Balmoral (shoe)

The Balmoral (also Balmoral boot or Balmoral boot ) is a shoe model above the ankle with a so-called ring trim cut for women and men.

Balmoral with cross cap made of Chevreau (fine goatskin), very finely crafted (women's model, around the middle of the 20th century, unknown manufacturer)

history

The London shoemaker JS Hall developed this shoe model for Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, in the 1850s. This boot is named after the Scottish summer residence of the royal family, Balmoral Castle . Between the 1860s and the beginning of the 20th century, this boot model was in great demand with both sexes in Europe and overseas.

Mark

The main feature of this boot is the ring trim. This is understood to mean a shoe upper around the lower edge of which a one-piece two to three and a half centimeter wide upper leather strip (the so-called ring part) runs. The lacing is closed, which has given the model the designation "leaf cut trimming boots" due to the leaf cut on which it is based .

variants

The Balmoral normally has no other attached shaft parts. In rare cases you can see additional cross caps (see illustration), which robs this shoe model of its typical appearance.

The upper visible above the ring trimming part can consist of a different leather or a different material or just have a different color. In this case, the gaiter-like appearance is emphasized, and one speaks of a " combat boot ".

Women's models have a slightly more curved and higher heel, and often an ornate closure flap edge.

particularities

Balmorals or even combat ankle boots are rarely seen. They are quite extravagant, but extremely elegant footwear that requires a certain charisma, especially from male wearers, in order not to look inappropriate.

In the USA, the term “Balmoral” is used to describe elegant shoes with a leaf cut.

literature

Helge Sternke: Everything about men's shoes . Nicolai, Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-89479-252-3 (In the model chapter, in addition to the Balmoral and the ankle boot , the ring trimming shoe is presented, which corresponds to the Balmoral but is a low shoe).