Go-go boots were a popular women’s fashion staple in the 1960s, often paired with miniskirts and designed for clubbing. They were made from synthetic materials and had a simple, elegant look with a low or flat heel. In the 1970s, they transformed into leather and suede lace-up boots, and in the 1980s, they had a brief resurgence in popularity. Today, any boot that rises above the knee is often referred to as a go-go boot.
Considered an essential women’s fashion staple in the mid-to-late 1960s, go-go boots were low-heeled boots that often reached one of three different heights on the leg. Often paired with miniskirts, go-go boots were originally designed as fashion footwear that was perfect for clubbing of the day, with the added bonus of being the perfect way to draw attention to the dancers’ legs.
Go-Go boots were usually created with a simple and elegant look that was considered very trendy at the time of its creation. The typical go-go boot featured a heel that was either flat or very low, a toe that was sometimes rounded, and usually rose to the calf or knee. Towards the end of the 1960s, go-go boots that rose above the knee and even to the lower thigh found some favor with the newer shorts that were marketed as hot pants.
The first go-go boots were created from synthetic materials, giving the boots a shiny look. White go-go boots were considered ideal for almost any outfit with a miniskirt, although many women preferred to match the color of the boots with one of the colors in the dress print. Special disco-style go-go boots were mass-marketed, giving teenage girls the opportunity to look like their favorite dancers and singers, who sported the go-go boots to nightclubs, concerts, and television appearances. To keep the look of the boots sleek and simple, the zipper was often found on the inside of the boot, or appeared on the back of the shoe.
As the 1960s merged with the 1970s and the idea of a nightclub began to lose ground, go-go boots also underwent a transformation. Synthetic materials began to give way to leather and suede types sporting lace-up fronts and became the perfect complement to the new decade’s new skirts and midi dresses. By the mid-1970s, go-go boots were generally known simply as boots, and they became more common as part of costume outfits and cheerleading uniforms than streetwear.
During the 1980s, go-go boots enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity, due to various fashions related to the revitalization of music and culture of the 1960s. These newer designs often sported both the traditional low heel of the original go-go boots, as well as newer variations that featured pointed heels. Today, almost any boot designed to rise above the knee is often referred to as a go-go boot, regardless of style, color, heel choice, or material.
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