On Aug 13, 2009, at 3:52 PM, Sharon Collier wrote:
Our group portrays Elizabeth's court around 1575. Our costumer is VERY
particular and she approves these. [Soles Thru Time]
I guess I'm more particular than your costumer! I don't care for
these. First, they use the worst possible sources (Norris and
Peacock vie for the bottom of my list). For example, this sweet
ankle strap shoe:
http://www.solesthrutime.com/Images/Slippers/
Greenandyellowwithanklestrap.jpg
Now, I'm not a shoe expert, but I have serious doubts that anyone was
wearing a buckled ankle-strap slipper like this in the middle ages.
I would, however, love to see evidence of it if anyone has some!
Both Norris and Peacock drew some version of it, which makes me
wonder where they got it, though I'm cynical enough to think (based
on my experience with these sources) that Norris made it up and
Peacock borrowed and improved it.
Next, their interpretation of these sources looks modern and costumey
to me. Take for example these:
http://www.solesthrutime.com/Images/Slippers/TeardropSlashes.jpg
They have a strange side-lacing that I've never seen in a 16th-
century shoe, and instead of a straight slash, they have teardrop-
shaped openings.
These are probably the best ones:
http://www.solesthrutime.com/Images/Slippers/Unfinishedgreenslippers.jpg
though the one on the left has strange puffed leather in the slashes
and the other has the pickadils way too far apart.
For the money they're charging, I'd rather go with something that
looks a little more accurate. Try the plain shoe at Revival:
http://revival.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=310
It's not as fancy, but it's a much better shape and costs $100 less,
too.
Melanie Schuessler
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