Boots: How to make or where to procure.

[Lt. Thomas Corvidae]

I am having a hard time finding good boots to wear for anything Steampunk, punk, or just to be eccentric. I bought some "boots" from The Gentleman's Emporium, but what I got in the mail was very disappointing. Most other boots I have found are upwards of $100, money which I really don't have, or if I did have it, would rather use to buy other fun things.

Would making be a better option? And if so, how would I go about doing such a thing? I have never worked in leather before, but am not opposed to learning/teaching myself.

[Capt. Stockings]

Thrift stores and discount stores like Ross are a pretty decent place for boots, though their stock is pretty hit and miss. I wouldn't recommend making your own unless you know what you're doing, but adding leather to a pair of short boots to make them taller might be an option for you. You could also make or buy some leather spats or gaiters and wear them over a pair of leather shoes. It won't be boots, but it'll give you sort of the look of them.

[akumabito]

Google: M-1943 boots, also known as "double buckle boots"



Find a local retailer,reproductions run from around $70 to $200..

[Otto Von Pifka]

I agree spats/gaiters can make a plain pair of dress shoes look the part just fine. even puttees work if you can wrap them and feel comfortable in them.
it's always a good idea to try on your costume pieces for a few hours just to see if they STAY comfortable. something that may be a teensy bit uncomfortable can quickly become unbearable.
also be mindful that just because you can sit down for a few seconds at home and get a little relief, the same may not be true at an event.

thats the beauty of spats, you can add them to some really comfortable shoes and get the look you want with the comfort you really need.

[MistressMagpie]

Seconding the vote for secondhand shops-- I recently picked up a barely-worn pair of boots for about $8 USD; new, they cost about $160. I'm still a little giddy about it, and it's been nearly a month.

You need to look in the right thrift shops. Different locations get different sorts of donations. The Salvation Army in my hometown rarely gets any shoes that aren't terribly worn out, and most of them were junk to start with, where a Value Village near where I go to school almost always has a few pairs that are worth trying on.

To find a nice pair of boots in your size might take time, too. Come back once a week or so, so you can check out any new arrivals.

[Lilthuglet]

They may well be a little on the expensive side but if you are prepared to fork out for them then horse riding boots might suit. There are quite a range of black/brown, laced/unlaced leather boots and gaiters available at tack shops. There are also some second hand. A set of brown topped gentleman's hunting boots could look very shiny.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JUST-TOGS-BROWN-LONG-LEATHER-RIDING-COUNTRY-BOOTS-SZ-4-/220710851811?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item33636454e3#ht_745wt_905

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Long-leather-riding-boots-5-5-Hawkins-/120728578245?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item1c1bfbe8c5#ht_500wt_1156

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dublin-Pinnacle-Long-Leather-Riding-Boots-Size-5-/120731644353?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item1c1c2ab1c1#ht_1150wt_905

Some examples.

[Capt. Dirigible]

They may well be a little on the expensive side but if you are prepared to fork out for them then horse riding boots might suit. There are quite a range of black/brown, laced/unlaced leather boots and gaiters available at tack shops. There are also some second hand. A set of brown topped gentleman's hunting boots could look very shiny.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JUST-TOGS-BROWN-LONG-LEATHER-RIDING-COUNTRY-BOOTS-SZ-4-/220710851811?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item33636454e3#ht_745wt_905

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Long-leather-riding-boots-5-5-Hawkins-/120728578245?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item1c1bfbe8c5#ht_500wt_1156

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dublin-Pinnacle-Long-Leather-Riding-Boots-Size-5-/120731644353?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Athletic_Shoes_ET&hash=item1c1c2ab1c1#ht_1150wt_905

Some examples.

Speaking as someone who has two pairs of riding boots I should warn you that they aren't the most comfortable boots in the world if you're likely to be wearing them all day at, say, a Con. They are designed specifically for wearing while on horseback not for walking about for long periods and  therefore don't have the usual  built in padding one gets with regular footwear that's designed for walking in. I've worn my riding boots at the last two Asylums and couldn't walk by Sunday evening!

I strongly suggest you get yourself a pair of really comfy plain shoes or ankle boots and then buy some gaiters in the same colour. Once fastened you can barely tell that they're not actually riding boots

[Cogni]

Army surplus stores can be a goldmine. When I was in highschool oh so many years ago I bought a pair of Army Combat Boots for 10USD because the boxes had been ruined and they couldn't sell them as new.

[bdohaney]

For my western steam I am working on, I got myself a pair of Justin Roper cowboy boots.  Plain, black leather, comfortable, and the basic ones cost well under 100.

[Jedediah Solomon]

Just two words... Army Surplus!   The Jump boots are the best in my opinion, but Puttees and gaiters give a certain Savoire-Faire to dress up any occasion as well. They can b decorated so having several pairs  of toppers with somewhat different styles has its advantage as well.  Have fun

[Lord Battle-Cock]

I would also like to be pointed in the direction for learning how to make leather boots from scratch. I have extremely long feet, and of an uncommon shape, so it is almost literally impossible for me to find even normal regular shoes that fit. I want to learn how to make leather boots myself, surely one of you guys can point me towards a resource?

[HR]

Most of the techniques for boot/shoe making are just the same as any leatherwork, the tricky bit is the front of the boot/shoe. This needs to be soaked then shaped and stretched over a wooden last that is the right size for your feet (very few people have identical feet so go with the largest one for sizing) and where you get the last from these days I have no idea. One trick for getting the pattern right is to make a prototype pair out of an old blanket or similar first, and if it comes out how you want, you then have a pattern to cut your leather to.

[Lord Battle-Cock]

Cool~ thx HR. I'd love to give it a go ^^

[akumabito]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Shoes-at-Home/