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What I appreciate is that, despite the limited capacity for teaching this subeject in video form, you’ve still managed to make the various videos you’ve done clear enough for me to have made multiple somewhat successful shoes off of them, (first ones were not, second which was my first stitched shoe was, but not enoguh for me to make its mate, and the third pair which were cemented and cork soled have been a full success. )
That's great to hear! There's definitely some very subtle instructions in all of them. It's just requires being willing to experiment (and fail) and not everyone is! Which is so great that you are!
Making shoes by hand is just magical. My grandfather, Kirby, was a cobbler by trade, working in the 1920s - 1960s. Mostly he made shoes for polio victims who needed shoes with the soles built up to different heights so their legs would be the same length since their leg bones didn’t grow at the same rates after childhood. My grandmother had foot issues, so he custom made her shoes for her. When I think that his workshop full of leather machinery went to the dump after his death, it makes me so sad. Have you ever considered getting an antique treadled machine for shoe making? I’d love to see that process. Your videos connect me to him a little bit!😊
When I first got into fashion history I didn't expect to learn so much about human nature. There are so many things that we've done over the centuries. The mention of women being encouraged to embroider their own shoes reminded me of my TikTok days, seeing people embroider their (usually Converse) shoes. People have always been people. And people traits can be so endearing!
I had no idea this video would be about making shoes and I can't wait to watch it. THE only shoes I have that I think you might be interested in looking at would be shoes I got at a thrift store in Santa Monica on Main Street. ALL the stuff for the thrift came from Brentwood which is a very wealthy suburb in Los Angeles. THESE were made BY ORDER FOR THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND and were never worn. THEY had porcelain, three and a half inch heels that were exquisite. They were never worn and needless to say I'm so worried I might break the heel that actually I've not worn them. THEY still fit although over the decades my foot has gotten wider due to walking and maybe age but they were made such that they still work. I got the blue with white and also the green with white and I let the yellow pair-- also never worn --remain for someone else because I don't like to be greedy. They were only about $20 or $25 a pair and of course they would have been way beyond my pay grade if I got them in England. Of course ,just like the one that got away , I always keep thinking of the yellow pair, as if I need them because I'd be afraid to wear them just like the other two. HOW DO YOU REPAIR A PORCELAIN HEEL if it breaks? ANY THOUGHTS?
I think the learning part is something for every craft, especially in the realm of recreating historical clothing. Because there is so much lost knowledge and facts, that every time one makes something historical is a journey of discovering and learning stuff. Hell, even in singular pieces. I have been doing recreations and general tailoring for the 18th century now for over three years with a focus on actually getting the things pretty accurate, even heavily focussed on just two decades, the 1760-70`s and having made something like 8 waistcoats and breeches and four coats, I am still constantly learning new things, each piece getting better. Admittedly, over time the things become less "big", but are important none the less. Turning from general stuff like "thats how the cut should be overall" or "learning how to hand stitch" to "This is the exactly correct material for lining the back of a waistcoat or coat (commonly a linen cotton blend if you wondered)" or "This is the actual sub variant of the stitch and way used to secure buckram interfacing around a waistcoats front pockets". None the less, everything I make, even if it is the eighth of something, teaches me new things and has me find out new things in between. And I don´t think that will ever stop. You can always learn something and improve, I still often find myself thinking that stuff isn´t as accurate as it could be in the same way as before, but focussing on very different things like the right amount of plus and twist in the button hole thread I used instead of the material, overall cut and construction being wrong like in the beginning. Without stepping out of my bubble and looking at others stuff, the older things I made or showing my work off I probably would barely notice just how much I improved and learned from my first attempt at a hand sewn waistcoat around three years ago.
I really enjoy your shoe related videos, and keep referring back to them since dipping my toe into making shoes for myself. One of the thing you often mention is how earlier shoes are less rigid/more stretchy and therefore able to conform to the mid/late 20th century shoes. I would love to hear more about the reasons for this shift in a future video if possible: e.g. technological, material availability, infrastructure needs, ideas about foot health...? I don't think I've heard any thoughts on this from historical costume/living archeology podcasters and would really be curious about the underlying drivers for this shift.
Your shoes just keep getting more beautiful with every project. I spent 20 years in footwear materials, mostly athletic. I so wish we could go back to these beautiful pieces.
Just mesmerizing! I love your construction videos all! But watching you make shoes is just riveting. How the leather is so shaped and moulded to the shoe is fascinating... It's like tuning a heel in a sock... I gaze at the heel for at least 15 mins when turned.. Thank you for sharing your marvellous talent with us al!
Ive been making bespoke shoes for coming up to a couple years now. My first attempt of making shoes for another person was unfortunately a failure and they were too short.... Ive been getting a very quickly growing interest in vintage footwear and fashion especially due to your videos. Absolutely loved seeing the progress of your shoes over years. Ive got a few plans for vintage footwear I want to attempt in the next year. Thank you for being an inspiration
Your love of shoemaking shines through every video. What is exciting is seeing your beautiful shoes like the black and white balletlike one, the beaded ones and the short Russian boots worn in NYC. Are you planning on making over the knee pirate boots? And when will you, Abby and Chrissy do Gigot Girls as Mafia Dons?
Those early 20th c. gothic style shoes and 1890s boots are my favorite, absolutely fabulous! Super cool to watch you improve. That leather apron is soooooo nice, where is it from?
Wow, I love seeing these. I’m fascinated by the fact that you can do this. I’m a crocheter, so the part of me that wants to be making wants to try this especially since I can’t wear modern day heels as they are too stiff and high for me after an injury.
I have never noticed, in literature written in the times you address, mentions of discomfort in the foot. Was it just not a factor for most people because their shoes tended to fit, or was it so common that nobody whined about it? (Since people whine about rain, heat, snow, etc. I just don't think that was likely.) I can't imagine that poor and somewhat poor people had great shoes. Many of my jobs have been ones where I was on my feet for hours of the day and in my experience cheap shoes mean very painful feet. (I wore a 10 1/2 until I got old and my feet are 11 now. Made it hard to find shoes I could afford. So, I have worn some truly crap shoes. I was luckier when I just cut to the chase and wore men's shoes.)
Can’t wait to keep learning more but wondering if you could add footwear adapted for medical needs on that list? I’m a person with a neuropathy in my foot and have had no success with reproduction footwear that doesn’t cause immense pain. I wonder how over time footware has been made and adapted for people with things like diabetes, edema and just generally aging feet; were there ways people added arch support, extra traction & cushion? Love if anyone has and resources to share
Fascinating to see your progress over the years and the challenges you set yourself! I'd love to see a reaction video from you to the ones that show the artists at Freed or Bloch making ballet flats or pointe shoes!
Your work deserves a program on TV, although I don't watch it myself and am grateful that you have your channel here. It is so fascinating! I love that you share the process of each one, the mistakes and learnings, the historical references. My favorites are the pointed flats. I wonder about wherher shoe styles changed for ladies as they aged and what determined that. I also wonder what percentage of the population relied on stores vs personal shoe makers. I'm sure many poor rural people did not wear shoes at all times, because they do wear down quickly.
Wooden clogs were common for workers for centuries. Carved, thick wooden soles with leather or felt mules nailed over the front and a strap to go around the heel. Contemporary styles can be sourced in Sweden and Denmark as healthy choice footwear.
this is SO cool! i really admire people who are passionate and patient enough to learn very skilled, niche trades, especially historic ones its funny to realize the altered walk you described learning is what i do when i wear any heel, tho in my case i think its bc my shoes are ill fitting or poor quality maybe? it's just easier to walk flat in heels for me
I love your shoemaking videos! This is a skill I’d really love to learn because I have very small feet (size 2 kids/4 women). I’m interested in wearing historical dress as a matter of course and am currently working on my first ensemble from the corsetry/undergarments outward, and have no shoes that will go once I’m done. Wonderful video as always !
Do you know any sellers that create custom 18th century shoes like this? I have some American duchess but I’m very interested in wearing original constructed garments to see how they feel. Helps to be more immersive during events.
I've really enjoyed watching your skills progress over the years. And I love your current look, this hair style is so flattering on you. Very pretty. 😊
At first, I thought "Ooo, pretty shoes", not that I love shoes or am a fashionista, I just like pretty things. My curiosity was well rewarded by this topic you are so passionate about. I learned more than I'll ever need to know but found the information you shared more fascinating than I expected. Thank you!
I love all your videos, and I am particularly grateful for being properly educated about corsets, how and why they were worn. Your videos on the mannish woman are also fabulous, and I have assigned them on more than one occasion (I'm an English Professor). But my favorite videos are the shoes!! There is such a wide skill set involved, and I love seeing the new skills you are learning. I love the 1910s shoes the very best, particularly the pair with the woven panels and those gorgeous green-black oxfords. I'm greatly looking forward to more!.
Thank you for this walk through your journey. Your videos have definitely pushed me to increase my skills in a variety of areas but im extra excited to say that im venturing into shoe making this year with your advice held closely. I want to be ambitious and am going to try to start smaller 😅 Eventually i will make the perfect shoes to go with my Edwardian lingerie gown. 💖
I love your videos so much and have really enjoyed everything that you do, historical shoes are a particular fascination for me, and that's how I found you. I watched a ton of your archive of vids, I learn so much from you. Thank you Nicole 🙂🙏
Thank you. You have really encouraged me to start learning new ways to knit, curl get and embroider. I've been stuck in the same stiches. Time to stretch!
Your skills are amazing. This might be a silly request but its a genuine one: would you do a video on disney princess shoes, as in what they would have worn historically speaking please please please
Thank you so much for documenting this badass skill! It's one of my life goals to try it out one day, even though it will be a looong and painful learning process, as is every craft we take for granted today
Have you ever thought about covering mid century shoe fashions? Ive seen some pair from the vintage fashions channel and thought they were quite eccentric! Thanks for sharing your progress ❤
I've learned a wide range of different skills from automotive repair to home reno to medieval plate armour to sewing and fibre crafts and the one thing common to just about all of them is that failing is how you learn. You don't learn much when everything goes well, but each mistake is a learning experience and should be treated as such, rather than something to be avoided. I expect if I ever try making lasted shoes my first few will be failures as I figure out how my feet lie about their measurements (I'm getting an idea from sewing how my bust, waist and hips lie), but the one pair of cloth shoes I made from tracing out the uppers of a medieval-ish theatre shoe that happened to fit ok did turn out not badly, though there are definitely a few things I will change when I eventually go to remake them. Top of the list is leather soles, I just double-layered the upholstery fabric I'd used for the rest of the shoes. Thanks so much for sharing your journey, it's fascinating to see all the different things you've made.
I have been watching your videos all night and I have to say I really am intrigued by these techniques. You mentioned the UK a lot, are these classes with your teachers UK based? I can't think where there would be to learn the skill nearby me in the North of Scotland. I want to make a pair of shoes to bring to life a time traveller cosplay.
I'm always mesmerized by the shoe making vids. Alas, with my disease I can't even try since many of the things I have always done with ease are no longer enjoyable if possible. I'd be constantly doing it if I could though! I'd totally ditch the over shoes & just wear something else & carry my nice shoes later. I can no longer wear shoes except (clutch thy pearls) Crocks. It killed me to have to give up ALL of my shoe & boot collection. I'm wondering if a custom made pair of cute-ish shoes could be made for my crippled feet? I would love some modified 1800 - early 1900s boots or the look of, like your black/creamy white shoes or the Oxfords. I always loved the Oxford styles when I was young because my elders all wore them. The leaf shoes wood be awesome for fantasy wear, that was a fun one to watch too!
I love your shoe videos! I recently made myself a pair of 10 century (ish) turnshoes, and your turnshoe video was one of the first places I went for a strong how-to (they turned out great, but I'm definitely going to have to get used to the different walking style). On that note, what sort of leathers do you tend to work with? Do you use sole bend, veg tanned, oil tanned, chrome tanned... or is it a case of choosing what seems suitable for your current project?
Those 18th century shoes always look so dainty and easy to drop, so im guessing working classes would have some more sturdy options that didn't jiggle and move? In the late 19th century shoes definitely looked a lot more practical and less likely to fall off.
Not sure it'd be a good fit, but I deeply hope moccasins and in particular Russell style boots, make it to the list since they'd make an interesting alternate take in design and historical evolution. Moccasins have a long reaching historical origin but the Russell has an interesting take pairing the designs of both boots and moccasins. The construction of their triple vamped design seems like an interesting challenge but I'm curious how their design evolved from the earliest ones they made and got so renowned for. The Iron Snail did a few videos of them a while back.
Thank you for your videos, Nicole. I always enjoy them. I have a question. I have read that shoemakers use soapstone powder. Apparently, it is a fine powder made of soapstone that consists of talc and another mineral. What would you use it for?
I wish that you were closer to Austin, TX, so I could take lessons. I wear a American Women's 7.5 EE with a tall toebox, so I totally understand the problems of finding anything that fits in modern shoes. I generally end up living barefoot, but I am getting interested in historical costuming, so footwear is going to be an issue......
I know this will seem absurd, but I used to have a tough time sleeping. Searching YT I found a past life hypnosis channel, & even though I'm not into that... I thought what the heck it might help me relax & sleep. So, I tried it. The hypnosis had me ask myself questions like name, year, place & observe my surroundings. The year was 1906. The name was Margaret Livingstone married to a Walter, & I was in Charleston. When observing my surroundings I kept looking at my shoes which was odd because I'm not a shoe person, but it was like: "I love these shoes! Notice these shoes!" Anyway, it started to kinda freak me out & I thought: "This is nonsense!" So, I snapped out of it. But the absursity of it stuck with me in the immediate months after. Where would I come up with that? Why those names? Why 1906 when I much prefer ancient history? Why Charleston? I've never been there or thought about going there, and I sure don't know a thing about 1906 fashion. At the time, I had an ancestry account, so I checked the census records for Charleston in the year 1906, cause it was really bothering me. Sure enough there was a Margaret and Walter Livingstone & he was a shoemaker. He had 3 shops & he made a pair of boots called "The Livingstone" that sits in the Charleston museum today. Those boots look EXACTLY like what I had on & so admired in that weird regression. It'd be really cool to see you make a pair of boots like those.
I've only now discovered this video but I would like to ask you a sort of funny question which is: WHAT exactly do you do that you have to walk so much? Are you walking exclusively outdoors? Walking is something people don't do much anymore and I envy you actually the fact that you do have to walk a lot so I'm curious what is the job that you do that necessitates your walking a lot? I find it interesting that you can't walk heel-to-toe like we do now because what I have found is that older people fall a lot because they walk flat-footed. I also found that when I was in Chicago and I wore Birkenstock sandals, I was walking flat-footed and there's so many cracks there and so many problems with their sidewalks that I fell flat on my face! 😢. LATER asked a couple different people --one lady in her eighties and one in her twenties,very athletic&- and they both had fallen many times and they were native to Chicago. SO I didn't feel quite as stupid as I did when I fell but I began to walk heel-to-toe and got rid of my Birkenstocks and got some Nikes so they would be more flexible and I could remember to go heel to toe. That way, if I hit a crack or some big bump with my heel, by the time my toe hit I would have regained equilibrium rather than flying straight out onto my face. I'm NOT surprised their shoes were softer and contoured more to one's foot but I am a little surprised that they walked flat-footed because I imagine in that day and age sidewalks were NOT very level and they might have been dirt streets and dirt sidewalks that you'd have to navigate. I think a flat foot is much harder to navigate in that terrain.
I just found your channel and now I want to make shoes for my giant wide different sized feet. I can't ever wear girl shoes. To eventually own a single pair of girl shoes is an absolute dream of mine.
I'm really curious if you have a suggestion on what the best style of shoe would be for a person that has high arches, plantar fascitis in one foot and is on the short and heavy side. I really think custom shoes would be a great way for me to go (altho I have gotten some modern orthotics) I do not like big heels at all. Granted the only ones I've been in have been modern. I do like boots. I also sometimes have ankles that like to roll
How might someone start making shoes if they don't work at Colonial Williamsburg? Genuine question: I love designing shoes but can't make any of them. And is there any hope for those of us with reduced hand strength??
I would love to know the story of the enslaved woman whose shoes you reproduced. Honestly, I'm surprised the guy who ordered them bothered to know her well enough to know that the cold hurt her feet and cared enough to do something about it.
+nicolerudolph *Can ye apply your knowledge to Renaissance re-enactor brogues suitable for mud? I estimate so.* Ghillie brogues were invented in the bogs o' Scotland, and modern interpretations such as are available at USA KiltsⓇ (Spring City, PA, USA) leave a BEAR of a lot to be desired.
Shoes are important. They show off my 18tf C calves. "Heels are nice, way to nice to waste on men!" Wut? I'm lucky enough to have friends who make shoes for my medieval persona. High heels would look great on men as well and women.
Do you know if early shoe structures affected the way ladies danced or contributed to a lady's freedom of movement during a dance. And do you know if the change of shoe structure contributed to women's general freedom? Have you stuck with period specific shoe shapes or have you always made your shoes in left & right? I thknk I did notice some of your shoes were non-foot specific.
What is the white material you used to cover the heels of that early yellow silk pair? Willock, withock, witshock? Looks like maybe pigskin, but that search got me no closer to the word(s) you called it. Thanks
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This video is amazing and fascinating ! So proud of you for making shoes like ALL of these.
What I appreciate is that, despite the limited capacity for teaching this subeject in video form, you’ve still managed to make the various videos you’ve done clear enough for me to have made multiple somewhat successful shoes off of them, (first ones were not, second which was my first stitched shoe was, but not enoguh for me to make its mate, and the third pair which were cemented and cork soled have been a full success. )
That's great to hear! There's definitely some very subtle instructions in all of them. It's just requires being willing to experiment (and fail) and not everyone is! Which is so great that you are!
Making shoes by hand is just magical. My grandfather, Kirby, was a cobbler by trade, working in the 1920s - 1960s. Mostly he made shoes for polio victims who needed shoes with the soles built up to different heights so their legs would be the same length since their leg bones didn’t grow at the same rates after childhood. My grandmother had foot issues, so he custom made her shoes for her. When I think that his workshop full of leather machinery went to the dump after his death, it makes me so sad. Have you ever considered getting an antique treadled machine for shoe making? I’d love to see that process. Your videos connect me to him a little bit!😊
How powerful it is to be like "I need new shoes" and then just go and _make_ them?? Holy MOLY 🤯🤯🤯
When I first got into fashion history I didn't expect to learn so much about human nature. There are so many things that we've done over the centuries. The mention of women being encouraged to embroider their own shoes reminded me of my TikTok days, seeing people embroider their (usually Converse) shoes. People have always been people. And people traits can be so endearing!
My shoes from you are some of my most prized possessions, especially the red and white pair!
I met a lady last summer who has a pair of your shoes. I was impressed ❤
I can't imagine working on something for 2 months and then having it not fit-- I am so proud of you for sticking with it!
A maker is in love with the making. The final result is a nice bonus.
I had no idea this video would be about making shoes and I can't wait to watch it. THE only shoes I have that I think you might be interested in looking at would be shoes I got at a thrift store in Santa Monica on Main Street. ALL the stuff for the thrift came from Brentwood which is a very wealthy suburb in Los Angeles. THESE were made BY ORDER FOR THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND and were never worn. THEY had porcelain, three and a half inch heels that were exquisite. They were never worn and needless to say I'm so worried I might break the heel that actually I've not worn them. THEY still fit although over the decades my foot has gotten wider due to walking and maybe age but they were made such that they still work. I got the blue with white and also the green with white and I let the yellow pair-- also never worn --remain for someone else because I don't like to be greedy. They were only about $20 or $25 a pair and of course they would have been way beyond my pay grade if I got them in England.
Of course ,just like the one that got away , I always keep thinking of the yellow pair, as if I need them because I'd be afraid to wear them just like the other two. HOW DO YOU REPAIR A PORCELAIN HEEL if it breaks? ANY THOUGHTS?
I love all your videos but there's something about your shoe videos that always make extra excited to watch
I think the learning part is something for every craft, especially in the realm of recreating historical clothing. Because there is so much lost knowledge and facts, that every time one makes something historical is a journey of discovering and learning stuff. Hell, even in singular pieces. I have been doing recreations and general tailoring for the 18th century now for over three years with a focus on actually getting the things pretty accurate, even heavily focussed on just two decades, the 1760-70`s and having made something like 8 waistcoats and breeches and four coats, I am still constantly learning new things, each piece getting better. Admittedly, over time the things become less "big", but are important none the less. Turning from general stuff like "thats how the cut should be overall" or "learning how to hand stitch" to "This is the exactly correct material for lining the back of a waistcoat or coat (commonly a linen cotton blend if you wondered)" or "This is the actual sub variant of the stitch and way used to secure buckram interfacing around a waistcoats front pockets". None the less, everything I make, even if it is the eighth of something, teaches me new things and has me find out new things in between.
And I don´t think that will ever stop. You can always learn something and improve, I still often find myself thinking that stuff isn´t as accurate as it could be in the same way as before, but focussing on very different things like the right amount of plus and twist in the button hole thread I used instead of the material, overall cut and construction being wrong like in the beginning. Without stepping out of my bubble and looking at others stuff, the older things I made or showing my work off I probably would barely notice just how much I improved and learned from my first attempt at a hand sewn waistcoat around three years ago.
Out of all the shoes you've made, your 1805 white flats with white bows and black toe cap embroidered area are magical.🥰
This was very interesting. My first intro to Nicole was on the production of the Bernadette shoe. I have been following Nicole ever since.
Wow! I want to make shoes now... There are so many crafts out there, I wish I could learn them all!
Those 1890’s boots are a dream! Absolutely gorgeous!
I really enjoy your shoe related videos, and keep referring back to them since dipping my toe into making shoes for myself. One of the thing you often mention is how earlier shoes are less rigid/more stretchy and therefore able to conform to the mid/late 20th century shoes. I would love to hear more about the reasons for this shift in a future video if possible: e.g. technological, material availability, infrastructure needs, ideas about foot health...? I don't think I've heard any thoughts on this from historical costume/living archeology podcasters and would really be curious about the underlying drivers for this shift.
Your shoes just keep getting more beautiful with every project. I spent 20 years in footwear materials, mostly athletic. I so wish we could go back to these beautiful pieces.
What an amazing progression of skill and absolutely stunning pieces! ❤❤❤
Just mesmerizing! I love your construction videos all! But watching you make shoes is just riveting. How the leather is so shaped and moulded to the shoe is fascinating... It's like tuning a heel in a sock... I gaze at the heel for at least 15 mins when turned.. Thank you for sharing your marvellous talent with us al!
Forget about your excellent programs for one minute I just have to say you look terrific.
Ive been making bespoke shoes for coming up to a couple years now. My first attempt of making shoes for another person was unfortunately a failure and they were too short....
Ive been getting a very quickly growing interest in vintage footwear and fashion especially due to your videos.
Absolutely loved seeing the progress of your shoes over years.
Ive got a few plans for vintage footwear I want to attempt in the next year.
Thank you for being an inspiration
Your love of shoemaking shines through every video. What is exciting is seeing your beautiful shoes like the black and white balletlike one, the beaded ones and the short Russian boots worn in NYC. Are you planning on making over the knee pirate boots? And when will you, Abby and Chrissy do Gigot Girls as Mafia Dons?
Amazing. ❤ love this. It's nice to see artisans at work. We need more people like you!
So many gorgeous shoes😍 and also, what a journey - I did not imagine that you also had to learn carving etc
The shoe videos are my favorite. We need some witchy boots!
That ink on leather was a really cool technique.
Thanks for this. I enjoy your shoe making videos and am in awe of your patience and precision.
Those early 20th c. gothic style shoes and 1890s boots are my favorite, absolutely fabulous! Super cool to watch you improve. That leather apron is soooooo nice, where is it from?
Wow, I love seeing these. I’m fascinated by the fact that you can do this. I’m a crocheter, so the part of me that wants to be making wants to try this especially since I can’t wear modern day heels as they are too stiff and high for me after an injury.
I have never noticed, in literature written in the times you address, mentions of discomfort in the foot. Was it just not a factor for most people because their shoes tended to fit, or was it so common that nobody whined about it? (Since people whine about rain, heat, snow, etc. I just don't think that was likely.) I can't imagine that poor and somewhat poor people had great shoes. Many of my jobs have been ones where I was on my feet for hours of the day and in my experience cheap shoes mean very painful feet. (I wore a 10 1/2 until I got old and my feet are 11 now. Made it hard to find shoes I could afford. So, I have worn some truly crap shoes. I was luckier when I just cut to the chase and wore men's shoes.)
my guess is that it partly comes from leather and fabrics being able to conform to the foot?
As a woman with size 13 feet, I'm so jealous of your learning to make your own shoes. I desperately wish I could find someone to teach me.
Can’t wait to keep learning more but wondering if you could add footwear adapted for medical needs on that list? I’m a person with a neuropathy in my foot and have had no success with reproduction footwear that doesn’t cause immense pain. I wonder how over time footware has been made and adapted for people with things like diabetes, edema and just generally aging feet; were there ways people added arch support, extra traction & cushion? Love if anyone has and resources to share
Fascinating to see your progress over the years and the challenges you set yourself! I'd love to see a reaction video from you to the ones that show the artists at Freed or Bloch making ballet flats or pointe shoes!
Wow! I love that several of the pairs that you’ve recreated have information that connects them back to the women who wore them ❤
Bravo ! Love your shoe videos. Thanks for being honest on "fails" as that is central to learning.
Dropped out of college and became a lastmaker, no going back from here lol
A lastmaker is a prized trade. Hope you keep going with it. Id be happy to be a customer one day
Your work deserves a program on TV, although I don't watch it myself and am grateful that you have your channel here. It is so fascinating! I love that you share the process of each one, the mistakes and learnings, the historical references. My favorites are the pointed flats. I wonder about wherher shoe styles changed for ladies as they aged and what determined that. I also wonder what percentage of the population relied on stores vs personal shoe makers. I'm sure many poor rural people did not wear shoes at all times, because they do wear down quickly.
Wooden clogs were common for workers for centuries. Carved, thick wooden soles with leather or felt mules nailed over the front and a strap to go around the heel. Contemporary styles can be sourced in Sweden and Denmark as healthy choice footwear.
@@michellebyrom6551 That makes a lot of sense. Carving wood clogs would be the best solution for "the people" - totally doable.
Thank you for reviving quality.
this is SO cool! i really admire people who are passionate and patient enough to learn very skilled, niche trades, especially historic ones
its funny to realize the altered walk you described learning is what i do when i wear any heel, tho in my case i think its bc my shoes are ill fitting or poor quality maybe? it's just easier to walk flat in heels for me
I Love your shoe content! Could watch it every week.
Love the 1920s shoes
I love your shoemaking videos! This is a skill I’d really love to learn because I have very small feet (size 2 kids/4 women). I’m interested in wearing historical dress as a matter of course and am currently working on my first ensemble from the corsetry/undergarments outward, and have no shoes that will go once I’m done. Wonderful video as always !
I would love a video on lasts and last carving!
I love how the 1880's boots kinda look like a pair of fancy Converse boots. Now I want something like it. XD
Do you know any sellers that create custom 18th century shoes like this? I have some American duchess but I’m very interested in wearing original constructed garments to see how they feel. Helps to be more immersive during events.
FYI "rand" is 'edge' in Dutch. Also 'edging' is "rand".
(I'm only 6 mins into the video, and as always it's so good!) 👢👠🩰
I've really enjoyed watching your skills progress over the years. And I love your current look, this hair style is so flattering on you. Very pretty. 😊
At first, I thought "Ooo, pretty shoes", not that I love shoes or am a fashionista, I just like pretty things. My curiosity was well rewarded by this topic you are so passionate about. I learned more than I'll ever need to know but found the information you shared more fascinating than I expected. Thank you!
I love all your videos, and I am particularly grateful for being properly educated about corsets, how and why they were worn. Your videos on the mannish woman are also fabulous, and I have assigned them on more than one occasion (I'm an English Professor). But my favorite videos are the shoes!! There is such a wide skill set involved, and I love seeing the new skills you are learning. I love the 1910s shoes the very best, particularly the pair with the woven panels and those gorgeous green-black oxfords. I'm greatly looking forward to more!.
Bravo, Nicole! Wonderful display of how you have evolved and updated your skills over time. Thank you for sharing your progress.
❤ the hair! Very Mary Poppins-ish!
This is so fascinating, thank you for sharing!
Wow, this was incredible.
Thank you for this walk through your journey. Your videos have definitely pushed me to increase my skills in a variety of areas but im extra excited to say that im venturing into shoe making this year with your advice held closely.
I want to be ambitious and am going to try to start smaller 😅
Eventually i will make the perfect shoes to go with my Edwardian lingerie gown. 💖
I love your videos so much and have really enjoyed everything that you do, historical shoes are a particular fascination for me, and that's how I found you. I watched a ton of your archive of vids, I learn so much from you. Thank you Nicole 🙂🙏
Thank you. You have really encouraged me to start learning new ways to knit, curl get and embroider. I've been stuck in the same stiches. Time to stretch!
Your skills are amazing. This might be a silly request but its a genuine one: would you do a video on disney princess shoes, as in what they would have worn historically speaking please please please
You took part in the women's millinery? Does that make you a veteran hat maker now? 🤠😉👍
Thank you so much for documenting this badass skill! It's one of my life goals to try it out one day, even though it will be a looong and painful learning process, as is every craft we take for granted today
I love seeing how people wore such vibrant colors. We also think that folks wore only black and gray until the 1960's 😂😂😂
Impressive! Wow
I'm very impressed by your many skills. I can't wait to see the next pair of shoes you make.
Have you ever thought about covering mid century shoe fashions? Ive seen some pair from the vintage fashions channel and thought they were quite eccentric! Thanks for sharing your progress ❤
Brava and the the shoe cubbies are fabulous
I've learned a wide range of different skills from automotive repair to home reno to medieval plate armour to sewing and fibre crafts and the one thing common to just about all of them is that failing is how you learn. You don't learn much when everything goes well, but each mistake is a learning experience and should be treated as such, rather than something to be avoided. I expect if I ever try making lasted shoes my first few will be failures as I figure out how my feet lie about their measurements (I'm getting an idea from sewing how my bust, waist and hips lie), but the one pair of cloth shoes I made from tracing out the uppers of a medieval-ish theatre shoe that happened to fit ok did turn out not badly, though there are definitely a few things I will change when I eventually go to remake them. Top of the list is leather soles, I just double-layered the upholstery fabric I'd used for the rest of the shoes. Thanks so much for sharing your journey, it's fascinating to see all the different things you've made.
Your work is amazing
The list is endless. You'll never be finished!
I have been watching your videos all night and I have to say I really am intrigued by these techniques. You mentioned the UK a lot, are these classes with your teachers UK based? I can't think where there would be to learn the skill nearby me in the North of Scotland. I want to make a pair of shoes to bring to life a time traveller cosplay.
I'm always mesmerized by the shoe making vids. Alas, with my disease I can't even try since many of the things I have always done with ease are no longer enjoyable if possible. I'd be constantly doing it if I could though! I'd totally ditch the over shoes & just wear something else & carry my nice shoes later. I can no longer wear shoes except (clutch thy pearls) Crocks. It killed me to have to give up ALL of my shoe & boot collection. I'm wondering if a custom made pair of cute-ish shoes could be made for my crippled feet? I would love some modified 1800 - early 1900s boots or the look of, like your black/creamy white shoes or the Oxfords. I always loved the Oxford styles when I was young because my elders all wore them. The leaf shoes wood be awesome for fantasy wear, that was a fun one to watch too!
I love your shoe videos! I recently made myself a pair of 10 century (ish) turnshoes, and your turnshoe video was one of the first places I went for a strong how-to (they turned out great, but I'm definitely going to have to get used to the different walking style).
On that note, what sort of leathers do you tend to work with? Do you use sole bend, veg tanned, oil tanned, chrome tanned... or is it a case of choosing what seems suitable for your current project?
It varies widely, but I do try to stick to veg tan over chrome tan when I can! It's much friendlier to work with by hand.
Those 18th century shoes always look so dainty and easy to drop, so im guessing working classes would have some more sturdy options that didn't jiggle and move? In the late 19th century shoes definitely looked a lot more practical and less likely to fall off.
I thought this video would be burning. But I was fascinated the entire time. ❤
Not sure it'd be a good fit, but I deeply hope moccasins and in particular Russell style boots, make it to the list since they'd make an interesting alternate take in design and historical evolution.
Moccasins have a long reaching historical origin but the Russell has an interesting take pairing the designs of both boots and moccasins. The construction of their triple vamped design seems like an interesting challenge but I'm curious how their design evolved from the earliest ones they made and got so renowned for. The Iron Snail did a few videos of them a while back.
Thank you for your videos, Nicole. I always enjoy them. I have a question. I have read that shoemakers use soapstone powder. Apparently, it is a fine powder made of soapstone that consists of talc and another mineral. What would you use it for?
I love what you do so interesting
I wish that you were closer to Austin, TX, so I could take lessons. I wear a American Women's 7.5 EE with a tall toebox, so I totally understand the problems of finding anything that fits in modern shoes. I generally end up living barefoot, but I am getting interested in historical costuming, so footwear is going to be an issue......
Cool 😀
Fantastic!
I know this will seem absurd, but I used to have a tough time sleeping. Searching YT I found a past life hypnosis channel, & even though I'm not into that... I thought what the heck it might help me relax & sleep. So, I tried it.
The hypnosis had me ask myself questions like name, year, place & observe my surroundings. The year was 1906. The name was Margaret Livingstone married to a Walter, & I was in Charleston. When observing my surroundings I kept looking at my shoes which was odd because I'm not a shoe person, but it was like: "I love these shoes! Notice these shoes!"
Anyway, it started to kinda freak me out & I thought: "This is nonsense!" So, I snapped out of it.
But the absursity of it stuck with me in the immediate months after. Where would I come up with that? Why those names? Why 1906 when I much prefer ancient history? Why Charleston? I've never been there or thought about going there, and I sure don't know a thing about 1906 fashion.
At the time, I had an ancestry account, so I checked the census records for Charleston in the year 1906, cause it was really bothering me.
Sure enough there was a Margaret and Walter Livingstone & he was a shoemaker. He had 3 shops & he made a pair of boots called "The Livingstone" that sits in the Charleston museum today. Those boots look EXACTLY like what I had on & so admired in that weird regression.
It'd be really cool to see you make a pair of boots like those.
I've only now discovered this video but I would like to ask you a sort of funny question which is: WHAT exactly do you do that you have to walk so much? Are you walking exclusively outdoors? Walking is something people don't do much anymore and I envy you actually the fact that you do have to walk a lot so I'm curious what is the job that you do that necessitates your walking a lot?
I find it interesting that you can't walk heel-to-toe like we do now because what I have found is that older people fall a lot because they walk flat-footed. I also found that when I was in Chicago and I wore Birkenstock sandals, I was walking flat-footed and there's so many cracks there and so many problems with their sidewalks that I fell flat on my face! 😢. LATER asked a couple different people --one lady in her eighties and one in her twenties,very athletic&- and they both had fallen many times and they were native to Chicago. SO I didn't feel quite as stupid as I did when I fell but I began to walk heel-to-toe and got rid of my Birkenstocks and got some Nikes so they would be more flexible and I could remember to go heel to toe. That way, if I hit a crack or some big bump with my heel, by the time my toe hit I would have regained equilibrium rather than flying straight out onto my face.
I'm NOT surprised their shoes were softer and contoured more to one's foot but I am a little surprised that they walked flat-footed because I imagine in that day and age sidewalks were NOT very level and they might have been dirt streets and dirt sidewalks that you'd have to navigate. I think a flat foot is much harder to navigate in that terrain.
She used to be a shoemaker/ reenactor at colonial Williamsburg, which is 1770s
Which time parents could you recommend the store?
I just found your channel and now I want to make shoes for my giant wide different sized feet. I can't ever wear girl shoes. To eventually own a single pair of girl shoes is an absolute dream of mine.
I'm really curious if you have a suggestion on what the best style of shoe would be for a person that has high arches, plantar fascitis in one foot and is on the short and heavy side. I really think custom shoes would be a great way for me to go (altho I have gotten some modern orthotics) I do not like big heels at all. Granted the only ones I've been in have been modern. I do like boots. I also sometimes have ankles that like to roll
What are the MFA 44.506 @23:53. They look really cool, but I have no idea when and where they came form.
How might someone start making shoes if they don't work at Colonial Williamsburg? Genuine question: I love designing shoes but can't make any of them. And is there any hope for those of us with reduced hand strength??
Everytime you post a shoe-video I get a craving to make shoes, but considering that I have zero equipment or knowledge it might take some time😂
I would love to know the story of the enslaved woman whose shoes you reproduced. Honestly, I'm surprised the guy who ordered them bothered to know her well enough to know that the cold hurt her feet and cared enough to do something about it.
😶😶😶😮😮😳 gosh........what endeavour...!!! 👌👌👌
Where do you find shoe lasts or make them?
+nicolerudolph *Can ye apply your knowledge to Renaissance re-enactor brogues suitable for mud? I estimate so.* Ghillie brogues were invented in the bogs o' Scotland, and modern interpretations such as are available at USA KiltsⓇ (Spring City, PA, USA) leave a BEAR of a lot to be desired.
Shoes are important. They show off my 18tf C calves. "Heels are nice, way to nice to waste on men!" Wut?
I'm lucky enough to have friends who make shoes for my medieval persona. High heels would look great on men as well and women.
Do you know if early shoe structures affected the way ladies danced or contributed to a lady's freedom of movement during a dance.
And do you know if the change of shoe structure contributed to women's general freedom?
Have you stuck with period specific shoe shapes or have you always made your shoes in left & right?
I thknk I did notice some of your shoes were non-foot specific.
What is the white material you used to cover the heels of that early yellow silk pair? Willock, withock, witshock? Looks like maybe pigskin, but that search got me no closer to the word(s) you called it. Thanks
It’s whittaw or tawed leather.
@@julianamckibben7530 Thank you Juliana!
Foot couture!
Do you ever take commissions?
Not any more. Just don’t have the time for it!
Gorg!