Red Rain Boots
If you've found your way to RedRainBoots.com, then odds are you know that as a fashion statement in wet weather, little can compete with a bright red rain boot. Yes, yellow is the color most commonly associated with wet weather footwear, but who wants to be common? Why not put a little zing into your wardrobe by going with a red boot, and take a bit of the dreariness out of a rainy day? Even if you're just kicking around in the garden, do it in style!
Or if not for yourself, help your special someone become a fashion leader. Don't send the kids off to school in a drab brown or common yellow galoshes, set them up to be the envy of the other kids (and moms) by outfitting them with a snug set of flashy red rain boots. Let them jump through puddle after puddle knowing that their feet will be dry as can be in their stylish red boots.
Did you know that most modern day rain boots are modeled after the "wellie"; a boot first made popular by the Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. No one can pinpoint when red was first applied to this boot style, but there's no doubt that the color was adopted by fashion leaders as soon as it occurred!
Today's rain boots can be found in a wide variety of styles and span the spectrum from high-end designer footwear to more affordable counterparts. "Wellies" have endured, but of course others have taken that initial design and built off it, creating some very impressive boots. From Gore-Tex to basic rubber, ankle to knee-high, there's a set for you. Many rain boots today are "multi-seasonal", designed for snow and harsh winter environments while still light enough for all-year use.
Any one of our sponsors offers a wide variety of rain boots; please take some time to shop through their inventories and find that perfect set!
A Brief History of the Rain Boot
A Brief History of the Rain Boot
Did you know that most modern day rain boots are modeled after the "wellie" (short for wellington), a boot first made popular by the Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852).
About the Duke of Wellington
The title "duke" is ascribed to a member of the "peerage" of British nobility. Historically, peerage titles were hereditary, passing from one generation to the next. Titles for members of the British peerage include duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. Arthur Wellesley was the first Duke of Wellington and earned that title through a very distinguished military and political career in which, among other things, he led the British forces to victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. While the title "Duke of Wellington" has since been passed down from father to son since his death in 1852, references to the Duke of Wellington almost universally relate the Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington.
The Wellington
While some might ascribe this overpowering reference to his glorious military and political career, we at RedRainBoots.com like to think the Duke of Wellington earned this title due to the popularity of the boot that he subsequently popularized, the "wellington" or "wellie." The wellington was first modeled after an 18th-century Hessian military boot at a time when men's breeches were being replaced by men's trousers. The Duke directed his shoemaker, Hoby of James' Street, to craft for him a tailored boot, in which the trim was removed, it was cut closer to the leg and made of soft calfskin to just below the knee to better fit under trousers (the Hessian boot just wouldn't cut it). The boot was a hybrid, sturdy enough for the trials of the battlefield, but comfortable and fashionable enough for more casual settings. The boot was nicknamed the "wellington" and the gentlemen of England quickly adopted the style, emulating the famed war hero. The boots remained the height of fashion for nearly half a century, though of course alterations were made (a mid-calf version, an ankle version, etc.).
The Rubber Wellington
Up until 1852 (the year the Duke died), the boots were made principally of leather, when an enterprising man by the name of Hiram Hutchinson coupled the recently invented vulcanization process for natural rubber with the wellington design. Once again, sales of wellingtons took off, but this time more for their functionality than for couture. Finally, a boot that would keep the foot dry for the masses of farmers, wading through wet and muddy fields. To top it off, the boot was still well designed and maintained its classic elegance.
Introducing Hunter
Production of wellingtons once again surged with the instigation of World War I, as trench warfare increased the need for a military boot that would protect the soldiers from the flooded trenches of the battlefield. The North British Rubber Company (later renamed to Hunter Boot Ltd) was engaged to meet this demand and began production of wellington trench boots. The usage of the wellington spiked again in World War II; a classic design with unfettered functionality.
Modern Usage
By the completion of the World Wars, the boot had been adopted by men, women and children. Along the way, many different variations had been invented and subtle alterations made. In addition to farming, many other industries adopted the boot (fishing, manufacturing, mining, etc.) and they have become the norm where water-proofed footwear is needed or desired. In addition to vocational uses, the wellie has serves as a fashion-oriented boot for casual uses: beach-walks, gardening and of course, the rainy day. Modern designers have taken the original wellie to the next level and crafted a vast array of variations on this centuries-old design.
Other Nicknames
In addition to the "wellie" the wellington boot has earned itself a slew of nicknames over the years: topboots, gumboots, barnboots, muckboots, rubber-boots, billy-boots and of course, rainboots.