Chukka shoes are a style of boot very similar to the desert boot worn by British soldiers during World War II. Unlike the desert boot, the chukka has become more versatile. It has become stylized for modern times so it can be worn by the blue-collar working man and the white- collar businessman alike. If you don’t own a pair I recommend you purchase one. Just to give you a little something to go on, here are the basics of the chukka’s design and a few chukka boot recommendations.
Basic Chukka Design
The chukka boot is a lace-up ankle boot with two or three pairs of lacing eyelets. It is traditionally made from calfskin leather. However, suede and exotic skins like snake and crocodile have made their fashionable marks with this boot.
Chukka Details
Whether the chukka you select is right for business attire or leisure depends on the finer style details of the boot.
- Fabric – Synthetic “leather and suede” or faux exotic skins are more for leisure. One should never enter a corporate setting with a pair of fake leather or suede chukkas–they will not make a good impression.
- Thickness of the sole – Chukka boots that are geared toward professional businessmen will have a thin sole compared to most boots. Plus, the sole will be smoother. Thicker soled styles with a rugged sole are for casual wear.
- Color matching – Casual or work styles may have contrasting colors such as brown with light tan laces and a contrasting sole. Businesswear styles will be uniform in color–the fabric upper, sole, laces, and eyelets will all be the same color or a close match. The one exception to the color rule is topstitching–sometimes a lighter color thread is used for both casual and business styles.
Chukka Boots for You
Now that you know the basics of the chukka and have a few tips on how to wear it, check out a few Chukka boots you could use:
- For a casual chukka that can also be worn at the office on jeans day take a look at the Florsheim Doon Chukka for $120.00.
- For the business casual dress code consider the Bostonian Tuckerman Chukka Boot at DSW for $89.95.
- For business attire or semi-formal wear, Thomas Dean ‘Gargano’ Chukka Boot for $320.00 is perfect.
Are you ready for chukka boots? Remember to pick the proper style for the place you will wear them. When in doubt, remember that boots of uniform color with a thin sole are for business, and shoes with contrasting details and a thick sole are more appropriate for the weekend.
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