Despite King George V having been on the British throne since his father Edward’s death in 1910. The period up to the 1920s is still often referred to as ‘Edwardian’. The First World War of 1914-1918 saw millions of men going to fight around the world. With women filling the jobs left vacant by the men’s absence, a desire for more practical women’s shoes for use in the factories was born.

These lace-up or button-up tall boots usually came to around mid calf, and were often secured all the way up the front of the leg. Generally made from black or deep brown leather, some were also available with canvas or embroidered fabric inserts set into the shaft. Towards the end of the Edwardian era, two-tone boots in black and white or black and ivory became available. Contrasting with the fussy design of tall boots, the shorter pull-on variety in the shops during the 1910s had elastic panels in the sides and featured pull tabs on both the front and back to make them easy to don.

Have a fun reading 🤍.

Hajar Alsubie.