Opera Boots thumbnail 1
Opera Boots thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Opera Boots

1840s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Opera boots were also known as 'Dress Wellingtons' and were often worn when going out to dinner, the theatre, opera and other social evening occasions. Although they were shaped like a boot, they would have resembled a dress shoe when worn under trousers.

Materials & Making
Many opera boots had bows attached, and the uppers were often made of different textures of leather to give the appearance of a dress shoe worn over a stocking. Some even had silk stocking legs laid over the leather to give even more of a stocking-like effect.

Historical Associations
'Dress Wellingtons' were named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852). Wellingtons first appeared at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when the army became more socially visible and military costume influenced fashionable dress. Another boot with military links was the Blucher, a laced boot named after the Prussian General Gebhart von Blcher, who played a decisive role alongside Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Other
An anonymous cavalry officer described how this style of boot could be used as a substitute for shoes in his book The Whole Art of Dress (1830):

'This boot is invented, doubtless, for the mere purpose of saving trouble in dress; for without attending to silk stockings or the trouble of tying bows, you have merely to slip on the boots, and you are neatly equipped in a moment.'

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Boot
  • Boot
Materials and techniques
Black leather, with suede leg and silk bow, hand- and machine-sewn
Brief description
Black leather boot
Physical description
Pair of boots
Dimensions
  • Height: 35cm
  • Width: 9cm
  • Length: 28cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 13/05/1999 by LH
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Opera boots were fashionable for evening wear as they looked like a smart shoe with a stocking attached. They also saved time when getting dressed. The wearer could slip on the boot under his trousers without having to worry about putting on silk stockings.
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Object history
Made in Britain
Summary
Object Type
Opera boots were also known as 'Dress Wellingtons' and were often worn when going out to dinner, the theatre, opera and other social evening occasions. Although they were shaped like a boot, they would have resembled a dress shoe when worn under trousers.

Materials & Making
Many opera boots had bows attached, and the uppers were often made of different textures of leather to give the appearance of a dress shoe worn over a stocking. Some even had silk stocking legs laid over the leather to give even more of a stocking-like effect.

Historical Associations
'Dress Wellingtons' were named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852). Wellingtons first appeared at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when the army became more socially visible and military costume influenced fashionable dress. Another boot with military links was the Blucher, a laced boot named after the Prussian General Gebhart von Blcher, who played a decisive role alongside Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Other
An anonymous cavalry officer described how this style of boot could be used as a substitute for shoes in his book The Whole Art of Dress (1830):

'This boot is invented, doubtless, for the mere purpose of saving trouble in dress; for without attending to silk stockings or the trouble of tying bows, you have merely to slip on the boots, and you are neatly equipped in a moment.'
Collection
Accession number
T.494&A-1913

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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