Sofia Martinez
Plastic boots have been a part of the fashion landscape for several decades, with their popularity waxing and waning over time. Initially, boots were not considered a high-fashion item, instead serving utilitarian purposes such as protection from the elements or for specific activities like hiking or riding. However, in the 1960s, designers like André Courrèges, Mary Quant, and Beth Levine challenged this perception by introducing calf-length and thigh-length boots in various materials, including plastic and vinyl. The rising price of leather during that decade made plastic boots an attractive, inexpensive alternative, especially when paired with the rising hemlines of miniskirts. Today, plastic boots continue to be a fashion statement, with various styles available, from ankle to thigh-length, and a range of colours and designs to choose from.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic boots became fashionable | In the 1960s |
| Reasons for popularity | Rising hemlines, availability of new, bright, artificial materials like PVC, and the rising price of leather |
| Designers | Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, Beth Levine, Roger Vivier |
| Celebrities who wore plastic boots | Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian West, Kristen Stewart |
| Health concerns | Lack of breathability, bacterial and fungal growth, allergic reactions, skin irritation |
| Other names | PVC boots, see-through boots, clear boots |
| Other types | Plastic cowboy boots, rubber boots, waterproof plastic boots, ankle boots, thigh boots |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic boots as a fashion statement
Plastic boots have been a part of the fashion landscape for several decades, with the material offering a range of stylistic possibilities and a departure from traditional leather boots. While plastic boots may be trendy, there are also concerns about their potential negative impact on health and the environment.
The history of plastic boots as a fashion statement can be traced back to the mid-20th century, when synthetic rubbers, closely related to plastics, largely replaced natural rubber products. This shift provided new opportunities for footwear design, with athletes and shoe designers seeking more cushioning and support from their shoes. The development of synthetic materials, including plastics, played a significant role in this evolution. Designers like Ferragamo and Roger Vivier embraced these new materials, with the latter creating clear plastic booties for fashionable clients.
In the 1960s, plastic boots gained prominence as a fashionable alternative to traditional footwear. Rising hemlines and the availability of new, brightly coloured artificial materials such as PVC made boots an appealing choice for younger women. Designers like Mary Quant contributed to this trend by offering inexpensive, machine-moulded plastic boots in various colours, often paired with miniskirts. The rising price of leather during this decade further bolstered the popularity of plastic and vinyl boots.
The 1970s marked the mainstreaming of boots as a fashion staple for women, with designers like Oscar de la Renta featuring jewelled boots that reached the upper thigh. However, plastic boots have continued to make their mark in fashion even in recent years. Celebrities like Rihanna, Bella Hadid, and Kim Kardashian West have been spotted in plastic shoes and heels, while Kristen Stewart wore clear plastic Chanel boots at the Cannes Film Festival.
Despite the stylish appeal of plastic boots, there are valid concerns about their impact on health. Health professionals warn that the lack of breathability in plastic footwear creates an ideal environment for bacterial and fungal growth, posing risks to foot health. Additionally, some individuals may experience allergic reactions or contact dermatitis when wearing plastic shoes. The rigidity of plastic boots is another deterrent for potential wearers.
From a sustainability perspective, plastic boots contribute to the broader issue of plastic pollution. As most shoes are made with significant amounts of plastic and are not recyclable, they often end up in landfills, exacerbating environmental concerns.
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History of plastic boots in fashion
The history of boots is captivating and dates back to prehistory. In the 14th and 15th centuries, boots with extremely long pointed toes, called "poulaine" or "crackow", were popular in Europe. The length of the pointed toe indicated social status, with the ruling classes wearing shoes with points that sometimes reached two feet in length. During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s, the Duke of Wellington popularised a style of tight-fitting leather boots that extended to the middle of the calf. These "Wellington" boots became standard footwear for the United States Cavalry during the Civil War.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, ankle and calf-length boots were common footwear for women. In 1913, Denise Poiret, the wife of French couturier Paul Poiret, caused a sensation by wearing knee-length boots in wrinkled Morocco leather in Paris and New York. By 1915, inspired by Mme Poiret, women adopted "Russian boots" as an alternative to baring their ankles and calves. These tall boots were seen as a symbol of women's transition from the "leisure class" to the business world. However, as roads improved and motor engines replaced horse-drawn transport, the protective function of boots became less important, and they were increasingly seen as restrictive and uncomfortable.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood costumers collaborated with footwear designer Salvatore Ferragamo to create colourful and highly decorated cowboy boots for Western films, adding a new style to the once rugged and utilitarian boot. American designer Beth Levine is credited with introducing boots to Haute Couture as early as 1953, when she released a calf-length boot that sold poorly as retailers saw boots as separate from shoes. However, by the late 1950s and early 1960s, calf-high, kitten-heeled fashion boots for women began to grow in popularity.
In the 1960s, rising hemlines and the availability of new, brightly coloured artificial materials like PVC made boots an attractive fashion option for younger women. Designers such as André Courrèges and Mary Quant produced calf-length leather boots and inexpensive, machine-moulded plastic boots in various colours to be worn with miniskirts. The rising price of leather during this decade also made plastic and vinyl boots a popular alternative to traditional footwear. As skirts became shorter in the late 1960s, there was a resurgence of interest in thigh-high boots. Designers like Pierre Cardin featured shiny black PVC thigh-high boots in their 1968 couture collections, while Beth Levine designed seamless, stretch vinyl and nylon stocking boots.
By the 1970s, boots became a mainstream fashion staple for women, widely adopted as a stylish and functional piece of footwear.
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Types of plastic boots
Plastic boots have been a part of the fashion scene since the 1960s, when rising hemlines and the availability of new, brightly coloured artificial materials such as PVC made boots an attractive fashion option. Designers like Mary Quant launched lines of inexpensive, machine-moulded plastic boots in various colours, often worn with miniskirts. The rising price of leather during this decade also contributed to the popularity of plastic and vinyl boots as an alternative to traditional footwear.
Today, there are many different types of plastic boots available, varying in style, material, and purpose. Here are some examples:
Fashion Boots
Plastic fashion boots are typically worn for style or fashion rather than utilitarian purposes. They come in various styles, from ankle to thigh-length, and are used for casual, formal, and business attire. While they gained popularity in the 1960s, they became a mainstream fashion staple for women in the 1970s and have remained a winter wardrobe staple since then. Fashion boots can be made from various plastics, such as PVC, and come in different colours and designs.
Rain Boots
Plastic rain boots, also known as wellington boots, are designed to provide protection from wet weather conditions. They are typically made from waterproof materials such as rubber or PVC and can be knee-high or mid-calf length. Rain boots often come in various colours and designs, making them a fashionable choice as well.
Ski Boots
Ski boots are designed for skiing and are made from plastics that offer a balance between stiffness and flexibility to provide the necessary support and performance on the slopes. Different types of plastics are used in ski boots, such as PU (Polyurethane), PP (Polypropylene), TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), and Pebax (Polyether Block Amide). Each type of plastic has unique characteristics, such as temperature stability, weight, durability, and flexibility, which affect the overall performance and cost of the boot.
Work Safety Boots
Plastic work safety boots are designed to provide protection in various work environments. They may have features such as anti-electric impact shock resistance and waterproof capabilities. These boots are typically designed with functionality and durability in mind rather than fashion.
Cowboy Boots
Plastic cowboy boots are a unique take on the traditional cowboy boot style. They can be made from various plastics and are often waterproof. While they may not be as common as other types of plastic boots, they offer a fun and unconventional option for those who want to stand out.
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Designers who use plastic boots
Plastic boots have been a part of the fashion landscape since the 1960s, when rising hemlines and the availability of new, brightly coloured artificial materials such as PVC made boots an attractive fashion option. Designer Mary Quant, for example, launched her "Quant Afoot" line of footwear in 1967, which included inexpensive, machine-moulded plastic boots in various colours to be worn with miniskirts. The rising price of leather during this decade also made plastic and vinyl boots a popular alternative to traditional footwear.
In 1968, Pierre Cardin featured shiny black PVC thigh-high boots as part of his futuristic couture collection. Beth Levine, who is widely credited as the first person to introduce boots into Haute Couture, designed seamless, stretch vinyl and nylon stocking boots tall enough to double as hosiery. Oscar de la Renta also presented jewelled boots that reached the upper thigh.
While plastic boots may have been popular in the past, the focus on sustainability in the fashion industry has led to a shift in the use of plastic in footwear design. Shoe designer Sevilla Smith, for instance, creates shoes using only natural materials such as leather, wood, and metal nails, ensuring that her designs can be resoled or repaired indefinitely. Adidas is also working on creating sneakers made from a single material, thermoplastic polyurethane, that can be at least partially recycled.
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Plastic boots in popular culture
Plastic boots have been a part of popular culture for decades, with their popularity waxing and waning over the years. In the 1960s, the rising price of leather made plastic and vinyl boots a popular alternative to traditional footwear. Designers like Pierre Cardin featured shiny black PVC thigh boots as part of his 1968 couture collection, while Beth Levine designed seamless, stretch vinyl and nylon stocking boots. The emergence of boots as a fashion item in the 1960s was seen as an antidote to the femininity of Dior's postwar "New Look". Rising hemlines and the availability of new, brightly coloured artificial materials such as PVC made boots an attractive option for younger women.
In the 1970s, disco-goers wore sky-high platforms, some even incorporating little fishbowls in the heels. The rise of skate culture in the western US during this decade also influenced shoe design, with new styles that could withstand a skateboarder's wear and tear. Over-the-knee boots made a reappearance in the late 1980s, often in bright colours or decorated with brocade. In 1990, Karl Lagerfeld included thigh-length satin boots in his Fall/Winter Couture collection for Chanel, using them as an alternative to leggings.
In more recent years, celebrities like Rihanna, Bella Hadid, and Kim Kardashian West have been seen sporting plastic shoes and boots. Kristen Stewart wore Chanel's clear boots at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, while Rihanna has been spotted in the Off-White x Jimmy Choo plastic shoe collaboration. However, plastic shoes have also become a target of jokes on social media, with Instagram accounts dedicated to tracking the runway misfortunes of footwear, including plastic boots.
While plastic boots have had their moments of popularity, there are also concerns about their comfort and health impacts. Vogue Fashion News Director Chioma Nnadi shared her blister-ridden experience of wearing transparent plastic shoes in the summer. Health professionals have also warned about the lack of breathability in plastic shoes, which can create an ideal environment for bacterial and fungal growth. Additionally, the rigidity of plastic shoes can lead to joint and bone pain and other issues, as they do not expand with the foot like leather or hide shoes.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic boots became popular in the 1960s due to the rising price of leather, making plastic and vinyl boots an attractive, inexpensive alternative to traditional footwear. They were also available in a variety of colours, which made them appealing to younger women.
Plastic boots have been described as a "festering joke" on Instagram, with some people finding them trendy and others finding them unappealing. However, celebrities such as Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian West, and Kristen Stewart have been seen wearing plastic boots, indicating that they are still in fashion.
Health professionals advise against wearing plastic boots due to their lack of breathability, which can cause bacterial and fungal growth. Additionally, some people are allergic to plastic and may experience contact dermatitis, a skin irritation that can make the foot feel like it is on fire.
