Saturday, 8 October 2011

Penelope Chilvers' Velvet Chelsea Boot



Thanks to David Cameron's mid-week economic advice, we don't have to pay off our credit cards just yet. As in the last Great Depression, simple clothes adorned with fancy accessories is the way to go. Which is probably why this plush, claret velvet, Chelsea boot feels right for now. An easy way to rev-up my pared-down aesthetic, and for the first time in my life, wear Cuban heels. The androgynous, late sixties feel makes me think of Keith Richards in Anita Pallenberg's clothes. As Keef so eloquently puts it, 'Anita had a huge influence on the style of the time. She could put anything together and make it look good. I was beginning to wear her clothes most of the time. I would wake up and put on what was lying around. It really pissed off Charlie Watts with his walk-in cupboards of impeccable Savile Row suits, that I started to become a fashion icon for wearing my old lady's clothes.'


Cubana boot, Penelope Chilvers.

19 comments:

The Wild Fairy said...

Oh the excitement of a purple velvet boot! How gorgeous! I used to wear these type of boots (not velvet though!) all the time in my twenties. I definitely think it's time for a revival! ~Siobhan

Elizabeth Eiffel said...

Oh - I just threw out a similar pair of boots I had kept for a few decades! And now perhaps another depression? All too miserable.....
Bon weekend.

Patti said...

Ah, these are bringing me back . . . I love them again, esp in this fab color.

The Style Box said...

I've seen these in my local boutique Stanwells and I love them but I don't think I'm cool enough to pull them off! X

Alison Cross said...

...now if it was claret velvet WELLIES, I'd be able to wear them!

Seriously - lovely little boot!

Ali x

metscan said...

The color is great and jodhpur boots are familiar to me, though I have never owned a pair ( tall boots for riding ) But velvet..

Tiffany said...

I think I've got my velvet dose with a pair of black velvet jeans I finally tracked down - but I LOVE the colour of those ...

materfamilias said...

Oh, yummy! Of course, they'd be a dismal choice in my rainy climate (and in yours, I'd think?), but I love the sumptuous restraint of them. Sadly, my boot budget is well and truly blown on my Acne boots. . .

Semi Expat said...

Very gorgeous and sixties and very now too. Love them (yes, had clocked them on NAP) X

The Style Crone said...

I remember the style well. Love the color and they look extremely comfortable.

Vix said...

I do love a Chelsea boot and the velvet makes them so retro and cool.
If a young Keef came with them I'd go and buy a pair now. x

Veshoevius said...

I've seen these style of shoes in various incarnations in the shops and they remind me so much of mens flamenco boots!

Susan Tiner said...

Oh, if only I had boot budget, these would be so tempting.

Fashionistable said...

These are fabulous. You would have to be careful what the weather was doing outside before wearing them though. Xxxx

Vanessa@Luxuria said...

Wow! the colour is absolutely gorgeous. To beautiful to wear outside ;-)

WendyB said...

Ha ha! Love the boot and Keef's comment.

Amy said...

Those are just about perfect and the shoes that go with everything. When in doubt, purple velvet!

Make Do Style said...

Love the boots, my favourite style. I used to live in my old school chelsea boots. Want!

Disneyrollergirl.net said...

YES, Yes YES!!!