I've Worn Historical Shoes for 10 years (& they're comfortable?)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- I started making historical shoes 10 years ago, focusing on making them with historically accurate techniques and materials. And when you make so many pairs, they're bound to get a lot of wear! And every time, I get asked "Are those comfortable?" Or, really, more often I get told that they aren't. That they look painful, difficult to walk in, flimsy, and unable to stand up to much wear. I've had an uncomfortable number of people apologize to my feet on behalf of my shoes even! And every time I explain I wouldn't wear them if they weren't comfortable. But what makes them look so impossible to wear? How do they differ from modern support? And what happens when you do wear them for hundreds of miles?
I started shoemaking with the 18th century, working at a living history museum where I needed them everyday. I've since branched out as far back as the 15th century and up to the 1920s. While not every pair is an exact copy of an original, I've been lucky enough to spend time researching in museum collections and to have started my own small collection over the years. And I've come to the conclusion that modern shoes exist because of changes in production and supplies, not because of advancements in comfort. We demand cheap, fast, and ever changing products today- so our shoes so often are oversized plastic boxes that are big enough to handle feet. If we're used to how uncomfortable those shoes are, particularly high heels, it's no wonder historical shoes look impossible!
Why the Shoe Pinches: books.google.com/books/about/...
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Original shoes: eng.shoe-icons.com/
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00:00 Introduction
03:06 Historical Foot Concerns
08:46 Uppers
10:14 Sole Wear & Tear
21:48 Heels
26:11 Shanks & Arch Support
28:36 How to Walk
32:28 "Comfortable" - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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As a former daily corset wearer (now occasional wear) people were always shocked when I said I was more excited to take off my bra than my corset. I imagine there's something similar going on with historical shoes.
Same, daily wearer when I was building furniture 5 days a weak now regular wearer as a college student where I spend a lot of days home half lying while working on my notebook.
I noticed that they get uncomfortable sitting in a train or car very fast, sitting all day slowly but are comfortable as can be walking, standing carrying, moving!
If I could find a custom corset maker, every bra I have would disappear.
@@melissarmt7330 I had a great guy, till a celebrity bought one of his corsets. He was supposed to make me a wedding corset and then he sent me the muslin and I sent it back and he went ghost. His corsets are no longer in my budget unfortunately. I'd consider doing daily wear again if I could find a new custom designer who's in my budget. I'm proud of him because he has made success with his skills and passion and he was only 17 when he made me my first corset. It was a really heartwarming thing to see his skills develop and knowing that others out there saw the same amazing talent that made me hire a 17 year old for my first custom piece. But it's also a little sad because none of his corsets fit me anymore. I sold one to a friend and the other I keep because it is too pretty to get rid of. I still wear some good quality off the racks for cosplay and short term wear, but I'm too old to be doing daily wear in an off the rack corset.
@@melissarmt7330 you could check with Prior Attaire (her name is Isabela), she does both custome made corsettes and stays. And historical clothes, you can see her work on her YT channel Prior Attaire. Just as fun and informative as Nichole’s! 🙂👌🏼
@@gellawella Thank you! I'm subscribed to Prior Attire and love her channel. I did not know she took orders so I'll look into that. :D
Years ago I had the opportunity to try on some legitimately antique shoes. They were horribly uncomfortable for a very simple reason. They were made from leather. Leather which had conformed to another woman's foot a long time ago. I could feel the spots where her toe and ball had compressed the material and it was nowhere near my foot's anatomy.
This makes the old reference of 'walking in my father's shoes' ring very differently for me. I wonder how many more layers there are to that saying than most of us realize.
The saying's something i've never even considered! Thanks for giving me something new to think about.
Love that! Thanks for sharing ^^
Context is so importent to understand something right. I am convinced that there is no way to interpret the bible correctly as intended nowerdays throug translations and changed associations we simply have no way to get wordplay and symbolism right. Stuff that was ment metaphorical or literal, the context in when and where it was written, what informed a certain statement.... No way for us to really know and understand!!!
Interesting!
Very true! Years ago I was visiting my grandmother. In the room where I was staying there was a fabulous pair of sling backs from the 1930s. I tried them on and they fit perfectly. Turns out my grandma had a foot shape that was virtually identical to mine. She said I could have them and I wore them for years.
I’m a ballet dancer and can understand the closer fitting shoe being way more comfortable, dancers that have low arches, hyper mobility are suggested to have a tighter fitted arch section to support the foot. Or wear support in the middle exactly like the suspension your were explaining! Dance shoes often still straight last and definitely soft leather and canvas shoes mould to your feet after 30 minutes of class.
I find it so interesting that in advertising thick shoes are meant to be better for high impact running or jumping, but then dancers are doing a very high impact sport in very thin soled shoes that look unsupported but actually offer a lot of support. Ballet shoes especially have barely changed the way they are made since they were first invented, I’d say because the historic shoe making techniques are very comfortable…..
I wonder if flexible modern dance shoes and flexible historic shoes also encourage stronger feet. I found that supple shoes changed how I push off from the ground while walking and even changed how I balance. The small muscles of the foot take a more active role and get stronger. Whereas with more restrictive footwear, like ice skates, the work of propulsion and balancing is done further up the leg.
Flexible shoes are more like being barefoot, and may better suit the evolutionary structure of the foot, but as you point out, are also supportive because they are closer fitting in the arch.
@@itzel1735 that is so interesting. Definitely how I walk in ballet shoes is completely different to a structured shoe, the foot definitely plays an active role, rather then the leg…. Interesting thoughts
Very interesting comment. My daughter is a dancer and she is not on pointe yet, but she does choose fabric ballet flats over leather ones. One would think that leather, being thicker, would offer better support on the arch, for example, but she prefers a fabric and better fitting shoe over a more durable leather shoe. And I've been realizing that wearing a simple athletic compression sock with normal shoes makes them a lot mor comfortable because I am, in reality, wearing something that fits me better.
@@micaelaferreira8337 how interesting! I would always choose the fabric over thicker leather any day! The leather isn’t as soft or close fitting 😂
@@sewlilah I was about to make a similar comment! A lot of what she says about old shoes doesn't sound terribly ground breaking to a ballet dancer's ear. It's insteresting to see the similarities to both flat shoes and pointe shoes.
Are those shoes comfortable?
My thoughts on that question are, do people really think that people in the past would spend all their time in uncomfortable shoes and if they were so uncomfortable wouldn't we have given up on shoes and still walk around bare foot. Also I have not worn a pair of modern stillettos that are comfortable.
It was good to see your insights to how they actually feel and last. Thank you.
The myth about the torture of corsets seems awfully persistent as well! There's a lot wrapped up in believing "fashion" to be dangerous and it's only gotten worse as we're now too far from that era to know those people and realize they weren't silly and vain. The "aren't we so much more advanced!" mythology of history.
I like the barefoot idea.
You know, your comment made me also wonder why people were so concerned with comfort in their shoes. I wonder if because they had much more active walking lifestyles than we do today? We have the convenience of cars and fast public transport. There are also much more sedentary jobs in modern times where we don't spend as much time on our feet. Of course people would be more concerned with comfort if they spend more time walking. I'm by no means a historian, nor do I have any evidence to back this up. Just a thought train I wandered down.
I've lived almost my entire life in uncomfortable shoes because I have big feet which aren't considered as beautiful as small feet so I refuse to buy my actual size shoe, so I can say from firsthand experience it's possible that beauty standards could make people do crazy things. And people don't always do the logical thing you would expect them to, people of the future are going to ask "so they knew climate change was happening, and that they had the chance to stop it, and they just didn't? People were crazy back then."
I mean, like you point out, modern stilettos, right? So clearly "this is uncomfortable" doesn't prevent people from wearing a thing.
Interestingly enough, 500 miles is the general threshold where most modern running, walking and/or trail/hiking shoe companies will recommend replacements for maximum comfort and support (although depending on the terrain, the shoes may not be completely "worn out"). So the fact that that's when your historical shoes started breaking down indicates they were at least in range of the sturdiness that a modern pair of shoes a long-trail hiker might wear.
Also, as someone with highly mobile joints and connective tissue, I'm fascinated by how well the "suspension bridge/foot hug" description matches our modern day arch support socks, plantar fasciitis support sleeves and and ankle braces.
sonnipitts This "breakdown" point for shoes is so important to point out! Too many people wear shoes of all types way too long then complain of back pain without putting 2+ 2 together. The other part of this is not rotating shoes and to continually wear the same pair for days on end. This doesn't give the cushioning inside the shoe time to recover & breathe if the person has been on their feet for an extended period of time. There is also the drying out of the rubber of the outsole over time so that it loses its elasticity & shock absorption benefit. Even dress shoes' heels wear down but they can - in some cases be replaced if the shoes are still in good condition.
@@lorriefinley3129 OTOH, that old pair of broken-down, broken-in trail shoes makes the best camp shoes and gardening shoes. So no need to toss 'em...just retire them to light duty until they starting letting in more mud than they keep out. :-D
@@sonipitts I know this is late but I had to laugh as today my hiking shoes became my coop mucking and goat tending shoes. Definitely the amount of slop they let in is going to be the limit to their lifespan.
@@jennifercourtemanche9793 lol, I feel that. I tend to rotate mine from "best hiking" to "muddy hiking/errand shoes" to "camp shoes so I don't impale my foot on a root spur visiting the cathole at 2am." Then reluctantly chucking them in the bin after the last possible stopgap rubber-cement-and-sugru repairs have failed.
As someone who has never found modern shoes comfortable, especially after corrective foot surgery (who knew putting a titanium rod along your first metatarsal would make wearing any kind of enclosed shoe or shoe that laces on top painful :P) the idea of making shoes on custom molds to fit the foot (instead of having to find the "close enough" fit in a standard size) sounds supremely more comfortable.
You can go to a shoemaker to get custom shoes. Not sure of the price but, my Dad's feet got so narrow that he needed custom shoes. His feet were always very narrow. I'm sure something can be worked out so you can wear something besides Crocs!!! Good luck!!!
@@theguest4516
The challenge is to _find_ a shoemaker to go to, which isn’t made any easier by the fact that cobblers are considered shoemakers in Norwegian.
Oh!!! Perhaps check the internet maybe you can find someone. I'm very lucky there are some shoemakers just a few blocks up from me. Start with the internet. I know you can make 3D images of your torso for a body form. There has to be something like that for shoes. Maybe!?! I wish you the best of luck in finding shoes you can look nice in and are comfortable in!!! Take care of those feet of yours.
Ouch! I thought I had it bad because I can't wear certain styles because my big toes are too...big. It sounds like a good idea to me too. I wish I'd had the skills back in 8th grade when one foot was a 7 and the other a 7 1/2 😂
There are a lot of shoemakers who can make shoes that suit people’s individual needs, they’re usually quite expensive at first but the added quality and craftsmanship means usually they’ll last longer and with the way shoemakers make shoes they’re able to just be repaired instead of fully replaced when issues occur
This is a good lesson in the fact that because people came earlier in history did NOT mean that they were primitive and that we are so much smarter than they were. Their solution for comfortable shoes - that hammock effect for the feet - LOOKS comfortable in your video. I'd love to try on a pair of those historic shoes one day. I hate buying new shoes because I can never tell by wearing them for 2 minutes in a store whether they will actually be comfortable or not. (Spoilers: frequently NOT, but by that time, they are unreturnable.) Thank you for the insight, Ms Rudolph.
People walked alot more back in the day. I would think their shoes would be comfortable!!! I had a pair of boots that I loved re-soled. I lost them in a move I still miss them and it was 20 years ago. They were the best shoe/boots I ever had. They were "Granny" boots I wore them for 16 hrs, 14 hrs, 12 hrs, 8 hrs shifts and my feet weren't killing me at the end of the day when I was a Casino dealer and that's standing on basically concrete. After many hours that inch of carpet doesn't make a difference. Take care and have fun!!! 😷😎😷
A couple of miles away from me, there's a factory that makes traditional Yorkshire clogs. I wear them almost daily and they are ridiculously comfortable. They are made with the same techniques that have been used for generations. They also make a fantastic amount of noise to wear.
I want to learn how to make clogs.
I need to get used to my clogs. And yes they make a great noise.
@ Paula Miller you can go to a Shoemaker & have small soft rubber pads put on the heels to dampen the sound. Its not enough in height change to affect your gait.
I had to Google Yorkshire clogs and found a lovely variety of shoes with terriers on them. 🤣😂
Finally after much scrolling I found the real thing. Pretty sure I watched a video about how they are made, a few years ago.
@@lajoyous1568 Walkley clogs are the best manufacturer by my reckoning. They have a wooden sole and a leather top, and they're not too expensive either.
I illustrate fantasy shoes- at this point, they are my sanctuary and gifts from the heart to those I cherish and love. I have always wanted to be a shoe designer, but, my professors laughed me right off the design program and demanded I change my point of interest. So, not having any other educational options, I studied architectural/interior design. Life is so unpredictable. After a lengthy, nightmare of a divorce many, many years later, I awoke one morning at 3am with an incredible desire to draw shoes. That had never happened before. Being a designer, I took out what drawing materials I had to suit this desire and began to draw and design. The firsts drawings were awful. I embarrassed myself, but, my little creations began to take form and become better and better. Soon I began to become a bit happy with my evolving results. As a labor of love, that Christmas, I sent over 150 hand made cards. I was not well, and thought that if anything happened to me, all my loved ones would have a little piece of me. Luckily, and gratefully, I am still here- although life has brought me many unforeseen challenges. I feel now that God will grant me the opportunity to my passion once again.
I could listen to your videos all day long! Will watch them again. Thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge, expertise and especially talent from your heart! All my best to you and all your loved ones.
I was surprised by your assessment that modern shoes are more stiffly shaped. I thought it was the opposite. I think it's the sole of the shoe- it looks hard and not very flexible, on some pairs. So that was very intetesting! Oh, and I loved seeing the footage of your shoe collection. Would you consider doing a shoe fashion video, where you wear the different shoes for different events and places you would go? And also show what outfits you would wear with them.
Im surprised too! Definitely thought it was the other way around. Im going to have to disagree about having to "break in" modern shoes. That idea is an old one. The only people that say that or think that are mostly the dying out WW2 era people. If you asked anyone under 40 if they ever had to "break in" a pair of shoes or even heard of this-they are going to look at you like ur cRaZy.🤷🏻♀️
@@chaunybuck6065 I’ve had to break in almost every pair of shoes I’ve ever owned due to my foot shape/strength 😅 if I don’t I tend to snap or break the soles due to how my feet move
Idk about breaking in shoes. I usually acquire them second hand. But I have this pair of red strappy sandals that I think is from the 1970s. The straps are quite flexible, but the soles are industrial strength plastic and very stiff! They make this satisfying 'clack clack' when I wear them. The only sad thing is the strap parts are beginning to wear out.
@@chaunybuck6065 Whether one has to break in new shoes would largely have to do with the material the shoes were made with. e.g. DocMartins always need breaking in.
Yeah you look at the flimsy Converse or a similar brand from today and you would think that people would associate "historical shoes" with being stiffer and more supportive/comfortable. lol
Dang, maybe we need to go back to older shoemaking techniques. These sound awesome. I have had issues with my knees and feet since I was like, 17, and I wonder how a correctly fitted custom pair of shoes would help correct that.
As someone with an ‘A’ width and double ‘A’ heel, long toes and a high arch, I have rarely found a comfortable shoe. After years of literally walking out of my shoes (as most shoes are ‘ B’ width and, therefore, too wide), as well as enduring callouses, corns, and blisters due to my foot always sliding forward, I have finally resorted to padding the heck out of my shoes. My arsenal includes mole foam, arch supports, gel insoles, half soles, and felt heel lifts (to avoid chaffing under my ankle bone) depending on the shoe. I also discovered that as you age the cushioning fat pads on the bottom of your foot get thinner so high heels become more uncomfortable (enter gel half soles, which I now cannot do without). Needless to say, I have a derogatory opinion of modern so-called shoe designers and manufacturers. 😒
And I have the opposite problem. I have a 'normal' heel with an 'E' width on the right foot and a 'D' on the left foot. Plus the long toes, high arch and the ball of my foot does not fall where modern shoes are designed to bend. The closest shoe manufacturer I can wear is Birkenstock's and the toe ridge is wrong so it rubs on the bottoms of my toes. No pretty delicate shoes for me. I'm barefoot as much as I can manage.
@ T Anon for me, with a very small foot & narrow heel, find it best to use a metatarsal pad which pushes my foot back in the shoe & into the heel. This stops my foot from popping out. Also the half size gives width in the front so try to stay with full sizes. Buy leather when possible because these will stretch to conform to your foot.
Oh, yes, the padding on the bottom of your foot does disappear with age! The metatarsal pad is ever more important then!! Check the shopping channels on TV - they carry narrow sizes in a large variety of brands.
Preach! I wear 9.5 narrow and it is terribly expensive to purchase shoes even when I can find my size. New Balance at least make shoes in the size range. But the price... Shudder. I walk the soles off my shoes because it's too dang expensive not too. And I'm forbearing to vent my spleen on the makers of dress shoes.
@@HeraldHealer a shoe repair shop and some leather repair shops can resole your shoes as often as needed
@@kat_koe even modern sneakers?
Who needs continuity with a face that cute?? This subject is endlessly fascinating. I’ve often wondered about the changes in gait based off heel placement, and you answered all my questions.
That’s funny. I always expected any shoes (historical or not) that someone has made custom to be way more comfortable than anything you could buy off the rack. Personally I went from doing Russian ballet, to being a pastry chef, to working in a commercial processing plant, till I finally got a desk job. Then after 2 years working remotely, being barefoot constantly, and wearing shoes for maybe 5 hours a week total (including general errands hiking and trail running) shoes are such a big problem. At this point no shoes are comfy no matter what inserts, socks, padding or posture I use with them. I’m back in the office and just hoping to get through the blister process quickly
sounds like custom shoes would be better for your feet
have you checked out barefoot shoes? i completely transitioned to them and they're the most comfortable thing ever. Wildling shoes is a great brand if you want to most lightweight and barefoot feeling shoe. Ive also had decent luck with vivo barefoot.
As someone who goes barefoot more regularly than wearing shoes these days, I feel like I'd lve to try some of these shoes someday. I've gotten used to free movement and it makes switching back to regular shoes hard
Great video!
Me too, my feet are alive and I go barefoot as did my mum wear feasible. I am wearing vivobarefoot low boots or merell barefoot so I can still feel whats underneath. I was and am a walker. I like leather shoes with soles which moved.
I got two settings, barefoot (or minimalist shoes) or high quality high heeled boots. I like providing the support myself and both with high heels and minimalistic shoes you are very conscious of the ground underneath you and how you step.... The only reason to wear flat modern shoes is for working safety as in them having a steel cap for toe protection and a sole that will not let a nail penetrait it
I would never think to question the comfort of the shoes you craft -- you're making them for your own feet and purchasing the highest quality materials to suit your personal needs.
Yet, she said she has made mistakes resulting in not so comfortable shoes that she made for herself. I'm sure she's improved her craft in a decade, but I would question a shoe's comfort based on appearance.
I have "problem" feet that are often uncomfortable in modern shoes (I default to Crocs for the cushion effect, mostly) but my 15th Century and 18th Century shoes (love me those heels) I can wear comfortably all day at active reenactment events without the pain issues that modern shoes give me.
Your explanation of how they use a tight midfoot to support squishy feet made a light bulb go off for me. I have fought with shoes my entire life, never being comfortable, tying my laces so tight that I have marks, all trying to find that support. I have flat feet and it never occurred to me that it is why I want my shoe to fit so tightly.
Thanks for this! It's fascinating. I am old enough that when I was a child man-made material for shoes was changing. Unless you were playing a sport everyday sneakers were something like the old Keds. (Not the new ones.) High Heels came back in just in time for me to learn to walk on a pair in my early 20s for post college job interviews. My 80's double lasted heels were re-heeled many times. Usually by the time I got to re-soling they were so beat up it wasn't worth it. There was still a cobbler on Summer St. in Boston (The Boston Bootmakers) who had photos on the wall of theatre shoes they had made for famous actors. I have a high instep so all of the imported italian and spanish shoes of the mid-late 80's in the cute styles would not fit me. I recently bought a pair of Sketechers Bob's because all of the mid-priced sneakers have become heavy and immobile. It was amazing to remember that these are close to my childhood keds with a wider toe box.
A few years back I took a younger friend who had graduated from the URI fashion course on a tour of a local shoe store to show her which shoes could be repaired by a cobbler.
My 100% leather shoes are exceedingly comfortable. I order them from a fellow in Turkey. They have a very low heel and yes, cement is very hard on them. However the low office carpet is a little slippery but not too bad. They are so much more comfortable than a typical shoe, even comfortable ones, that I am never going back!
If you dont mind, whats their contact? I'd like to see if I can order something
Sounds interesting. Could you post a link to your shoe manufacturer?
Fascinating. I love how you compare and contrast modern vs historical--and go into detail of how our modern shoes build out structure. My question is, what did they do to keep their feet warm and more importantly dry without resorting to boots or winter boots?
Lots of options depending on the era! I've personally relied mostly on woolen stockings and leg wraps, sometimes "spats" in the 19th c and onward, or the overshoes can provide another layer. The high heel supposedly returned in 1851 (for women as mens shoes still had shorter heels commonly before the 1850s) in part due to allowing the feet to stay elevated above the cold ground. I also put a wool layer in my soles that helps prevent moisture, which is mentioned in quite a few manuals. Some recommend buying large and adding a thick wool layer like a insole.
Maybe there weren’t always good options? I seem to recall many mentions of chilblains in historic fiction, and not so much familiarity with that affliction today.
As someone with natural turnout, I have an uneven gait, and I have flat feet. Shoes aren’t comfortable. Not even with orthotics. I’ve been watching and listening to you for a while. I wish I had a way to make shoes that would work perfectly for my feet.
As with most things in the modern world, the market for custom items seems to be going away. I sew my own clothes sometimes, and I know how to fix issues with clothing to make it fit better, as will any tailor shop, but to actually find places that make shoes now, I only know of one in my whole city.
My brother used to have his boot uppers replaced by, I think the Danner boot company here locally. I am wondering if they are still in business. I always imagined how freeing it would be to be able to make your own shoes. I have an extremely high arch and my foot is so wide it looks like a paddle for a canoe. I usually stick with mens workboots.
I would suggest taking with you Healthcare Provider &/ or being referred to an Ortho specialist. I don't know whether you qualify to have your shoes made by a specialist that makes them for the Disabled.
Have you tried fit flop?
I have arthritis and plantar fasciitis so I mostly wear their shoes except for very good days.
I'm obsessed with their micro-wobble board soles. it feels like walking on air.
resurecting a thread here, but a good pair of custom historic boots/shoes would be WELL worth the cost for you, if you have the money. they'll last quite a long time. barring that, boot shops and 'shoe doctor' places can alter some shoes to help them actually fit you. if the leather is real it can be stretched, but that doesnt help with sole shapes.
I’m curious how historical shoes interact with cobblestone pathways? I notice when I go to Boston that I have a wicked hard time on the cobbles in modern shoes, but now I’m wondering if that is because our shoes are inflexible and rolling on the cobbles instead of flexing with them?
Yeah I think that’s true, it’s far easier for me to walk around Faneuil Hall or on cobble stone in my wicked flexible ballet flats than if I’m wearing boots or regular shoes
It also massively depends on the Type of modern Sole. Im from Europe and specifically lots of German towns have whole quarters that consist of cobble Stones. Old, broken cobble Stones. When i lived in Jena (east Germany) i completely stopped wearing Heels because i would get Stuck in the spaces between the cobble Stones. Now i live in Glasgow and there is one specific street that is the nemesis of my Oxford broques. When it Rains, the Basalt pavement becomes Slick. No Problem for my Work Boots with the think Profile. But the oxfords simply Slide over the pavement. Which has ended up with me slipping and falling flat onto my Butt in the middle of the street. Needless to say i Put a Lot more thought into what Type of shoe i wear If i go anywhere near that street now 😅
@@123marksalot I don’t know about historical shoes but I do have experience with soft sole hiking shoes on cobblestone. Having a flexible/ softer sole will keep you from rolling off cobbles like you think. However depending on the material you still will slide. Also depending on what the sole is made from and the shape of the cobblestone it can feel really weird or uncomfortable to walk on the cobbles compared to hard sole shoes.
@@LucisZ39 The uncomfortable feeling comes from having to think, I'd say (as someone that regularly wears thin soles and walks on cobbles). It's just that you _need_ to pay attention to where exactly you are placing the ball of your foot in relation to a stone... and heel, if you've got heels on. Sort of a similar thing, actually - if you place a more stiletto-y heel wrong on cobblestones, you just slide out of your shoe (or twist an ankle), because the heel will be exactly Out from whichever (slanted) surface it lands on, nevermind which way you think is Up. Modern (thick-soled) boots are more like having your own piece of ground right there under your foot, as a friend said. (I'm one more person that can hardly stand to wear them, because my feet flex quite a bit while walking normally and if the sole refuses to work with me, there will be blisters.)
I do Victorian re-enactment, so I spend a lot of time walking, in historical repro shoes, on old-neighborhood city streets. It's no trouble at all! You're right, traditional hardened leather soles (instead of rubber and chunky soles) are a lot more flexible and so it's less awkward to walk on uneven surfaces. Heels, for ladies boots and shoes, are also VERY differently positioned then vs. now. It's cheaper for shoes today to put heels on the very back end, which really messes up your balance compared to historic shoe heels that are right under the middle of your heel (and French heels, which are fairly wide at the bottom but look so elegantly narrow and curvy). I've had a lot of gawks of "How could you do that in HEELS?" doing things like dancing some can-can and ballet at dances, running across park grass, balancing on the edges of parking blocks (you know, balance beam style), stepping up onto historic train platforms, etc. Like ballet class taught me, "It's all in *where* you balance your feet".
Those who had/have access to shoe customisation by a shoemaker or cobbler would/will have much more comfortable shoes than most of us today. There are hardly any of those professionals left in Norway, and none anywhere near me.
5 years ago the city nearest where I grew up and lived until 4 years ago had shoe repair shops ever few blocks. They could fix or alter anything. Most were owned by Asian families. I went there three years ago looking for a cobbler to narrow the calf of my boots. Very few shops. Found one and they were so busy is was 12 months before my boots were ready. Young people aren’t following the trades anymore. These skills will be lost.
This is such a fascinating topic, and so good to hear from someone with experience wearing them! I still need to work on my gait some when wearing reproductions… though I did ballet casually for most of my childhood, so I can switch between a ballet walk and standard heel-toe walk easily, it’s just getting that in-between of the historic shoes that’s trickier.
Plus I have to take breaks from the historic reproductions I have because they’re mostly heels and my knees just don’t like it when I wear heels every day, or even every other day.
As someone who danced (ballet) for ten years, six or seven of them en pointe, our “hard shell” shoes (pointe) are both not that hard and intensely customizable. In addition to sizing changing in width, length, and shank hardness, the padding used inside is also unique to each dancer. We expect to have to pad around spots that rub because obviously the foot is not pointe shoe shaped. I put lambs wool around the spots on my knuckles that rubbed and taped over them to protect from friction. Canvas flat shoes are supposed to fit a little snug when you first use them, as they are often designed to stretch to form around the feet. I definitely think it’s bizarre to expect shoes to both look a certain way and fit your feet well without any additional padding or doctoring of the feet
I don't know how I found your channel but I never found shoes so fascinating before. It goes to show that what my mom said is true, "If you want to make someone love you then find what they are interested in and let them tell you all about it." She meant platonic love, of course, and the art of making friends. And she was correct with the implication that if it's fascinating to them then they will make it fascinating for you. It won't be a dull conversation.
Love the way you explain everything and survival bias. You are brilliant and we appreciate you.
FUNFACT: BALLET slippers and ballet pointe pointe shoes are still made the old way!! Paste, satin, straight lasts. 😎
And i wear leather soled cowboy boots for dancing and WOAH NELLY do they slip and slide like a b**** on everything from grass to carpet, but they do beautifully on marble, marley, and real wood floors.
Also your style is so cool and you are stunning.
I'm interested in your opinion of the new fad of barefoot or minimalist shoes.
Another dumb fad that will be gone soon.
@@thecatatemyhomework Thats a pretty rude thing to say. My husband and I have been wearing them for almost 10 years and they work for us. Just as I’m sure your shoes work for you. Try to be kinder when you express your opinions.
Yes please! I have not personally tried them but I would be interested in a professional’s opinion.
there's only one fad shoe when it comes to barefoot shoes and it's those horrible balenciaga (?) vibram collab high heels (Safiya Nygaard has a video on them)
I've been wearing Vibram Fivefingers (the ones with separate toes) for about 8 years now and I love them, but they have the same problem where pavement is hard. And you have to walk in them similar to what was shown in this video. I have a pair by Vivo and hoping to get one by Xero, and for me, with my weird foot pain, I find they help a lot, but other people can't wear them due to other foot issues, or not taking the time to try walking differently.
Nature: This is a cool shape. Loving all the weird little bones. Totally going with this.
Shoemaker: Like, really?
I'd love to see your thoughts on ballet shoes: I believe they're still made in straight lasts (no right or left) (though I am in the habit of writing "right" and "left" inside them until the shaping begins to appear on my flats)... and for pointe shoes many dancers practise "three quartering" which I think involves cutting the shank down to where the foot "breaks" to give a nicer line and for support. It always amazes me how much work each dancer puts into her pointe shoes even though they are personally made for professional dancers... and how many options there are for non-professionals to choose from at the ballet-shoe shop.
The Pointe Shop TH-cam channel has has chatted with several ballerinas about their shoes.
It's crazy the amount of work they put into their shoes. Even the ones who order custom shoes.
It’s also fascinating to see how ballet shoes are customized and beautiful, but ultimately disposable.
All mine have been straight lasted, and I also used to cut down my shanks to only partway up my arch. And yes, I also had R and L on every pair of pointe shoes I've ever worn. Just makes things simpler in a hurry :)
The good thing about straight lasted pointe shoes is if you have two different sized/shaped feet you can buy two different sized/shaped feet and get two usable pairs.
Whereas with L and R lasted shoes you can only wear the proper fitting left and the proper fitting right, and you end up with one you can’t wear from each pair.
Ballroom dancing sport shoes are even closer to historical. Suede sole, "sock" fit, heel closer to the middle of the shoe...
I love the feel of an all leather boot, but my god is concrete a freaking slip ‘n’ slide in them.
You could something like this: (link), put a coat of rubber pieces and glue underneath a leather sole.
th-cam.com/video/UzDFbvdIP7E/w-d-xo.html
i call lit the home depot shuffle XP
Some of my favorite shoes I've ever owned were both of the pairs of vintage military jungle boots I managed to snag from thrift shops in my area. They were so absolutely comfortable to walk in and it started me on my path of essentially wearing nothing but boots all the time. I literally own 12 pairs of boots in varying styles and when I tell you it has helped my comfort levels so much.
This explains so much about why my feet are the way they are. I was an Irish step dancer, wearing a soft slipper called a ghillie, and a "hard shoe" similar to a buckle historic shoe. I'm really thinking that because so much if my adolescence was spent in these shoes or dancing barefoot, my muscles and tendons didn't develope in a way that is compatible with modern shoes. The only modern shoes I have found that really work for my feet are "barefoot" style, flip-flops, or the 1 pair of workboots that were so flexible I could fold the sole in half. Working in an industry that requires steel toe boots this has been insanely frustrating. But this video gives me a ton of ideas of what to look for when I go shoe shopping for my next workboots!
With every video you post on shoemaking, I become more convinced that I need to make my own shoes. I like to run. Several years ago, I switched to minimalist running shoes. I find them much more comfortable than my old shoes with arch support. Interestingly, the shoes I liked most (Merrell Trail Glove 4) had a tight, flexible fit. When Merrell updated the Trail Glove, they inserted an arch support and I had to look for a different shoe. But the other minimalist brands make shoes with a large toe box, which causes my foot to slide around and gives me blisters. So I completely understand why you find your homemade shoes to be comfortable. They share many of the same features of my old Merrell's. I think I might have to make my next running shoe.
I am a pole dancer, so I often get the "omg how can you walk in those shoes??" comments (my answer is usually "I don't walk in them. I dance."). Interestingly, it sounds like the technique for walking/dancing in our heels is remarkably similar to the historical way of walking: more of a glide, heavy on the toes.
Aparently, toe-first is the way we naturally walk and are supposed to walk / have walked when we were barefoot before roads were invented.
@@dcarbs2979 If you watch older movies (50's and before) you notice that the women walk on their toes more or walk putting the weight on their entire foot.
@@peachesandcream8753 It's not just the fashionable design that makes them more elegent then!
Pleasers are also super comfy because of the platform. People think they are like regular high heels where your foot is on an extreme angle, but it's really not at all. I can literally run in Pleasers - can't say that for regular heels at all.
I was taught it is heel-toe. Like heel first, all the pressure on the heel, and then put down the toe. Is that wrong?
I have always sucked at walking I. Them because of health reasons. I'm in a wheelchair for the most part now, so I guess it doesn't matter. But I'm still curious if I ever did it right 😅
Your videos on shoes are so interesting. The lightweight flexible close-fitting shoes sound so much better than modern ones. I wish I could afford to have a pair of shoes made for me or the money to buy the tools, materials and instruction to make my own. I have pretty much have to wear flat lace up shoes when I'm not barefoot or wearing flip-flops.
This is exactly why I find a lot of barefoot shoes work better for me. Although I would like to try making my own shoes at some point. It looks really neat, but I have the same problem with both Vivo and Vibram and that's the pavement and/or gravel is a little too hard on my feet for longer amounts of time, unless I'm wearing special socks made for hiking or with compression.
I had the same problem with barefoot shoes. I ended up ordering shoes on Etsy. They are minimalist soft-soled shoes but with a softer, thicker sole that sort of cradles the foot. I like them so far but I am also still adjusting to the change in heel height.
@@esm1817 what's the maker? That sounds good. I usually pad my barefoot shoes with wool socks but it's still too much for concrete.
I hope that in another video about shoes you will discuss overshoes more and what happens to your various types of shoes if you get caught in a rainstorm. I'd also enjoy learning more about how leather making has changed over time. Thank you so much for all the shoe information!
I'm in love with you and your channel, I love your content ! I'm a leather shoes and historical stuff enthousiast ( I'm actually a store director for ECCO shoes ) and I feel like your teachings brings me so much more understanding about my proffession. Your channel makes me want to learn how to make historical leather shoes ^^
I have listened to this video while pottering about tidying up, I then sat down and watched the video. Has anyone else paused just to sit and look at all those pairs of gorgeous shoes :-) I could listen to Nicole and some others all day, informative, educational and extremely interesting. Thank you.
Thank you! You've tough me a great deal that I didn't know before I watched your video! Keep up the good work please!
Have you ever looked at something cheaply made or made for a trend and thought "this is trash, I like how it was made before." ...yeah, instead of getting better sometimes that can happen over time. we are a pretty bit arrogant to assume modern "progress" means better and traditional means worse. sometimes our ancestral homies had a point.
I LOVE listening to you talk about shoes. I wish so much that I had the energy and wherewithal to learn to make shoes, as my very flexible and bendy feet do not do so well with modern shoes. What a JOY to hear someone so knowledgeable and practiced discuss what they love. Thank you!
What you mentioned about ballroom shoes makes so much sense. I think I finally understand why my custom Paso Doble dance shoes were always the most comfortable shoes I ever owned. I definitely need to save up and buy a leather sole version for daily wear if the company still exists. They were so soft and flexible and amazing.
(🐾 … your sweet pup grumbling mid-sleep around 5:42 made me smile ☺️.. and your calming hand, too! )
Thank you for taking us on so many fascinating learning journeys~ you are a wealth of knowledge!
I’m a professional ballet dancer, and pointe shoes work exactly the same way! They are commonly made of satin and layers of canvas and glue that is hardened, and they mold to the feet as we dance, like historical shoes. People always wonder how painful it is to stand on your toes, and are fascinated when I say that it really doesn’t hurt! Of course, as a kid when you first start you have a period of pain and blisters as you find the “right” brand of pointe shoes for your foot, hardness of shank and box, width, etc. but as an adult who wears them regularly, most of the time I’m pretty comfortable!
…. And since they wear out really fast, if you dance heavily you’ll go through about as many pairs of shoes a year as historical people did too! Oof. Soooo much money. 😰😰😰
Immediately when I saw you in the first pair of shoes I thought they looked comfy af and was like, "who is thinking these look uncomfy!!!???"
Thanks Nicole. I’ve been laid up having broken my shoulder BUT the upside is that I’ve had so much time to deep drive with you into the world you live in. It’s probably not a surprise I’ve just bought fabric to make an Edwardian walking skirt for when I get back to my machine and I’m wondering where to get shoe making classes here in the UK. Thank you for your erudite and informative channel. I also love the way you say ‘acrost’ xx
Wonderful video! I really appreciate your perspective. You are clearly knowledgeable.I think a better comparison of shoes would be if you made a historical pair and then made a modern pair to test comfort. It's always different when you're making a thing for your self. Keep up the great work!
So, what drove the change to harder shell shoes? I always assumed it was industrialization and the need for materials that could withstand going through machinery but if they were mass producing soft shoes that can’t be the reason (or not the whole reason).
I wish I could have the opportunity to get one of your creations. I always thought that I was crazy for preferring my ballet slippers when I am at home than any other shoes. The feeling of a snugged but flexible leather around my feet is more comfortable for me than the typical “house shoes”
Fascinating stuff. Thanks for doing these vids.
I live in a pair of wooden geta (traditional Japanese toothed style), and my feet have never felt better. I wear them with basic stuff and hiking too. I love old-style shoes. Especially as I have a half inch differently sized feet, so modern shoes are a complicated fit.
Amazing, thank you for sharing!! Thank you for your work!!
As someone who wears heels regularly, high heels even (I regularly wear 4 inch heels), I am constantly faced with disbelief that I am comfortable. But it depends on finding the right fit and quality, and I have been watching all of your shoe building videos (I have even purchased a pair of lasts--I can't find a good set of antiques yet, but eventually, maybe--so I can make my own first pair!) and the shoes are designed for perfect fit. So it makes complete sense to me that they are comfortable! Fit is everything.
Rich and exciting video. Thank you for sharing! I'll be watching many more videos of yours. :)
The journey of finding shoes that I love and want to keep and repair forever is very difficult. Your videos will help me find the courage manifest my perfect handmade shoe collection. Your styles are so very fun and interesting!!!
"Kick your knees up, Step in Time!"
Regarding the historical overshoes, wouldn't they have had a strap to hold them on? If it was just something like ribbon, it probably would have worn away from surviving examples. I only ask because I've seen wooden overshoes from Eastern Europe that were clog-like that had holes on the sides which were where twine would be strung through to hold them on.
I wonder how traditional shoe-making techniques of the 18th and early 19th century compare to modern techniques for constructing ballet shoes.
This is so interesting - I never realized how much shoes had changed. I also remember learning in school that they didn't have right & left shoes in Colonial America, but I never realized that left & right shoes were the norm before the late 1500s, then were abandoned. Also, your dog is so sweet :)
one of my dreams for my life is to spend a week or two with Nicole and have her teach me how to make a pair of historic shoes. with my size 9 AAA foot, I have always been self-conscious about my feet and favour a light-weight daintier finished shoe.
@ Rhonda Crosswhite Oh my -you're like a Unicorn! A very pretty Unicorn! I thought I had a hard foot to fit when I was young. You must have traveled all over to find shoes to fit:(
I feel your pain. I'm with some one who's a men's double A. I never knew feet could be so slender and how hard it is to find comfortable, nice looking, and affordable shoes at that size.
I own a pair of 1890s-1910s boots and I was so surprised by how comfortable they are. I wear them every now and then because they condition is still very good and the leather is soft. I have a narrow and small foot and they fit as if they were made for me. Shoes are usually a bit too wide and the calf and ankle never fits. They also are so beautiful every male friend that has seen them is shocked by them and finds them interesting.
Makes me feel that flashing an ankle while wearing those boots back them would have been very exciting.
Ps I would love to see you make a pair of Edwardian style boots one day!
So the bottom line is that it’s all about the last? I’ve discovered a couple of manufacturers that apparently use a last that I find fairly comfortable - so I always look for those brands. The history part of this video is incredibly informative - Thank you so much for this video.
This is so interesting, thank you for sharing your experiences!
I absolutely loved the continuity breaker…
I also really appreciated the descriptions about uppers hugging the foot when there is “less” support from the soles. That makes so much sense when I consider that my dance and pilates shoes have no heel yet feel supremely comfortable as do my very flat mary jane shoes, whilst my very flat “ballet flats” would never do for dance, or any kind of walking or even standing…
Wow, that was absolutely fascinating!! Uncomfortable shoes have been the bane of my life; I have spent so much money on fancy, comfort soles and latest technology cushioning, desperate to stop my feet from being in agony - now I'm thinking all I needed this whole time is an historic pair of shoes! XD
It feels like we’re back in time seeing you walk in these ! A nice piece of history :)
Great information and an appearance from everyone's favorite guest star!
Found all this very interesting. Regarding the number of shoes per person per year, pre 1900 most people walked a lot more than we do today, as there was no alternative, and they worked much longer hours, 10/12 hours was not that uncommon, so this could account for the need for more shoes. I enjoyed this and the others on your channel. Boots and work wear, maids and hoarse riding as future possible subjects.
It's obvious from how the shoes look on you that they fit properly. As someone who always gets blisters from new pairs of modern shoes (once I can find a pair that even fits), I really appreciated this video. I even just went looking for shoemaking classes. Alas, the one school in my city has shut down, but I'm going to keep looking!
I have never had a pair of shoes that were comfortable. Ever. Frankly I would wear ANY pair of shoes no matter what they looked like if they were comfortable. Wide, flat feet don’t seem to deserve shoes. Such a pity
I also have wide feet and absolutely no arch whatsoever. I have orthotics, so I can't exactly speak to the quality of the insole (though the nurses in my area swear by them), but I have found the Allegria brand of shoes to be a suitable option if you've never tried it! They are very wide (and the insoles in almost all of their designs are removable in case you do want to add your own orthotics or other insole). They're pretty much all I buy now--thankfully they have a lot of styles!
I have had most success with barefoot style shoes, they are designed to give toes enough room to spread. My toes aren’t able to completely spread in the shoe, but at least they aren’t actively squished anymore. You gotta get used to the thin soles though.
I would recommend altra shoes. They’re super popular with long distance backpackers (I hiked the AT and Colorado trail in them). My current favorite are the mens lone peaks in wide (not a guy but I like that they’re wider). I basically can’t wear any other shoes because they’re so uncomfortable.
Just be aware there is no heel drop in the altras so you do need to modify your gait to more of a midfoot strike and take some time to get used to them if you’re used to wearing shoes with a lot of support. They’re like the minimalist shoes but actually have enough cushion.
Funny enough I got a pair of allegria shoes recently and was pleasantly surprised with their fit. My altras are still more comfortable tho :)
I grew up with a reenactment event of the Fur Trade era, so I've mostly worn moccasins when I've gotten to wear historical type shoes, but I'd say it still fits with what you say on great comfort on historical/ natural terrain, but a bit slidey on carpets & such. I'm one of those people that I hate wearing shoes indoors at home (might be from it being hard to find comfy shoes for my wide feet) & would love to go barefoot outside if I could trust there wasn't broken glass or other litter in the grassy places, so I love the concept of more range of motion in shoes! 💕
I hate the feel of any speck of dirt underfoot or of the carpet on my feet (I’m autistic and the feeling of stuff on my feet is my main sensory issue…) but I also won’t wear any hard soles in the house. (I’m also Canadian. With all the mud and snow we have it’s just plain disgusting to wear your outside shoes inside.)
SO, my solution is those same traditional handmade moccasins for house shoes! ;)
I also love them for the garden (unless it’s muddy) since I can weed and work in the plants without trampling my soil or plants so much as I would in boots, or accidentally kicking plants and rocks without being able to feel where my shoe is in a row of plants.
Thank you for this video! This explains a lot about the Thierry Rabotin formal shoes I purchased in October 2022. They have a microfiber/leather upper and are molded much closer to the foot--very like the lightweight historical shoes you were showcasing. I was baffled why I was suddenly wearing a women's size 6 (EU 36.5) when I usually wear a women's 7-7.5 in typical hardshell formal shoes. I also profoundly appreciated your section on how to walk. I have found that I shifted into a quasi-gliding pattern on my own, but now I will try to accommodate the style. It is interesting how things are coming full circle. 😊
Your channel is fascinating! Love listening to your videos!
this was a fascinating talk to me. I own 1 pair of American Duchess Londoner's and they are fantastic. To learn the changing heels and supports, etc. so interesting. I also added a rubber sole to my londoner's as an instinctive move to preserve the life of the shoe and increase safely while walking on modern indoor surfaces! You just confirmed to me all my instincts on that was correct. I always genuinely enjoy your content and the intelligence with which you speak and the research you have done. Thanks for the video!
This was so informative! I just have to say: LOVE your hair in this video.
Side note: I love your makeup! Very pretty 😍
Ah now this is the quality informative shoe content I was looking for, fascinating thanks
Hi Precious Nicole, i have to say your choices of these shoes from long ago when the quality was there,and great for the health of women’s feet,and most of them very comfortable also were attractive looking shoes with many alluring styles,and coming with long lasting wear,also were repairable over many times,and your decision to establishing a collection as a start to making them to wear which can have potential for a variety of areas leasure,theatrical,dancing,etc. and preserving history as to keeping it as a icon of the past,and you are amazing with your creative talent in remaking of all of the historical shoes,
keep more videos coming, thank you,love Denny😘😊🌈🥿🥿🎹
I always wandered about this. Thank you so much 👠
It'd be interesting to hear about any differences or similarities in how they adjusted shoes then and now for foot issues while maintaining (largely) the fashionable styles and silhouettes. Asking as a duck-footed person (wide foot, basically no arch).
Great video as always and thanks for continuing to provide awesome historical edutainment!
Fascinating talk! I've always wondered how shoes were constructed in the "olden days". My modern-day take on shoes was something I was told decades ago: that Italian-made shoes were more comfy (aka flexible soled) than Spanish- made...and forget about stuff from China! There's a great museum here in Toronto, Canada about your area of expertise. It's the Bata Shoe Museum. You should come up and do a lecture there sometime!
This is really cool! I own a variety of shoes, a pair of heeled boots with a straight block heel, a pair of handmade logging boots with a steel shank, leather uppers and sole on a wooden base, a pair of birkenstocks and a pair of zero drop hiking shoes. It's really interesting to learn about how shoes helped support you in the past in a different way, and I've definitely experienced that sort of hugging support from my leather logging boots as they are quite supportive and tightfitting it just feels like a nice hug
Shoes have gotten worse! I have a high instep and narrow feet and now diabetes related foot pain. It's so hard to find a narrow shoe, then hard to find comfortable ones!
I have a very small foot plus being Disabled, have absolutely no energy to go thru Malls (especially now) looking for shoes. I'm glad I found the shopping channels & apps as they not only carry the unusual sizes but often have selections not available in stores.
zappos has shoes in a range of widths.
The talk of the really thin stratchy but form fitting uppers perfectly describes why I always found Toms so comfortable! They look so tiny and unsupportive, but I have high arches and also tend to point my toes as a way of fightetting so the more flexible sole and uppers were so nice!
Speaking of using a different gait when walking, my coworkers commented on this when I started wearing minimalist shoes. There were a couple of them that could tell it was me walking down the hallway before I was ever in sight range because the soft, scuffy sound my shoes make due to a combination of the shoe itself and my tendency to walk with a mid-foot strike gait in those rather than the typical modern heel-toe
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and research with us, I can’t imagine all the time it takes. 💕💕💕
Will never get tired of the shots panning over your shoes. Love it. I should specify that I'm saying this as a person who likes seeing older styles of shoes on and off other people, but not on me! I still remain an admirer of the different kinds of heel shapes and heights throughout western dress history ♥️
My feet absolutely abhor any kind of shoe that tapers sharpish towards the toe which means most historical shoes that look right will fit so badly it isn't worth my spending the money on a quality reproduction. And no one in my family has the same size feet or taste so they'd go to waste after I'm gone ;_;
A shoe with a sharp toe are sometimes known in the US as "Roach Stompers". In the UK, same style is sometimes called a "Winkle Picker".
This is amazing, how have I never discovered this channel before!?
I honestly just like hearing her voice. I find it very soothing.
Me too. Even if I'm too tired to follow what she says, I like the calming effect of her voice.
My first thought was "where on earth do you get those lovlies?! where can I get them!?!" especially the white button boots in the back with the delish blue tassels!!!
Wonderful video. Would love to learn more about chopines.
I always love the doggy visits!
Well between this, your "I failed" video, and impulsively buying 2 pairs of lasts from Vicky D'Incecco's pre-sale last week, looks like I might have an historical pair of shoes or two by the end of the year! I'm very much looking forward to learning the process. 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks for posting, learned a lot and now have much to consider. I may go to the local huarache maker and see if he can do some historical shoes such as you've shown. One doesn't have options if they don't know what they are and now I found some new ones for my very narrow feet.
Those little white ones with the flowers and the sparkly buckles are beautiful.
I found this really interesting and educational. It really made sense to me after hearing all about the shoe making process. I don't wear heels anymore because the pounding onto the ball of my foot for so many years injured my feet and now I have to wear well padded shoes. When Easy Spirit shoes first came out, they were a God send as their padding made it feel like I was wearing a tennis shoe even though they had a 2" heel. Then they sold out to another company who sent the business to China, used cheap materials and they lost so much of the padding, even in their loafers. So now I wear a tennis type shoe for adequate padding. You are so right about modern shoes being so stiff! They are horrible for the most part and I can sympathize with you regarding blisters, especially on my little toes and the backs of my heels! Awful...Thank you so much for this video. Also, I love your dog. What kind of dog is it? Thanks!
Thanks for the ‘expose’. I realise now that the ‘lack of support’ was what I wondered about when I say you modelling them. Thanks for the logical analysis. I realise I equated them (with little justification upon reflection) with modern low toe-coverage ballet flats which have zero support of the foot because they have a soft, scanty upper plus a nasty flat heel. I now want to wear your historical shoes, or at least I know what to look for in a modern shoe. 👍
This is so fascinating! I feel like with (nearly) everything in life, we musn't look at something in black and white terms but always with nuance.
Ah, having to "break in" shoes. I have a pair of Doc Martens that in all the years I've owned and worn them, never properly broke in. I'm sure there are factors of why this specific pair didn't work for me, but at the end of it all I am wanting to either sell or donate them. I've given them plenty of time to work for me, and they never have.
I have a pair of snow/work boots I've never been able to break in either. I've only had them a couple years, but still annoying. I think (and this is probably the same thing with your Docs) it's because the soles and uppers are both super thick and inflexible. I have a similar pair of boots but more of a "fashion" version (they're basically like knock off suede Docs) and they're much more comfortable. Which makes sense since the sole is thinner and the upper is fairly thin suede. My uncomfy boots come in huge handy when it's snowing out, so I'll keep them, but if they were just for fashion they'd be gone.