The Roles of Boots Throughout History

When I began planning my first presentation in my public speaking class this summer, I didn't have a clear direction for the paper. I knew I wanted to educate people about the various roles that boots have played throughout history, but I wasn't sure how to organize the examples I would highlight. Should I focus on certain styles? Time periods? Designers? Regions of the world? I was also unclear on how I would relate the material back to the audience and prove the relevancy of my speech.

As I was researching in the library at FIT, I decided to format the paper by "Purpose". So I chose three purposes that boots have had for the person wearing them; I decided on Status, Protection, and Sport.

After I was done writing, scanning, editing, and organizing the images in to a powerpoint presentation, I was stuck --

This was important to me because I'm obsessed with boots, but how did it serve the audience?

Lightbulb idea....I looked to Stylesight.com and Net-a-porter.com [loud clapping and cheering sound]....

Strangely enough, there was a Forecasted boot on Stylesight or a Featured boot for sale on Net-a-porter that matched each one of the historic boots I talked about.

For Status: Roman Campagus Boots used to show military rank

Gladiator Hybrid Sandal Boots seen in shows for SS2010

For Status: Tibetan Lama Boots used to show spiritual rank

Penelope Chilvers Calf-Hair Boots on sale at Net-a-porter.com right now. Weird, huh? The top of the Tibetan Lama boots are red silk FYI -- even more similar in style...

For Protection: 17th Century European Postilion Boot (used by carriage riders whose right leg might potentially be crushed by two horses)

Sorry for the tiny image (Macs come with everything but a good program for editing images).

For Protection: Inuit Kamiks made out of Sealskin (and the fur of some sorry-ass animal). Hey, when it's that cold out something's gotta give....

MOU Cowboy Goatskin Boots: on sale now at Net-a-porter.com. I swear faithful readers, this is the last time you will see this image. I promise!

For Sport: 19th Century American Bicycling Boot. See those buckles? They were meant to avoid getting the laces caught in the chains.

This style is coming back in a big way. Check out this post of a woman wearing them in Chelsea when I incorrectly refer to them as Riding Boots. They're really bicycling boots but I didn't realize until I wrote this speech....