Dealer Boots, The Origin

Ever wondered where the name Dealer Boots comes from? 

Here we explain the origin of the name given to Dealer Boots. The boots have several different names, the most common of which is the Chelsea boot, popularised by the mods in 1960s London. There are Australian Work Boots, Yard Boots and Paddock Boots. 

The common design feature across all of these boots is the presence of a stretch elastic side giving the wearer a quick and easy way to put the boots on and take them off. The also feature a tag at the back and sometimes the front too with which to pull the boot on. 

Chelsea boots are usually the most dressy of this family of styles, often being produced in suede with a leather sole. Perfect for wearing in town but not practical in poor weather or muddy conditions. 

Paddock boots (sometimes called Yard Boots) are the next step in the chain. The stretch sided boot lent itself well to the equestrian world. They were an appropriate length for riding horses, though longer boots were used in competition, and made for a more casual version of the popular buckled short riding boots called Johdpur Boots. The ease of putting them on and taking them off meant they were great for working in stables and muddy horses paddocks. Riders could easily take their boots off at the door to prevent bringing mud indoors when they went for a break. 

Now comes the influence of the horse dealers chosen outfit. Chelsea boots were popular with well dressed men in suits in London and Paddock boots were established with equestrians. The horse dealer is often dressed smartly to meet a client looking to buy a racehorse but is holding these meetings in a yard outdoors or even a field. It became usual for these dealers to wear a pair of Chelsea style boots with a grippy outdoor sole, a leather that could be cleaned to look smart again and sometimes even a robust toe cap in case a young unruly horse being shown trod on the dealers toe! 

The term Dealer Boot was coined and became one of the family of commonly used names to describe this style of boot. 

View Busby's range of outdoor boots inspired by this popular style today.