I haven’t been blogging, I’m sorry, but I’ve been SO ill. I do have things to tell you guys about – the Madame X gown I didn’t get to wear, the 1960s yellow dress I haven’t finished, the soft straw bergere-type hat I haven’t trimmed…
For now, in all my feable-ness, just a short post to say that almost all of you voted for either #2 or #4 strap styles on the Edwardian pumps I asked you about in the last post.
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| #2 and #4 were most popular |
So now the question is … the #2 straps are more typical, in that it was a very common style that lasted from the 1890s clear through the 1920s, whereas the double-crossing (haha) #4 straps are very unique, definitely Edwardian, but could be difficult to fit. Many of you expressed that you already have or have seen shoes with straps like #2, while one of the concerns about #4 is that it’s *so* unique that seeing them on all your friend’s feet might take away some the special-ness of them.
What do you think? I really can’t decide. Let’s put it to a vote (yes, another vote, I’m sorry!). Whichever wins this dual will be the Edwardian 1912 shoe for the 1812/1912/2012 release.
*Please note that both of these examples are museum pieces – the white from Shoe-Icons, and the black from the Met. The American Duchess 1912s will be as close as possible, but not exact replicas.
19 Comments
Mackin-Art
April 21, 2011 at 9:57 PMI really hope the double cross strap wins, because it is unique – the multi-strap shows up in modern interpretations from time to time and the double cross never will.
Lauren R
April 21, 2011 at 10:37 PMgood point, you are right. I think with a shoe with the three straps and the correct heel, it would be a proper 1912 shoe, whereas I find that the shoes "inspired by" often have, like, spike heels, or weird chunky heels. I secretly hope those double-crossers win too, hahhaa
Anonymous
April 21, 2011 at 11:51 PMI went for the double-crossers because seeing them in real life, they just look so much nicer than the Mary-Janes!
Seidenweberin
April 22, 2011 at 12:09 AMI like both, I must say. Though I've voted for the multistrap, as I prefer more common styles (I follow the motto "don't make the common rare and the rare common")
Lauren Stowell
April 22, 2011 at 12:23 AMI agree about not making the rare common, although we're looking at a run of 200 for this style, so I wonder is that a lot of the same style shoe, or is it really very few? These will also have the same dyability, whether they end up leather or silk, but are the double crossing straps just too distinct? They are in the lead right now. See, this is why this is so hard to decide!!
Sioux
April 22, 2011 at 12:25 AMThe fitting concerns on the double crossers could be eased with just a little elastic in the straps. Go for them. The others you can get elsewhere. Be different and unique!!! ;D
Lydia Elizabeth Burnwell
April 22, 2011 at 1:12 AMI really like the crossed straps!
I hope you feel better soon!
MrsC (Maryanne)
April 22, 2011 at 1:38 AMLauren I know everyone has got excited about these shoes, but really, they are so close to the ones you can buy in the shops right now, is there any point? I love the strappiness but the dilemma you have reached is a good reason to seriously consider if this is as wise a move as the older replicas. The regency slippers, now they are really different! 🙂
Lauren Stowell
April 22, 2011 at 1:46 AMMrsC, I haven't seen any shoes like either of these, I mean specifically, and I can't even find a new shoe with a french heel these days. I know they were popular in the 90s, but even that we had to have the french heels custom made for the Georgianas indicates that they are out of vogue currently. I will do more research to find approximations, because you are absolutely right, I do not want to make shoes that other shops carry. The difference is that these are specifically Edwardian, and more than half of everyone who voted in the previous poll asked for Edwardian shoes. Regency slippers can also be approximated – ballet flats are all the rage here, from Nordstroms down to Payless – but having a shoe specifically made for Regency or Edwardian re-enactors, that you know has been thoroughly researched and closely based on extant museum examples must be worth investing in, yes?
Jen Thompson
April 22, 2011 at 1:52 AMOhh… I SO hope the straight strap shoes win… although I fear that they won't. I just noticed that they would be great for 1880's stuff too: http://www.festiveattyre.com/victorian/p83/nov6.html
I don't know where people are seeing all these fabulous spool heeled shoes like #2, because I've been looking for some of these for about a decade now and I sure as hell can't find any! :/
Lauren Stowell
April 22, 2011 at 1:57 AMJen, that's a good point. They're both very popular, so I'm thinking that even though it looks like the double crossed straps are going to win this time, we will probably do the straight strap ones in the future.
I have some criteria for these Edwardian shoes – 1)interesting strap details, 2)French heels about 2" high, 3)pointed toes. The three things combined equal the iconic style, but if we get one thing wrong, they won't say "edwardian."
CatnipTARDIS
April 22, 2011 at 2:07 AMI still prefer the straight straps. *hopes they win* Covering a broader period is always useful – one pair of shoes for multiple costumes (assuming the colors of the costumes work with the dye job on the shoes).
Lauren Stowell
April 22, 2011 at 2:15 AMMaybe a straight-strap shoe on the younger side of 1900 is in order, that can, as you say, work for maybe 1880-1910s.
Sandra Brake
April 22, 2011 at 4:22 AMGosh honey, I'm so sorry to hear you've been ill. Hope you are mending well and can get back to having fun.
Re the shoes, well I have to say I am now dithering. I like the crossed ones but realistically the straight ones have a more recognisabe look and they fit the wider time period.
Lauren
April 22, 2011 at 5:02 AMThis is a hard one!
I have to say, I do like the double crossed ones. I ditto Susan- I was thinking along the same lines re: a little discreetly hidden elastic at the straps as it would fit a wider variety. I would so buy them if I knew a cobbler could take the straps in for me of either style (darn my scrawny feet!) It may not be period, but it would be handy (and maybe less returns because of fit issues?)
When I did my Edwardian themed wedding nearly three years ago I would have killed for these shoes. I used thrift store shoes I picked up that were from the 90s that I had already wore for years as costume shoes. They did the trick, but it would have been nice to have shiny clean new shoes- and would have so cool to have dyable shoes for the bridesmaids! They wanted dyable shoes and they had a very sad selection of not even remotely period styles.
Lauren Stowell
April 22, 2011 at 6:25 PMWell as you guys can see, those double-crossing straps are in the lead by rather a lot, but there's been a good case made for the straight-strapped maryjanes as well. Another reader suggested Edwardian oxfords, and I can see now that way down the line, in the future, we may have to have all three! The Edwardian shoes are so awesome because they're so versatile – they work for later Victorian all the way through to the 1920s. Many Edwardian evening shoes were even based on 18th c. models. First things first, though, and that's looking like the double-crossed straps for our New Year's Day release.
MrsC (Maryanne)
April 23, 2011 at 12:43 AMInteresting! The shoe shops here are awash with gorgeous louis heeled shoes and boots, especially Ziera, which is my fave. For some reason none of the ones I am thinking of are on their website though. I assume that if we have something here it must be just a drop in the ocean of a much bigger worldwide trend, but perhaps we're just lucky, for once! hehehe. Actually, making gorgeous shoes is a worthwhile activity regardless of anything else and if they pass for modernwear then that just means more market so good on you! 🙂 xo
AvaTrimble
April 23, 2011 at 11:04 PMI like both, so I can't decide! But the funny thing is that, for all that people keep saying that the double crossed straps are SO unusual and they'll never be manufactured again otherwise, I actually HAVE a pair of vintage-style (fairly 1940s-1940s in shape) leather heels with double crossed straps! They look similar to the sketch and the museum pair, but with a rounder toe and slightly higher heel. I -adore- them! But I feel like the horizontal straps probably make more sense, in this vote, because they'd allow for a wider time frame for the shoes to be used.
staffordcastle
June 6, 2011 at 4:32 AMI love the double-cross version, and I think I voted for them before, but this time I'm voting for the triple-strap, because I'm afraid that my very high arches won't fit the double-cross version. 🙁