Historical Footwear - News, and Looking at Edwardian Styles

Wishbone straps on a c. 1900 white kid pump

The results of the Historical Footwear poll are in, and the Edwardian pumps took first, followed by a foot-and-foot race between the 1860-80 evening shoes and Regency slippers. Mules and Leather 18th c. shoes were not as popular, but many of you expressed a dire *need* for leather Georgianas. Several others of you all independently asked for late Victorian button boots. So let's talk about these results...

What's coming Next-Next?
Later this year, after everyone's silk Georgiana shoes have been delivered, we will be introducing their leather counterparts, "The Devonshires." These will be the hard-wearing, mud-trudging, cobblestone clattering camp followers many of you are in need of. Don't let those descriptors fool you, though: the leather will be high-grade, ivory colored that can be left their natural shade or colored to a wide variety of shades, including moroccan red, peacock blue, forest green, even metallics. The Devonshires will have the same comfy fit, custom-designed French heel, and smooth leather sole for dancing.

Then What? Didn't the Edwardian Shoes Win?
The Edwardian shoes will be released simultaneously with the Regency slippers, for pre-sale on January 1, 2012. This upcoming year marks the anniversaries of both the War of 1812, and the sinking of the Titanic, and with the dual-period project happening over at Your Wardrobe Unlocked, we'd like to supply the lovely shoes for you all to wear with your new Regency and Edwardian outfits in 2012.

Cute and also typical Regency slippers.

So *now* is the time to start developing the Edwardian shoes. In my research I've found them to be quite complicated. Ladies, I need your input - what do you want for straps? I'd love to be able to do all four strap styles I've drawn here, but for now we have to choose just one. Which ones do you like?

Click this image for a larger view, and please leave a comment!

But Wait...Will I Ever get my Late Victorian Boots?
Boots of all periods are a possibility for the future, but it comes down to two very important issues: fit, and price. Button boots, in their original form, literally buttoned with a special tool (a boot hook), and these boots were often fitted to each individual wearer, which we unfortunately don't have the capability to do. I'd be loathe to add zippers or other modern means of closure, but it may be the only way to create this style on a large scale for many different types of feet and ankles. Also, with leather high-topped boots we would be looking at a much higher price than I could offer the Georgianas for, so this may be a style to look at in the future, when we're not in a recession!

These are for day, and actually c. 1910, but same idea.

I don't want to overload you guys with too much information right now, so look for more posts coming soon about 1912 pumps, 1812 slippers, leather Devonshires, later Victorian pumps, and more!