Shoe choice- bad or worse

[Paula]

Ok I've been looking for shoes/boots for my Westward Trek school presentation.  Due to the cost "real" boots are out of the question.  I've been checking second hand stores and clearance racks and have come across two pair of ankle high boots for under $10.  Problem is they both have issues. 

One pair is black leather/ leather like , has a squared off toe (although not as much as the ones I've looked at on Robert Land's site) and  has a chunky 1 1/2" heel, it also has the dreaded zipper.

The second pair is brown has a 1" chunky heel, same kind of toe as the other pair,  elastic no zipper but they are made out of a suede like material.

I plan to keep looking but if I'm stuck with one of these two pair which do I go with, or just wear my Nike's 

[Marta Vincent]

Look at J. C. Penney for a nice lace up boot with a squared toe, low chunky heel and available in black & brown as well as blue & winter white.  Usually $39.99, they are on clearance for $16.99.  I wear them (with an orthotic, a wide foot & high instep) for CW reenacting & nice casual modern with slacks.  Comfy!

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=61482&CatID=66291&GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=134af66&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CMID=61482|65873&Fltr=&Srt=&QL=F&IND=35&CmCatId=61482|65873|66291

Ooops!  Just looked at sizes available and they are out of most.  Try at your local store.  This is something they have carried for years, but it's spring and boots are a fall/winter thing.

[Micaila]

Paula,
I'm not much help on shoes for you, except to say keep an eye out for the lace-up riding boots like Larado or Justin. Hit thrift stores in smaller towns in the area like Canby or Wilsonville, or Woodburn.
But what size does DD wear? I might, or someone in my group might have something that will work.

Micaila

PS when is the school event? Depending on time and location I might be able to swing by and bring some stuff w/ me.

[Paula]

Micaila
DD wears a girls 4 or a women's 5 or 6.  She's the one I'm most worried about obviously because her dress will be a lot shorter than mine.  Pioneer day is May 15th  and we are out by PCC Rock Creek Campus.

I have been checking out thrift stores around here but it would make more sense to head down to Wilsonville or Woodburn.  Since there's not much call for riding boots here in the Bethany area.

I checked out the J. C. Penny's boots Marta suggested but the online orders weren't in our sizes and our local store was very helpful in promising that they would have more by Christmas 

Paula

[Micaila]

Paula,
I'll send out an email to my unit asking for boots in her size,see what we can come up with.
You might also try ebay.

The 15th, hmm, that's a Friday right?
Do you know if they would welcome outsiders?
I might be able to arrange something, but if that's a no-no, then I don't want to ruffle any feathers.

Hey Heidi! What do you think about popping in for this?
I don't think I've got classes if its a Friday, but I can't recall if there's a conflict on that date.

Paula,
could you sent me some info about this? curtinmm @ gmail . com (remove the spaces before sending)
Thanks,
Micaila

[Micaila]

Ebay Boots

Size 6
http://cgi.ebay.com/JUSTIN-BLK-LEATHER-LACE-UP-ROPER-BOOTS-LADIES-SIZE-6B_W0QQitemZ360135499074QQihZ023QQcategoryZ63889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Size 5.5
http://cgi.ebay.com/Laredo-Granny-Lace-up-Boots-Womens-Tan-Leather-Sz-5-5_W0QQitemZ220360749029QQihZ012QQcategoryZ63889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Size 5
http://cgi.ebay.com/WOMENS-DIAMOND-J-LACE-UP-ROPER-BOOTS-SIZE-5-C_W0QQitemZ130292072015QQihZ003QQcategoryZ63889QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Somewhere to start anyway.

If you get any like these you will want to have the speed laces at the top replaced w/ grommets (a shoe repair place can do this) and remove the kiltie (fringy bit at the front  bottom lacing area)

Micaila

[Jessamyn]

Having bought several pairs of shoes on eBay over the years, my advice is always to go with the largest size you sometimes wear. Shoes often run small, and while you can always wear an extra pair of socks or stuff the toes with lambswool, you can't do anything but hurt if they're too small!

If they give measurements, the most important one often turns out to be the width of the shoe. Compare that measurement to the shoes you already own - if it's narrower than any of your comfortable ones, give them a miss.

[Elaine Kessinger]

I found these, which are similar to the ones from JCPenny.... they are a bit more expensive than $18.00. 
http://www.roamans.com/Plus-Size-Boots.aspx?DeptId=17871

[Heidi Hollister]

I would LOVE to come out for Pioneer day if that's something that is acceptable.  And I'd have to make sure that I don't have to work, supposing EOTIC re-opens by then.  (We're all crossing our fingers)

I totally understand the need to find something cheaper.  The correct shoes are hard to justify at the beginning.

[anb717]

I have small, oddly shaped feet from years of dancing and I've found that riding paddock boots often work well.

Stateline Tack Footwear

A lot of these are affordable (under $35) and even if they're worn for an event once or twice, you can get by wearing them with jeans:)  And every pair I ordered--when I was riding and now--have been quite comfy.

[BethT]

JCPenney has a St. John's Bay pair that seems to be the same boot in all respects, only they have all the sizes in medium and wide widths for $19.99!

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=14770e3&RefPage=X6&deptID=61482&catID=66291&cmOrigID=134af66&cmPosID=2&CmCatId=EXTERNAL|66291

Don't know if you still need it though.

-Beth

[Paula]

Thanks Beth,
I found a pair for me ($8 Goodwill) but still looking for my DD she can work with a size 5 so I think I'll order her a pair.      Yeah, one more step toward finished project.
Paula

[Amy Suha]

I have a question.

Some of the boots suggested have a turned down cuff at the top. I like that look. Was it a style that was used during the period? Commonly?

Thanks - Miss Amy

[Elizabeth]

Amy, I've not personally seen the turn-down cuff.  Has anyone else?

[Marta Vincent]

No the cuff is not period.  I unapolagetically (is that a word?) wear the boots with the turn down cuff because they are what I can afford for my wide foot, high instep + orthotic.  I've heard that others have cut that cuff off, but I also wear mine for modern and have not done that, and in the grand scheme of things, my turned down cuff on an otherwise pretty correct boot is way better than many, many of the things I've seen on feet at reenactments! 

[lindym]

No the cuff is not period.  I unapolagetically (is that a word?) wear the boots with the turn down cuff because they are what I can afford for my wide foot, high instep + orthotic.  I've heard that others have cut that cuff off, but I also wear mine for modern and have not done that, and in the grand scheme of things, my turned down cuff on an otherwise pretty correct boot is way better than many, many of the things I've seen on feet at reenactments! 

I did surgery on my cuffs, leaving 3/4" of the outside area, folded it in and glued it down: no more cuff. The rest of the boot did not too bad. My DGD is still wearing them.

I have a pair of Robert Lands lace up. My foot is broad and tall and I have to totally unlace them to get them on  . At this moment I am breaking in a pair of boots I recently bought off another reenactor that are slightly above ankle, leather, cap toe, very low leather (?) heel and quite thin leather sole. Easy on and off  . I have to snip off and file down 4 speed lacers and I'll be set. Can't find a brand name on them. Oh, and they were $5 

[Amy Suha]

Thank you for the information.

I  have to agree, the turned down cuff is a very minor offense compared to other foot wear seen. Including what DD has worn.  And flip-flops, and . . .

Miss Amy

[Jessamyn]

I've just always turned that cuff up. I think it looks better to have a fitted boot that dips down in the front of the ankle than a cuffed boot. It stays up by itself just fine.

[Carol Boomershine]

Linda,
   How difficult is it to snip off the speed lacers?  DH popped of one of mine a few years ago when I needed him to lace them due to my broken wrist in a cast, but everyone says to take them to a shoe repair shop and they can remove and replace with eyelets.  Our local shoe repairers seem loath to do more than replace soles and heels, so if I can do it myself - goody!!!

[Jessamyn]

My understanding is that it's not snipping them off that's hard, it's filing down the sharp edge the snipping leaves behind (which will quickly saw through your laces and snag on your hems) that's difficult.