kinky boots
kinky boots
Pronunciation
The phrase "kinky boots" is pronounced /ˈkɪŋki buːts/ in IPA.
Here is a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
kin:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
ky:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel
boots:
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/uː/ - close back rounded vowel
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Since "kinky boots" is a phrase consisting of an adjective and a plural noun, the variations are limited to the noun part. The adjective "kinky" does not have comparative or superlative forms in this context.
Singular: kinky boot
Plural: kinky boots (the most common form)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A style of footwear, typically a type of boot, that is characterized by its use in fetish or BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism) contexts. These boots often feature high heels, platforms, or other exaggerated design elements and are frequently made from materials like leather or latex.
Synonyms: fetish boots, dominatrix boots
Antonyms: casual footwear, walking shoes
Adjective (describing the boots)
Descriptive of a style of boot that is considered sexually provocative or associated with a fetishistic aesthetic.
Synonyms: provocative, fetishistic, risqué
Antonyms: demure, modest, conservative
Verb (less common, often used informally)
To dress in a way that includes wearing kinky boots. This usage is highly specific and not widely recognized.
Synonyms: to fetishize, to dress provocatively
Antonyms: to dress conservatively
Examples of Use
In Entertainment
Musical Theater: "Kinky Boots" is the title of a popular Broadway and West End musical. The show, which premiered on Broadway in 2013, is based on a 2005 film of the same name. It tells the story of a shoe factory owner who partners with a drag queen to save his business by producing a line of sturdy, high-heeled boots for drag performers. (Music Theatre International)
Film: The phrase originates from the 2005 British film "Kinky Boots," which was itself inspired by a true story. The film's plot revolves around a failing shoe factory in Northamptonshire that pivots to making fetish footwear to survive. (The Guardian, September 2015)
Music: The musical's original cast album, released in May 2013, is titled "Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording)." The song "Sex Is in the Heel" became the first Broadway song in 25 years to reach the top 10 on the Billboard club charts. (Wikipedia)
In Publications and Journalism
Newspaper Review: A review of the musical in The Guardian noted, "At the end, Kinky Boots comes together, in a battalion of footwear. Thigh-high, ankle-snapping, wet-look. One pair is red, white and blue to chime with a Britannia corset and blue busby." (The Guardian, September 2015)
Online Article: An article discussing the design of the footwear for the stage production described the unique challenge: "How do you make a gentleman feel comfortable in a six inch stiletto platform, and yet be able to do full on dancing...?" The piece highlights how the "iconic red, patent leather kinky boots are a personality on their own." (PBS, November 2019)
Academic Journal: An academic paper examining the musical as a rhetorical text explored themes of "relational dialectics regarding friendship" and how "Kinky Boots provides theatre-goers with life lessons." The analysis focuses on the relationships between the characters Charlie, Lola, and Don. (Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal)
In Public Discourse and Commerce
Public Debate: The term has entered public conversation largely through the musical and film, serving as a shorthand for the show's themes of acceptance, identity, and business innovation. People discuss the production's positive messages and its role in bringing LGBTQ+ themes to a mainstream audience.
Retail: The specific style of footwear that inspired the story is a real product. The actual boots that saved the family business were a line of fetish footwear sold under the name "Divine Footwear." (Providence Performing Arts Center, Official Show Guide)
10 Famous Quotes Using Kinky Boots
"He's got a dark horse in this boyfriend of yours."
"He's my boss."12
"Well, he was my boss. I got laid off. But now he seems to think I'm his business analyst or... Look, you'll have to excuse Charlie. We don't have many transvestites in Northampton."34
"I'm not merely a transvestite, sweetheart. I'm also a drag queen. It's a simple equation. A drag queen puts on a5 frock, looks like Kylie. A transvestite puts on a frock, looks lik6e Winston Churchill in his mother's knickers. And so you are...?"
"Lola: Don't kid yourself. You're never more than ten steps away from some kind of cross-dresser."
"Lola: And they call me kinky? Well, as Oscar Wilde said, 'Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.'" (Kinky Boots, 2005 film)"One never knows what joy one might find amongst the unwanted, so I’d say, bring on the kinky boots." (Original)
"The real problem wasn't making men's shoes; it was making a pair of kinky boots that could support a man's weight." (Original)
"You've heard of fairy godmothers and glass slippers; I prefer the magic of kinky boots." (Original)
"I thought I wanted a simple life, but it turns out all I ever really needed was a pair of kinky boots." (Original)
"Charlie: You do realize they're just shoes. Lola: Like most things in life, it cannot stand the weight of a man. Oh, God love us. Hold on. Thank you again, Mr... Sorry to be presumptive. Are you a Mr.? Charlie. From Northampton."
"Lola: I'd give my left tit for a shoe that could stand up to me. But it's my curse to love these things Allow me. Not to be presumptive, but you are a mister? Charlie. From Northampton. Lola: ... But please, feel free to join in the fun. Very kind. Thank you. But I'd best be getting back."
"Lola: I will say one thing for you: You're hard headed. Your jaw whacked my heel clean off. Oh, I could fix these for you, but they're just cheap boots. Lola: I'd give my left tit for a shoe that could stand up to me7." (Kinky Boots, 2005 film)"I was thinking more along the lines of something sturdy, something to make the wearer feel bold and powerful, a real pair of kinky boots for the modern age." (Original)
"My father made sensible shoes, and my father's father made sensible shoes. I had to learn how to make kinky boots to save the factory." (Original)
"The moral of the story is that you can't judge a book by its cover, or a man by his kinky boots." (Original)
"The moment she walked into the room, it was clear that those weren't just any shoes; they were the most magnificent kinky boots I had ever seen." (Original)
Etymology
The phrase "kinky boots" is a modern term that gets its meaning from two separate words that came together. To understand its origin, you have to look at the history of "kinky" and "boots" individually.
The Word "Boots"
The word "boots" has been in the English language for a very long time, dating back to the late Middle Ages. It comes from the Old French word botte, which referred to a type of footwear that covered the ankle or higher. The meaning of "boots" has stayed pretty much the same for centuries: a piece of footwear that extends up the leg.
The Word "Kinky"
The word "kinky" is a more recent development. It comes from the word kink, which has a Germanic origin and first appeared in English around the 16th century.
Original Meaning: A "kink" originally meant a sudden, sharp twist, bend, or curl in something. Think of a kink in a rope, a hose, or a person's hair. This is the oldest meaning of the word.
The Shift in Meaning: By the 19th and early 20th centuries, the word "kinky" started to be used metaphorically to describe something that was eccentric or odd. This was a natural evolution from the idea of a physical "twist" to a metaphorical "twist" in a person's character or behavior.
The Sexual Meaning: The modern and most common meaning of "kinky"—referring to unusual or unconventional sexual preferences—developed in the mid-20th century. The idea of a "kink" in a person's behavior was applied specifically to sexuality, suggesting a "twist" or deviation from what was considered a traditional sexual act.
The First Known Use and Modern Meaning
The phrase "kinky boots" didn't exist as a widely-known term before the 21st century. It's an adjective-noun combination that gained fame specifically from the 2005 British film Kinky Boots and the later Broadway musical.
The story is based on a real-life shoe factory that, in order to survive, started making a line of sturdy, high-heeled boots for men to use in fetish contexts. The term "kinky boots" was used to describe this specific type of footwear: boots designed for unconventional, or "kinky," sexual expression.
So, while the individual words "kinky" and "boots" have long histories, the phrase itself is quite new, coined to describe a specific style of shoe and popularized by the film and musical.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Kinky Boots
To put on your kinky boots: To adopt a new, often bold and unconventional, persona or attitude.
Walking in kinky boots: To experience life from an unusual or non-traditional perspective.
He had to make his own kinky boots: Said of someone who must find a creative and unexpected solution to a problem.
A pair of kinky boots and a big heart: A phrase used to describe someone who is both flamboyant and deeply compassionate, inspired by the themes of the musical.
A factory full of kinky boots: A situation or place where a surprising or unconventional business is thriving.
To walk a mile in their kinky boots: To understand a person's unique and often misunderstood circumstances.
The business was saved by kinky boots: A saying to describe an enterprise that was rescued by embracing a completely unexpected idea.
Kickstarting a business with kinky boots: To begin a new venture with an unusual or high-risk product.
More than a pair of kinky boots: A phrase to suggest that an outward appearance belies a deeper, more profound truth.
He's got a closet full of kinky boots: Said of someone who has many hidden talents or an unconventional range of interests.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of kinky boots from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
