In my recent eBay haunting, I've collected a number of interesting items - a leather punch, a cast iron fluting iron,
two early Victorian slippers, and a pair of Edwardian button boots.
As with all the antique shoes I buy, I veer towards oldies that have seen better centuries. Usually they're wrinkled, they're flakey, they're teeny-tiny, and they're cheap, all great attributes to have for study pieces, rather than display. The idea of *wearing* these doesn't even enter my head.
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The real McCoy - 100-year-old button boots...on my feet! I normally wear a 7.5 B width. |
...Except for these button boots. I got them on eBay for a shockingly low price, thinking it'd be nice to have them in my growing collection, as a reference point for
Tavistock. I didn't even read the measurements, but when they arrived, looking like they'd been run over by a truck, they kindof looked...well...surprisingly big, for Edwardian shoes. Lo and behold, they fit! I mean...they REALLY fit (I'd say like gloves, but they're shoes, so that doesn't really work.)
So Chris and I took some shoe cream to them, along with most of a tin of Kiwi Parade Gloss, and hot-spooned these puppies into the wee hours of the morning. After all was said and done, holy cannoli, they're shiny and lovely and quenched.
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After polishing. The leather is still worn, but in some places it almost looks new. |
I wore them tonight to the High Desert Steam Christmas Party, and I can't wait to wear them again to whatever the next Victorian event might be. The costume/history geek in me is squeeing with delight!
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My "formal" Steampunk costume - I need to make a shorter skirt now to show off the boots! |
Oh those boots are stunning!
ReplyDeleteI am green with envy! Also, DAMN ya'll did a good job on bringing those back to life!
ReplyDeleteShoe cream and parade gloss, ftw. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I then polished every narby-looking leather shoe I could find in the house, until 2 am...
DeleteCongratulations! They look great! And I love your outfit too!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThey are beautiful. They would fit me too. This is the profile I was looking for with Travistock.
ReplyDeleteThey are very similar, but the shank is shorter, and the toe more rounded on these oldies.
DeleteHow exciting! And they look great too!
ReplyDelete-Emily
You did a beautiful job fixing them up! How exciting that they fit!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOkay, bright idea....is there sufficient call to do a run of mens' shoes in the forseeable future? Maybe an Edwardian or Victorian dress boot to whet the curiosity of the steampunk boys? Just a thought. The reason I am asking is partially selfish. I would like to try a boyish steampunk getup. Fortunately, though my feet are large for a girl, they are pretty average for a guy. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteKatt
We plan to go into men's footwear in the future, but when we're a little more up-and-running.
DeleteWow! They look amazing! What luck! Oh, and love your outfit, especially those bloomers and stockings! I shall have to start sewing bloomers, I think!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing what a little polish and elbow grease can do? High five on bringing the boots back to life, they are amazing (don't you wish they could tell you where all they've been??). I am an avid antiquer myself and it always amazes me what people will turn their noses up at because it needs a little polish and work. Nicely done!
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