Chelsea boots are close-fitting, ankle-high boots with elastic side panels that often have a loop or tab of fabric on the back of the boot, enabling the boot to be pulled on
. They date back to the Victorian era and were worn by both men and women. The design is credited to Queen Victoria's shoemaker Joseph Sparkes Hall, who claimed that "She (Queen Victoria) walks in them daily and thus gives the strongest proof of the value she attaches to the invention"
. Chelsea boots became popular for horse riding as well as walking, and they were considered an iconic element of the 1960s in Britain, particularly the mod scene
. The boots are named after the affluent and trendy area of London, Chelsea, where they gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly on the 'mod' scene
. Today, Chelsea boots are a versatile footwear style that can be dressed up or down and are popular with both men and women
