Go-Go boots are a low-heeled style of women’s fashion boot worn since the mid-sixties when fashion silhouettes focused on accentuating the leg. The term "go-go" is a 1964 back construction of the 1962 slang term "go," meaning something that was "all the rage"; the term "go-do dancer" first appeared in print in 1965. ^[1]

Contents 1 Style 2 History 2.1 Origin 2.2 Go-go boots vs. kinky boots 3 Modern-day 3.1 See also 4 Footnotes

Style

Go-go boots are either calf-, knee- or above knee-high boots with a low or flat heel. The style is a very simple shape with a chiseled, rounded or pointed toe. The boot was usually fastened onto the foot by a side or back zipper, although by the Seventies it was not uncommon to find lace-up versions which accommodated a wider variety of calf sizes. Heel height ranges from flat to low 1” shaped, with the occasional two-inch Cuban heel (as on Beatle boots. )

Materials were either synthetic or natural, with the oldest designs being made from plastic or vinyl of various colors, the most popular being white. A vinyl compound is any Organic compound that contains a vinyl group (also called ethenyl) &minus C[[Hydrogen H]] =CH sub>2 Women’s styles tended to be taller, tighter and with a slightly higher heel than girl’s styles. ^[2]

History

Origin

The idea of a woman’s mainstream fashion boot was revolutionary. Before the introduction of go-go boots, women’s boots were generally worn during only inclement weather, rugged activities, or horseback riding, but not as street shoes.

This new style of footwear was designed to complement the shorter hemlines of the new, modern look. Go-go boots drew attention to the legs, accentuated the simple A-line silhouettes but also offered some modest coverage for the less daring but fashion-minded women. The fashion term A-Line was introduced by the French couture designer Christian Dior for his Spring-Summer 1955 Collection

André Courrèges is often cited as the originator of the fashion go-go boot: a low-heeled, calf-high boot made of white plastic with a clear cut-out slot near the top was featured as part of the “Moon Girl” look featured in his Fall 1964 collection. André Courrèges (born in 1923 in Pau) is a French Fashion designer, known for his ultra-modern designs ^[3]

Manufacturers began mass-producing runway knock-offs in contemporary colors and materials. These knock-offs were extremely popular with teenagers, who could be seen wearing go-go boots on both the street and television dance shows. They were often seen worn by "Dolly Birds" in London during the 1960s.

Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 number-one pop hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" helped popularize go-go boots, and the Space Age boots worn by Jane Fonda in 1968’s science fiction film Barbarella were a nod to their erotic past. Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City New Jersey) is an American Singer and actress. Jane Fonda (born December 21 1937 is an American Academy Award winning Actress, Writer, political activist, former Fashion Barbarella is a 1968 erotic sci-fi film directed by Roger Vadim and based on the French Barbarella comics

Other designers (including Mary Quant) designed their own versions of go-go boots. Mary Quant OBE FCSD (born 11 February 1934 in Blackheath, London, England) is an English As hemlines rose, so did the height of the boot, and the heel height dropped proportionately, cumulating a pair of thigh-high garter boots designed by Yves St. Laurent which clipped up underneath the tiniest of skirts. Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, known as Yves Saint Laurent ( August 1 1936 &ndash June 1 2008) was an Algerian ^[4]

Fashion trends progressed and as women’s trousers and maxi-length skirts where only the foot showed became popular, legs were de-emphasized. By the early seventies, go-go boots were referred to simply as boots, and the emphasis shifted to the height of the heel and the development of the platform.

Go-go boots vs. kinky boots

Go-go boots share some history with the UK’s "kinky boots", a style of calf- to knee-length pull-on black leather boots with 3-4 inch heels and pointed toes. Kinky boots are Boots with extreme characteristics which are intended to present a dramatic sexy appearance such as by a prostitute or dominatrix The term kinky boots referred to the style’s Dominatrix and fetish origin and alludes to the perception that women in boots are powerful (i. A dominatrix (from the Latin dominatrix, meaning a female ruler or Mistress plural dominatrices or dominatrixes) or Mistress is a woman who e. like a Dominatrix. ) Kinky boots broke into mainstream UK fashion in the early sixties and were seen on Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg in the original "Avengers" television series. Honor Blackman (born 22 August 1925) is an English actress, who is perhaps best known for the roles of Cathy Gale in Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg DBE (born 20 July 1938 is an English actress. The Avengers was a British Television series featuring Secret agents in 1960s Britain.

Modern-day

Many versions of go-go boots are still worn today, although “go-go boot” is often used to describe any style knee-high boots worn with a dress or miniskirt regardless of heel height. Knee-high boots are Boots that rise to the Knee, or slightly thereunder A dress (also frock, gown) is a garment consisting of a Skirt with an attached Bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece The miniskirt (often hyphenated as mini-skirt) is a Skirt with NFL Cheerleaders, including the Dallas Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the Oakland Raiderettes often wear go-go boots as part of their squad's uniform; high-heeled versions of go-go boots are still worn by exotic and go-go dancers; and reproductions are available from many costume and specialty stores. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC a National Football League Cheerleading squad from Texas, is one of the most famous cheerleading organizations The Oakland Raiderettes are the cheerleading squad for the Oakland Raiders professional American football team

See also

• Knee-high boots
• Thigh-high boots
• Kinky boots

Footnotes

Knee-high boots are Boots that rise to the Knee, or slightly thereunder Thigh-length boots, known also as thigh-high boots or simply thigh boots, are Boots that extend above the knees Kinky boots are Boots with extreme characteristics which are intended to present a dramatic sexy appearance such as by a prostitute or dominatrix

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