Our new Cambridge Edwardian Bicycle Boots in brown/plaid are, in a word, awesome. They’re unique, look sharp, and are comfortable to wear through all manner of activities. The plaid cotton panels are wonderfully handsome, and add another layer of interest to this boot.
If you’ve been around since 2021, you may recall that the original Cambridge boots were released as part of our ‘adventurous’ collection. When we were brainstorming new colors and looks for the Cambridge boot, one of our goals was to evoke this same sense of adventure. Plaid was such a natural fit, and when we found a cotton fabric we liked with tones of browns and tans, it all came together perfectly. One thing that really inspired us was historical outerwear and country clothes for women.
Around the turn of the 19th/20th centuries, sporting and outdoors activities saw a significant rise in popularity for those in the leisure classes, especially women; we’ve written about this before in posts about Edwardian tennis shoes and sporting boots. Cycling was one such activity. Women’s cycling attire was tied in very closely with political and social ideologies around independence and equality; we’ve also written about this topic in a post specifically about cycling attire. But the area of women’s sportswear and outerwear in the late-19th and early-20th centuries is an endlessly fascinating topic, so today, we’re going to look at some of the historical clothing that we looked at when designing our new brown/plaid Cambridge boots!
In addition to cycling and tennis, hiking, walking, and hunting were activities that piqued the interest of many an Edwardian lady. For all of these activities, one would have needed the right clothing, of course! Outerwear and country attire during the Edwardian era was characterized by its unique blend of functionality and style, with elements inspired by the natural landscape. Think practical colors and lengths, tailored jackets, shades of brown, green and grey, and tweeds, plaids, and woolens. Wool in all forms- knitted, felted, and woven- was a crucial textile for outdoors-wear and sportswear. It’s pretty magical. Wool naturally regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and stays warm even when damp. Cotton (like the cotton used in our boots) was also very popular and useful for outdoors-wear, especially during warmer months or for layering.
We love pictures of early 19th-century women’s sports teams. This group of ladies is an Irish field hockey team c. 1905. Note the ankle-length wool skirts in practical colors.
This walking costume by couturier John Redfern is a great example of a women’s fashion that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of a more active wearer. John Redfern specialized in these sorts of ensembles. Other designers and retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, Cordings of Piccadilly, and of course, Sears, sold outdoors-wear for women.
Above is another woolen walking dress from the collection at the V&A– this one is in a lighter color, with minimal trimmings, but still has a sense of elegance.
These two excerpts from a late 19th-century fashion plate show outfits for ladies’ cycling and mountaineering. Both women are wearing boots, which were a must for outdoors activities (unless you were playing tennis or yachting, of course…). The boots in the mountaineering outfit are likely paired with spats or leggings, as the fabric portion goes further down than it usually would have for a cloth-topped button boot.
This page from the Sears catalogue in 1916 shows several options for riding outfits and outerwear. You can tell they’re from the 19-teens because the skirts are narrower than previous iterations of divided skirts, and they have buttons down the front.
Some extant examples of Edwardian cycling boots. These pairs both helped us develop Cambridge initially. Note the straps for extra security- these were a popular feature on cycling boots for practicality.
This image is super interesting. It’s actually an 1890s photograph of an actress, Bessie Tyree, in a theatrical costume, from the digital commons at the NYC Public Library. Note the checked knickerbockers, spats, and tailored jacket and waistcoat. Costume or not, this outfit would have been perfect for a day of cycling!
Another example of checked knicker trousers for women. As you can probably tell by the haircut, this advertisement is from the early 1920s.
Remember John Redfern, who designed that grey walking costume? The advertisement above is for the Redfern location in NYC! These 1890s costumes have several hallmarks of sportswear- leg o’ mutton sleeves, ankle-length skirts, plaid/checks, and boots with spats.
This 1908 fishing ensemble is a great example of the feel we were trying to achieve with the Cambridge boots in brown/plaid.
If you were looking for outerwear in 1913, you could have had a long angora sweater, a jolly plaid mackinaw with a hood, or a white motor coat.
This fashion plate from 1898 shows some snappy golfing outfits. Wouldn’t the Cambridge boots in brown/plaid really look great with either ladies’ ensemble?
If you’re like us and have been sufficiently inspired, grab a pair of these fabulous new boots to make a sportswear-inspired outfit around. Cambridge in brown/plaid comes in both B and D width, and along with Bessie in olive green and Alpen in candy pink/ivory and sky blue/ivory, they are 15% off when you pre-order through June 15! These boots are expected to ship in November 2025.
Pre-Order is Open
June 6-15
15% Discount Per Pair
AmericanDuchess.com
