Style
8 Platform Chelsea Boots That'll Take Your Shoe Game To New Heights
Time to take this popular trend to new heights.
Chelsea boots are a very specific, very British, and very popular boot style. Worn by men and women alike, the ankle-height leather boot is fashioned with large elastic panels at each side for ease of pulling on and going. Dating back to the Victorian Era, many actually attribute the design to Queen Victoria’s own shoemaker, Joseph Sparkes Hall. Queen Victoria in Chelsea boots? Yes please.
Going in and out popularity over the next century or so, the Beatles made these boots cool. With their skinny ’70s suiting, whimsical tailored looks, and Chelsea boots on their feet, they helped make it a shoe every young man and woman wanted in their wardrobes.
Now that fashion trends have come back around to the ,’90s, you’d better believe that the Chelsea boot is back for another trip around the sun, thanks to the iconically ’90s grunge lug sole and platform chunk styles. Designers like Valentino, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, and more have hopped on the train to help.
Style yours with everything from high-waisted jeans to miniskirts for a little extra edge — and height. In fact, you can mix it up by pulling on the head-turning kicks with a flirty sundress as the weather heats up, too!
Ahead, shop some of our favorites. You can never have too many pairs.
Bustle Shop is Bustle’s shoppable guide to editor-approved buys in fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle. We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
1Best White Pair
A bold twist on a beloved classic. These white Dr. Martens are just a bit edgy but are still totally neutral, so they can be worn with basically anything.
2Best High-Tops
Though Chelsea boots are typically ankle-height, many designers have raised the bar on them lately, crafting styles that hit a little higher on your ankle or even mid-calf, like this sexy pair from Bottega Veneta.
3Best Under-the-Radar Platforms
If you’re looking for a platform that’s a little more subtle than a lug-sole, these Alexander McQueen boots have a pillowy rubber sole that will raise you up a bit without feeling too chunky.
4Best Color
If you really want to go for it, why not shop for a colorful pair? These blue and black kicks from Ganni are a stunning statement piece.
5Best ’90s Revival
Valentino killed it with these true platform soles, that will instantly transport back to the ’90s. Pair with a miniskirt for a completely retro look.
6Best Silhouette
If chunky platforms and sleek Chelsea styles aren’t enough of a wow factor for you, consider this pair, with a detailed, graduated sole. It will definitely be a departure from the rest of your collection.
7Best For the Rain
Love your platform Chelseas but don’t want them to get ruined in the rain or snow? These chic rubber booties, tested for rain-proofness in the very rainy Pacific Northwest, are for you.
8Best Shorties
Sometimes you want even your boots to have an even lower profile than the already-popular ankle-height boots, these platform 3.1 Phillip Lim Chelsea boots are just the thing. Easier to get on and off than a traditional Chelsea, these boots are also just super stylish.
Bustle Shop brings you the editor-approved buys we can’t get enough of and think you’ll adore, too. Best of all, you can shop all of the products above directly on this page without visiting multiple retailers. Simply click on an item to learn more, choose your size or favorite color (if applicable), and then hit “add to cart.” When you’re done, you can click over to your cart in the top right corner of your screen to purchase all your stellar selects at once. How easy is that?
Questions about shipping, returns, or your order in general? Click here for more information.
Explore more of Bustle Shop (and our fashion, beauty, and lifestyle must-haves) here.
