Chelsea black leather

Men's Chelsea boot by Sangiorgio in smooth black leather. The Chelsea is the lace-free ankle boot that slips on and off thanks to two side elastic panels, set into the sides at ankle height. The leather is soft, with a semi-gloss finish. With wear it forms small natural creases across the instep, following the movement of walking. The boot is black from upper to sole, including the elastics: the look is clean, with no contrasts. The side elastics are in black fabric, and at the back there's a leather pull tab for slipping the boot on with one hand. The toe is round and clean-lined, with no decorative stitching. The sole is thick black rubber, with a deep-lugged tread that grips on wet and uneven surfaces. The manufacturer describes it as flexible, meaning designed to bend with the foot despite its thickness. Along the perimeter, between upper and sole, there is a visible stitch line. Inside, the lining is leather and the insole is padded leather. Leather in contact with the foot absorbs moisture better than synthetic linings, and the padding cushions pressure under the sole of the foot. A black leather cream, applied periodically, nourishes the upper at the crease points and keeps the colour even.

The black Chelsea is the most versatile in its family. With dark or black jeans and a padded jacket, it's an everyday boot. With grey wool trousers or an overcoat, the smooth leather also makes it suitable for more formal outfits. The lugged sole keeps it in casual territory, though: with a dark suit, it's best to wear trousers long enough to cover the elastics.

• Men's Chelsea boot, black
• Smooth leather upper
• Black fabric side elastics
• Leather pull tab at the heel
• Round toe
• Leather lining
• Padded leather insole
• Flexible rubber sole with lugged tread
• Visible stitching around the perimeter