minimizing distractions – which also means a clean silhouette with glittering surface to admire.
Slip-on boot style means – no eyelets, no laces which automatically separates Chelsea boots from all other lace-up boots. With no embellishments on board Chelsea is the winner of one-horse-race, right choice for serious and dressier occasions.
Two elasticated panels on each side of the boot ensure your foot just glides into boot, in one stroke, and come out with a slight pull.
This boot might feature normal to high heels but moderate heel should walk you through all affairs without causing any controversy.
Chelsea Boot vs Other Lookalikes
In men’s style world there aren’t many boots that put up a contest against Chelsea boot but fewer contenders bear similarities with it, some of them being Jodhpur boots or Cuban heel boots.
Jodhpur boot is an Indian variant; that lacks elastic panels, instead it uses belt strap as fastener; belt goes around the boot to be secured with a buckle. Although, it is not an acceptable design in most settings therefore remains a So-So Boot.
Cuban boots have a more casual design and feature a side zipper to close them (sometimes belt too), but these boots are often paired with denim or close fitting pants.
Chelsea Boot With Denim
In the menswear territory boots and denim go hand in hand. A sleeker shoe cut complements well fitted jeans, or vice-versa. Once you acknowledge this thumb rule, you have secured the trickiest part of styling Chelsea boot.
Next challenge is to control the length of jeans. Either you intentionally wear cropped jeans that stay clear off the boot for a clean sporty feel, or, if yours are draping smoothly over the boot top this will confirm rich and sophisticated appearance. But jeans should not stack too much onto Chelsea boots since this a more polished boot style.
Marry dark wash denim with polished leather Chelsea but light wash denim roars too casual and should be combined with suede material. Suede’s velvety appearance harmonizes well with rough looking jeans.
Some men may like to tuck the denim in the boots but you cannot treat every boot this way. Chelsea is a classic and modern design, therefore, wear casual boots for casual tricks like tucking or high turn-ups.
Chelsea Boot With Suit
Mostly dress shoes- oxford, derby or brogues work with suits in corporate and workplace but a classic Chelsea can very well fill in for these formal shoes.
With Chelsea boot comes latitude and modern appeal, especially in professional environment. Besides complementing a business suit attire Chelsea boot can inject power and sophistication to a man’s personality.
A tailored suit and Chelsea is a rare collaboration of skill and fine arts.
As for the colour, always choose black, brown or burgundy colour for a timeless look. Black suit is definitely going with black Chelsea boots; so will be dark grey suit and charcoal suit. For navy and brown suits brown and burgundy Chelsea boot will add aesthetics and refinement.
Black or Brown Chelsea Boot
When considering buying this Victorian era boot, choosing right colour and material is a top priority. Always go for black leather Chelsea as your first pair. Black will cover most outfits since it is the most formal colour in fashion world, black Chelsea boot will catch more limelight.
However, next to black is brown or burgundy. Brown Chelsea is dressier too, able to enliven any smart outfit but less serious than black one. You can wear it with navy or light grey suit. Brown leather jacket is another chic and fabulous item to wear with brown Chelsea as smart casual element.
Burgundy differs from brown and has a red tone to it. Burgundy Chelsea boot will come off as trendy and will look swanky and unparalleled at night.
Suede Chelsea Boot
Leather is a versatile accompaniment with most smart outfits but switching to suede opens up new possibilities for a debonair. Chelsea suede boot is more practical and plush for striking an urban casual look, a stylish alternative with separates, smart casual or denim.
Suede has a texture to it so you can cash in on this strong feature by mixing numbers that have interesting textures on them- let us say, denim, suede jacket, jean jacket.
Whether opt for brown or tan, both have their unique purpose and elegance. If you discover most men are wearing tan Chelsea boot, then go for earthy camel tone.
Chelsea Boot & Jackets
Boots and jackets have a history of great coordination. Jackets enhance the boot’s performance and boots bring out the best out of a jacket. An all-rounder Chelsea shines with almost every jacket in your closet.
A blue jean jacket will work with an array of outfits, especially with chinos & jeans.
If you love leather jackets, sport a suede jacket in contrasting shade with Chelsea boots to spice up the situation. However a black leather jacket and black boot is an all-time hit combination in men’s style history.
