We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Victorian Lace-Up Boots?

By Cindy Quarters
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 9,805
Share

The Victorian era was in the mid to late 1800s, during the reign of England's Queen Victoria. Boots were popular, including button-up, slip-on and lace-up varieties. The term Victorian lace-up boots refers both to lace-style boots that were made during that era and modern boots that are styled to look like their older counterparts. These typically leather boots come in styles for both men and women, and are available from many different sources.

There are still Victorian lace-up boots that date back to the Victorian era, but they tend to be well worn and are relatively small. It is much more common for people to wear authentic reproductions. Ideally, these are made of the same materials as the original Victorian lace-up boots. For costume wear, however, some may choose a boot consisting of man-made materials rather than the more expensive leather.

Most of the Victorian lace-up boots made for men are fairly short, hitting mid-ankle or just above it. They are typically black or brown, though lighter colors can sometimes be found. The laces in these boots are usually dark and tend to be made of thick, heavy material. The heel is typically short and block shaped.

It is not uncommon for Victorian lace-up boots and other shoes to be dressed up with the addition of spats when made for men. Spats are white or light colored cloth covers that fit over the boots, secured in place with a strap under the arch. These decorative accessories cover about 2/3 of the shoes, leaving most of the toe area uncovered. They are used to dress up a man’s outfit and were quite commonly worn with suits in the mid to late 1800s.

Victorian lace-up boots for women come in both low and high-top styles, with ankle-high and mid-calf as the two most common varieties. Laces typically run up the front of the shoe, from the foot to the top of the boot. The heels usually range from 2 to 3 inches in height (5 to 7.6 cm) and are fairly chunky, with an hourglass shape. Color choices include green, tan and white, though black and brown are still the predominant colors.

One additional prominent feature of women’s Victorian lace-up boots is the very pointed, narrow toes. When buying shoes or boots in this style it is sometimes best to get them a size larger than usual to prevent toes from getting too pinched. The extra room helps to ensure that the boots remain wearable despite the extreme styling.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By nichols — On Nov 09, 2011

You can sometimes find these at second hand stores, too!

By behaviourism — On Nov 01, 2011

@mitchell14- In addition to the lace up styles, I personally also really like the kinds that are just lots and lots of little buttons. They're cute, though if you get the really serious kind they take a long time to put on; the cheaper versions often have a secret zipper on the inside instead of actually using all the buttons.

By mitchell14 — On Nov 01, 2011

Shoes that resemble Victorian lace up boot styles have been popular ever since, it seems. I know that there are many designer shoes these days which utilize buttons along the sides as well as laces, and some can look really fancy and lady like. There are a lot of cheap versions too, though, so if you're looking for these types of boots you might want to shop around to find good quality.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-victorian-lace-up-boots.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.