Beatle boots
Encyclopedia
Beatle boots are a style of boot that have been worn since the 1960s
. The boots are tight-fitting, Cuban-heeled, ankle-high boots with a sharp pointed toe, made popular by the English rock group The Beatles
, for whom they were originally made. The style can feature either zipped or elastic sides. Beatle boots saw the reintroduction of high-heeled footwear for men.
Beatle boots are a direct descendant of the Chelsea boot
, from which the pointed toe and centre seam stitch (running from ankle to toe) was derived, and the Flamenco boot, from which the Cuban heel was derived. Beatle boots originated in October 1961, when English musicians John Lennon
and Paul McCartney
saw Chelsea boots whilst browsing in the London footwear company Anello & Davide
, and consequently commissioned four pairs (with the addition of Cuban heels) for the Beatles, to complement their new suit image upon their return from Hamburg.
1960s in fashion
The 1960s featured a number of diverse trends. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. In the middle of the decade, culottes, box-shaped PVC dresses and go-go boots were popular...
. The boots are tight-fitting, Cuban-heeled, ankle-high boots with a sharp pointed toe, made popular by the English rock group The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, for whom they were originally made. The style can feature either zipped or elastic sides. Beatle boots saw the reintroduction of high-heeled footwear for men.
Beatle boots are a direct descendant of the Chelsea boot
Chelsea Boot
Chelsea Boots are tight-fitting, ankle-high boots that originated in the Victorian era, and were originally associated with horse riding. The most notable feature of the Chelsea boot is its elastic siding, running from just above the welt to the top of the shoe. The design began as a type of...
, from which the pointed toe and centre seam stitch (running from ankle to toe) was derived, and the Flamenco boot, from which the Cuban heel was derived. Beatle boots originated in October 1961, when English musicians John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
saw Chelsea boots whilst browsing in the London footwear company Anello & Davide
Anello & Davide
Anello & Davide is a footwear company based in Covent Garden, London. It specialises in ballet shoes and theatrical footwear as well as making high quality fashion footwear for men and women. They are perhaps best known as the shoemakers responsible for the Beatle boot.-Company history:Anello &...
, and consequently commissioned four pairs (with the addition of Cuban heels) for the Beatles, to complement their new suit image upon their return from Hamburg.
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