Black Leather Chelsea Ankle Boots with Lugged Platform Sole

Black leather Chelsea ankle boots on a lugged platform sole

These are black leather Chelsea ankle boots with one practical extra: a zip on the inside, next to the elastic gusset on the outside. You can pull them on like a classic Chelsea boot or open the zip when you are in a hurry.

The numbers from the maker are clear. The shaft is 15 cm high, the heel 4 cm and the platform 2.5 cm, so your foot sits almost level on a thick, deeply grooved sole.

At a glance

The piece: model 222726

The wholesaler lists this boot as model 222726 under the name Step in style. In the description the supplier calls them ankle boots from Big Star, and the small tag on the outside of the shaft in the photos fits that. We pass on both names so you know what we know.

The upper is leather according to the maker. In the photos it is smooth, with a soft sheen and no grain pattern or decoration. All the character sits lower down, in the sole: black, chunky, with stitching along the edge and a tread that looks like it belongs on a walking boot.

The toe is rounded, which the supplier mentions as well. Inside there is a soft lining that the maker says keeps your feet warm through the day. The data does not say what the lining is made of.

Who these boots are for

For you if you walk a lot in autumn and winter and want a boot that looks neat under trousers, with a thick grooved sole underfoot. That sole gives you some height without a real heel.

They also suit you if you find pull-on Chelsea boots a struggle. With the zip open the shaft gives way, which helps with a high instep or thick socks. Sizes run from 36 to 41 and the insole grows half a centimetre per size, so it pays to measure.

Closer look: what the maker's data and the photos show

• Upper in leather (maker's data)
• Rounded toe (maker's data and photos)
• Zip on the inner side with a small metal pull (photos; the maker mentions the zipper)
• Black elastic gusset on the outer side (photos)
• Pull tab at the back of the shaft (photos)
• Shaft 15 cm high, ending just above the ankle (maker's data and photos)
• Heel 4 cm, platform 2.5 cm (maker's data)
• Chunky sole with deep lugs and stitching along the welt (photos)
• Soft lining (maker's data)

The maker does not state the material of the sole or the lining. If you need to know, ask us before you order and we will check with the supplier.

Materials and build: leather upper, lined inside

The maker's data gives one material: leather for the upper. There is no percentage table as you would get with a dress, which is normal for shoes. We repeat the supplier's statement and have not tested the leather ourselves.

Smooth leather like this usually softens with wear and shapes itself to your foot over the first weeks. The elastic gusset and the zip do the opening and closing, so the leather around the ankle is not pulled every time you put the boots on.

Size and fit: measure the insole

The maker gives the insole length for each size. Size 36 has an insole of 23.5 cm and size 41 one of 26 cm, with half a centimetre between sizes. Take a boot or shoe that fits you well, measure the inside from heel to toe and pick the size that matches.

Do you wear thick socks in winter? Then look at the size above yours as well. The 4 cm heel sits on a 2.5 cm platform, so the real rise for your foot is small and most people will walk on these as on a flat boot.

Size chart (insole length in cm)

Source: the maker's size table. Measure the insole of a boot that fits you and compare.

Styling: let the sole show

In the photos they are worn with bare legs, which shows the shape of the shaft well. In daily life they will mostly live under trousers. Straight jeans that stop at the top of the shaft look tidy; wider trousers can fall over the boot so that only the toe and the sole show.

With a skirt or dress, black tights make one line from knee to toe. A knitted midi dress with a long coat is an easy winter outfit around these boots. We would keep the rest simple, because a sole this heavy is already a strong shape.

When to wear them

The supplier names cooler days and autumn-winter outfits, and that is where we see them too. Wear them for the commute, a day in town or a walk in the park after rain.

At the office they pass with tailored trousers. For a formal evening they are too heavy; a slimmer boot does that job better.

Care: what we know and what we don't

The maker's data has no care instructions. If the box holds a leaflet or label, follow that first.

Some habits are common for smooth leather shoes in general: wipe off dirt with a damp cloth, let wet boots dry at room temperature away from the heater, and use a cream or wax made for smooth leather now and then. Test any product on a small spot on the inside first.

The wow detail: zip and elastic on one boot

A Chelsea boot normally has elastic on both sides and nothing else. Here the inner side has a zip. From the outside you see the familiar elastic panel, and on the inside a narrow zip with a small metal pull does the real work. It is a small thing, and you notice it every morning.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. The causes are matched to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the global goals set by the United Nations, and you decide where your share goes.

Our promise

Ships from the maker's wholesale partner in Poland, inside the EU, with tracking. The wholesaler lists up to 3 days to prepare an order; within the EU delivery usually takes 2–7 business days after dispatch. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the pair is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More ankle boots and long boots are in our women's boots collection.