The Suede Chelsea Boot Is a Fan Favorite Style That Always Steals the Scene

If you've tuned in to watch an episode or two of the prestige programming that is Menswear: Wait, You're Telling Me It's Cool to Wear These Again?! at some point over, say, the last decade or so, chances are you've owned at least one pair of trusty suede Chelsea boots. For damn near a few years straight it seemed like every young-ish dude in the country was rocking a pair (thanks, in no small part, to the influence of one Kanye West) along with some stacked skinny jeans, a bomber jacket, and a chronic soft spot for truly terrible Instagram captions.

Needless to say, the suede Chelsea boot has long since hit the popular mainstream. Helped along by its associations with icons of rock 'n' roll both old and new, the style was never really at risk of going anywhere. The Chelsea boot is as classic as they come, and its staying power is a testament to the style's timeless good looks and an overall versatility that's still tough to beat. (No less a modern-day music industry luminary than Drake recently wore a sleek black pair with a Yohji Yamamoto shirt jacket plucked from one of the designer's particularly lusted-after collections from the late '90s.)

And after months of sticking exclusively to your comfiest slip-ons, the Chelsea boot's signature elastic paneling and casual-leaning silhouette makes it the perfect shoe to help ease yourself back into wearing, uh, any shoes at all. Scoop a pair in a soft, buttery suede with a crepe sole—or up the formality ante by opting for a more tapered toe and a substantial hard bottom—and remind yourself why the whole damn country fell in love with the style to begin with.

Don't give up on this season of Menswear yet, man. Sure, the plot line got a bit stale for a few episodes there but I swear it's still gearing up to be one of the best in a while. Trust me, it's worth sticking it out. (Spoiler alert: The suede Chelsea boot makes a comeback.)

New Republic

shopnewrepublic.com

$32.00

Buy

New Republic's beloved crepe-soled style became an immediate sensation when it first dropped, and the brand's signature product still represents some of the best bang for your buck you can get when it comes to copping a Chelsea boot that comes across super designer-y sans any of the usual sticker shock.

Clarks

nordstrom.com

$170.00

Buy

Clarks is no one-hit wonder. The brand's Chelsea boots are as comfortable as the desert boot style it's famous for (and, for my money, maybe even a tad more stylish if your tastes run a little sleeker).

Armando Cabral

armando-cabral.com

$200.00

Buy

Armando Cabral's Sullivan boot is a classic-in-the-making, an updated take on the Chelsea that boasts a streamlined shape and a bright crepe sole for added all-day comfort.

Blundstone

backcountry.com

$189.95

Buy

Blundstone's truly iconic all-weather style, now in a soft water-repellent suede that doesn't compromise on the shoe's signature cushioning.

Allsaints

us.allsaints.com

$245.00

Buy

Trust Allsaints to add a touch of welcome edge to whatever it's bringing to the table, in the form of Chelsea boots in a darker-than-average gray suede.

Bonobos

bonobos.com

$298.00

Buy

Well, well, well. Turns out the same place you buy all your best work pants (now sadly gathering dust in a dark corner of your closet) happens to make a real stand-up pair of boots, too.

Car Shoe

farfetch.com

$405.00

Buy

Car Shoe (now the maker of more than only car shoes!) adds a ridged rubber sole—ready to stand up to anything the elements throw at it—to an otherwise classic Chelsea boot silhouette.

Fear of God

farfetch.com

$417.00

Buy

FOG's black calfskin leather boot features a branded insole, a chunky low block heel, and a standout grey toe cap that adds a welcome element of subtle contrast.

R.M.Williams

mrporter.com

$495.00

Buy

R.M. Williams makes about a classic a Chelsea boot as they come, Goodyear-welted sole and all. If you're looking to invest in your first pair (or re-up on a style that'll always work with everything else in your wardrobe), look no further.

Common Projects

mrporter.com

$525.00

Buy

An OG silhouette from the Chelsea boot's youth (okay, it was like five years ago) in a color way that still very much slaps today.

Toga Virilis

farfetch.com

$550.00

Buy

Toga Virilis' Western-inspired take is one of the best I've seen in a minute (the silver-tone hardware on the back heel sure ain't hurting it's case).

Church's

farfetch.com

$624.00

Buy

Church's Prenton boot offers the slim profile that'll sit perfectly under any tailored two-piece number.

Moncler

mrporter.com

$625.00

Buy

It's likely no surprise to you that Moncler—the Italian label famous for its slope-ready wares—knows its way around a rainy-weather shoe. The brand's Hayden style looks like a sleek suede Chelsea boot that's slowly being eaten alive by a thickset rubber sole it never stood a chance against. It's a battle royale I'd tune in to watch any day, rainy or not.

Off-White

farfetch.com

$679.00

Buy

Virgil Abloh and co. come through with yet another winking subversion of a classic style courtesy of one eye-grabbing neon green paper clip closure.

George Cleverley

mrporter.com

$795.00

Buy

George Cleverley sells grail-level shoes handmade by some of the best craftsmen in the world in the brand's British workshop. The sleek buckle strap on these bad boys brings them mighty close to jodhpur territory, but don't you worry: they're still plenty Chelsea enough to justify including.

hearstmags.com

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