Footwear covering the feet and ankles, suitable for utilitarian and fashion purposes. Boots vary in height from the ankle to the thigh.
In the 17th century, wide knee-high boots, folded down, were worn by men with tight breeches. In the 19th century women wore low-heeled boots with daywear in the summer and winter, but by the early part of the 20th century boots tended to be used mainly for utilitarian purposes. During the 1960s boots became familiar fashion icons, such as Biba's pink suede knee-high boots. Other materials used by boot designers are leather, plastic, vinyl, and brocaded fabrics.