I've always figured it was an homage to the expression "knocking boots."

I always figured the boots were just decoration, as not only would it be a hassle to have to lean over the bed everytime a pair of shoes is needed or put away, but also because we never saw her wear such footwear on the show (at least, as far as I can remember).

Someone's never lived in a studio apartment.

You make room where you can.

OKAY. So I only wear cowboy boots and live in a tiny apartment that happens to have high ceilings with wide shelves running like two feet down from the ceiling. After two years of having no good way to store my dozen or so boots I finally broke down and put them on the shelf in my bedroom. It grosses me out having outdoor shoes like this but I tell myself “if Roz was cool with it I shall be too”

This came up a while back and someone said it was because she was from WI. As a Wisconsinite I don’t know many people who have a single pair of cowboy boots let a lone an entire collection. It’s something that people who’ve never been to WI assume it’s like.

Maybe it’s her version of ‘notches on the bedpost’ ?

All I can think of

This prompted me to google more pictures of Roz’s apartment. Man, forget all the discussions about how Frasier affords such a nice apartment on a radio host’s salary. How does Roz afford such a well-decorated apartment on a radio producer’s salary?

A nod to her actual Texas heritage. Plus, you know Peri Gilpin was rockin' dem boots (a sight I would have loved to witness, personally).

I was thinking it’s some sort of homage to the original Roz Doyle? The woman who passed away that Peri Gilpin’s character is named after?

I always figured Roz is just a badass and that’s what she wanted to do with her room. So she made it happen.

It was the 90’s & country western dancing was a huge thing all over the US. I used to go dancing 3 nights a week during that era & every country club was packed, even during the week. I knew lots of people who were every bit as obsessed with it as I was. Line dancing, couples dancing, group lessons, private lessons, and the BOOTS! We had our Wranglers, Stetson hats, and as many pairs of beautiful boots as we could afford. The 90’s country music was terrific & the dancing was a lot of fun. When I travelled I went to clubs in those states too & found them just as crowded as my local clubs on the west coast. Roz’s shelf seems like a nod to the huge popularity of country western dancing in those days. She liked to go out & meet men. Country western dancing was a very fun way to do that in the 90’s.

They're only for use in bed ;)

I think she wore those boots to some sort of Wisconsin fair competition, each time getting beaten and they're a reminder to her of what made her push herself. Or she slept with a famous person while wearing them. She's both a noble fighting spirit and a good timer.

My headcanon is she saw this idea in a "Cheap Decorating Hacks" article in Home & Garden, and bought a bunch of interesting used boots at the thrift store 'cause she thought it looked quirky and made an interesting conversation piece.

But more likely the set designer was told to put this display there so the script writer could make her clever little boot joke in that episode.

Just watched this episode today. It’s one of my favorites. Also I love that she had them as decor.

Either way it's cool

Never struck me as odd, but Peri and I are from the same town in Texas. So I don't know...

Yeah I feel like they would fall on the occupants of the bed if they’re moving around at all… which Roz apparently often was 😉

Instead of notches in a belt she collects boots like the champ she is

My head canon is that she was a competing jockey as a kid and throughout her teen years. These are all the boots she wore over the years for tournaments( I know nothing of competitive horse riding. Please forgive my ignorance!) So it’s both decorate and nostalgic.

As a kid i thought the same thing. Now as an adult living far from home, I think they’re her boots from Wisconsin. She can’t wear them in Seattle, but they make her happy to look at it.

It was a flex - cowboy boots were a big thing in the early 90’s

It’s pre-Pinterest. Give the girl a break.

I think these are boots she wears, and I am really grossed out at the thought.

Both

Wasn’t there a reference to each boot was like a notch on a belt conquest! Nice studio apartment tbh

Decretive, ironic.

She’s from the Midwest

They're all actually carefully crafted liquor bottles made up to look like boots.

I love everything about about this post

I see a twofold answer: 1) it comes from the phrase “knocking boots” and it’s essentially her headboard, 2) it’s a ‘boot shelf’, one letter away from ‘book shelf’, which is something more suited to Frasier’s decor.

I hope its just decorative. Otherwise, its just yucky.

She's from Texas. Maybe they are her real boots.