Wellington Boots

Black leather boots with a small block heel, which finish at mid calf

The Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, invented wellington boots for the British cavalry. He noticed that the riders’ legs were not protected from gunfire. His shoemaker George Hoby designed a strong boot for riding, but smart enough to wear in the evening.

 

The style became popular after his victories in the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15) as men wanted to copy him. Rubber wellingtons were first made in the 1850s and used in huge numbers for the wet trenches of World War 1. They became a practical item, rather than a fashion statement for the rich.