I can’t help it – I get excited about new products I’m working on, and I want to share them with you!
There are cool things in the works. I have dreams of not just introducing new historical shoes, but more accessories to go with them – namely buckles and stockings.
Firstly, we’re working on a new buckle. This one has taken so freaking long, it’s ridiculous, but it’s a difficult design and we’ve had to find a new manufacturer to make them. There is (hopefully) just one more iteration to go before this one will be perfecto.
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| “Valois” buckle – easier said than done. |
It seems logical to also create a simple round or square brass buckle for the middling and lower classes, camp followers, and less extravagant types. Which would you prefer, round/oval or square?
Next in development for accessories is a line of silk clocked stockings. Here is a preview from the factory, but I’m still waiting for the samples to arrive – maybe today! – so I can test them for stretch, wearability, sizing, etc.
These are 98% silk, 2% lycra/stretch material. I know you purist won’t be happy about the lycra, but it’s there to keep these silk beauties from bagging out around the knees, ankles, and at the top of the knee.
We’ll be having a pre-order for stockings, to help fund the run, near Fall, so watch here or on Facebook for news of that event.
Also, many of you have asked about “Tavistock,” the button-up Victorian/Edwardian boot. Tavistock is currently in development, and we’re hoping to see the first sample here shortly. We’ve got these lovelies planned for pre-order in September, and delivery by the end of November, in time for the Christmas shopping season.
Why can’t I give definitive answers for when new things will be coming out? Well, because often times things crop up in the development process that delay us. For instance, having to switch factories for the buckles, or make multiple revisions and re-sample designs, or having to raise funding for sampling – all of these (and more) push back hopeful release dates. It’s one of the joys of being a microscopically small business!
If you have questions, shoot me an e-mail ([email protected]) or leave a comment below.
29 Comments
Angela
June 21, 2012 at 8:51 PMMy dear, its great that you have found a niche in the creative entrepeneural genre! You should be excited about your work and getting us all excited, too! Looking forward to the stockings. ag
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:51 PMThank you!
Mackin-Art
June 21, 2012 at 9:36 PMI'm excited regarding the stockings!!!
Will these come in a range of sizes? I've had issues in the past with the feet of commercial stockings being way to long and the heel ends up on my calf – not attractive! So much so, that I now make my own custom fitted stockings in cotton and wool jersey, but I've not been able to find proper silk.
Trystan L. Bass
June 21, 2012 at 10:18 PMOh please, a range of sizes, including plus for those well-endowed of calf?
KittyKatt
June 21, 2012 at 11:01 PMI second the plus size sentiment. Perhaps you could give a size estimate for calf circumference specs and length for a pair that is worn? Usually commercial legwear comes nowhere close to fitting me. I am well endowed in the foot size and calf size department.
Olympe de la Tour D'Auvergne
June 22, 2012 at 3:35 AMI second the smaller sizes. I also have the problem with heels ending up on my ankles and having to shorten them at the toe.
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:54 PMFor the first run of these, they are women's sock size 9-11. This is the same size you find in the stores, and fits shoe sizes approx. size 5 to 10. One of the not-so-fun things I deal with in manufacturing is the volumes, and it means, in this case, not being able to do a wide range of sizes, as I would like.
I'm still waiting on the samples to do the stretch tests, but I will do a blog post with my findings soon.
Anonymous
June 26, 2012 at 5:28 AMI'm anticipating having a similar issue ankle-wise with the button-up boots. 🙁 They're sure cute though.
Mikey
June 21, 2012 at 9:59 PMI'd say oval for the buckles
Mademoiselle Parapluie
June 21, 2012 at 10:06 PMI can't wait for the boots. Gorgeus If I may say so!
Jamie
June 21, 2012 at 10:22 PMI -love- love love love love love that buckle you have, I would love a way to put it on something else — I unfortunately can't justify buying a pair of shoes just to put the buckle on! 😉 (Blasphemy, I know.) I'm saving for Astorias and the Tavistocks! Squee.
Stockings! They're so pretty! I want them just… to wear, anytime. I'm excited!
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:55 PMJamie – you can wear a buckle like this on anything with two straps that need holding together. 🙂 Unfortunately, though, they come in pairs!
Jenny
June 21, 2012 at 10:26 PMSo excited about the Tavis! Please please please keep the heel like it is in the sketch, height-wise? I don't know about others, but walking around in high-heeled shoes at a re-enactment event wears me down. Love the buckles!
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:56 PMThe heel is the same as we use on Astoria and Kensington – 1.75 inches, nice and comfy 🙂
Rebecca
June 21, 2012 at 11:50 PMI love the buckles! I hope they're done soon, I've been waiting for them since you posted them on FB! 🙂
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:57 PMRebecca, I'm sorry for the long wait! It's so frustrating when things take for-eeeeever
Sandra Brake
June 22, 2012 at 11:41 AMI love them all. I love the Valois so hope they work out.
Erin T./Emelote of Calais
June 22, 2012 at 2:09 PMOh! I am so excited for the stockings! I don't know which colours I would buy! I would love the boots, but at that time I won't have the cash… 🙁 sadness. I hope when I do you will still have some available.
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:58 PMErin, we'll have the boots in for the Holidays – maybe someone will gift them to you 😀 !
Anonymous
June 22, 2012 at 5:09 PMEverything looks so amazing! I am really excited about the silk stockings, and the boots. Actually, I'm excited about all of them.
In answer to your question about the brass buckles I would prefer square ones. Thank you so much for making brass buckles, brass looks a lot better on red than silver does.
I'm sorry the vintage shoe pictures are taking so long, I need to get someone's help to put them up because I don't have facebook, I promise that I am working on it though.
Lauren
June 22, 2012 at 5:27 PMThat is exciting 😀
Tricia
June 22, 2012 at 6:41 PMOk, I sold on both the buckles and the stockings.
They both are a must have. I cannot wait until the pre-orders.
Will they be offered at the same time?
Lauren R
June 22, 2012 at 8:59 PMTricia, I would like to offer them at the same time, but I'm not sure if it will happen. I'm hoping there are no more delays…
Katie R
June 24, 2012 at 9:37 PMThe stockings and boots look fantastic and I will definitely buy! I particularly like how the boots look like they'll be fitted around the ankle. That's something that you don't get with most reproductions.
As for the buckles, I'd prefer round/oval.
Gwenyver
June 26, 2012 at 3:01 AMTo answer your question about buckles, I would very much like a pair of square ones. Then of course I'll need some black Kensingtons to go with them.
Julie
June 28, 2012 at 4:18 AMOh the Tavistocks look fabulous!! I was worried with the pictures you were showing around in the survey being the lace-up style, but YAY they'll have buttons! So happy about that! I'll be ordering two pairs for sure!
Anonymous
June 29, 2012 at 7:58 PMEverything looks amazing! I'm especially excited about the stockings! That's something I've yet to add to my wardrobe and these are just adorable!
Also, I'd prefer an oval middling buckle, please! 🙂
Anonymous
July 1, 2012 at 7:01 AMWill the boots be available in an ivory/paintable color as well? I am soo looking forward to them!
American Duchess
July 1, 2012 at 8:09 AMJust black for the first release. The white/dyeable/paintable wasn't all that popular in the poll, but I think they are very versatile, and would like to offer more than one color option at some point.