Hello everyone! LTNS! :D
Lately (actually starting last season), I've been seriously considering swapping out the boots for shoes.
It's a comfort thing. (I'm reminded of my thread I started last year concerning moving towards comfort as the years of ren-fest-ing went on.)
I love my Son of Sandler Cap't Teach boots, but frankly, sometimes I feel constricted. Sometimes I feel as thought they're just too heavy. Not to mention Georgia...in the spring (for those who don't know, we don't really have a spring, it's more of a humid summer from April til Sept). So, often, the less tight leather on the body the better dontcha know.
I took a look at Garb The World's latchet shoes. Pretty cool. Except they've long been out of stock in colors and sizes I'd need/want.
After bopping about the internet I stumbled on a fashion blog that showcased a new (at the time) shoe from Hugo Boss and how the author thought it looked like a simple Renaissance man's shoe. Ya know what? It did. It was a simple suede chukka. So, I dug about on eBay. Honestly, I think that may be the way to go.
I'm looking forward to the comfort and I'm looking forward to simply having an option in the footwear dept.
Now....
Now, due to this one simple shift...I now need knee breeches or slops (or something) and tights (or stockings or whatever)...
Ugh.
One would think it would be easy, easy, easy to get budget knee breeches. Ha.
Anyway, I believe I have that handled.
But...stockings? Tights?
Never in my wildest dreams.
Where do I turn? Do I turn? Should I? Need I?
Where might I?
I'm not a member of the fan club of spending more than twenty bucks on them...
General advice? Am I mad?
Cheers. :)
-Eric
I think the company is called Jos Townsend, and sons. They have over the knee stockings. My husband and 2 of our friends use them for kilt socks by turning them down a few times.
They have 2 kinds. One is a heavier weight and one is a lighter weight. I think they cost around $12 or so. At Bristol in the summer, it's so hot, sometimes the temps are close to 100 degrees with humidity about the same. They are ok with wearing the socks in that weather. There are several colors to choose from. And the customer service is excellent.
For hosen (as it was called ;) ) there are a LOT of options out there. I personally love my 18th C styled silk stockings from American Duchess (http://www.american-duchess.com/historic-shoe-buckles-accessories). They are big in the toe when you get them so you can size it to your foot. I've seen both guys and girls wear them and the blue ones seem to be the most popular.
If you want to go more accurate (albeit, a bit early) Historic Enterprises (http://historicenterprises.com/mens-leg-wear-c-99_117.html) has a ton of options.
There are also the striped socks (http://renfairshoppe.com/ren_socks.html) a lot of people wear because they are cheap and yet still work for any outfit.
You can also make your own out of linen -it's easier to pin it and have someone else fit you.
I also reccommend the Jas Townsend or American Duchess for ready to go. If you are on a bit more of a budget, m'lord has used extra long soccer socks in a pinch, or even ladies tights in a white tone. We cut the tops off and he wore them like really long socks.... he may have gartered them with elastic ties around the tops, but I may also be misremembering....
Enjoy!
For a cheap alternative to latchet shoes, if you can fine some "Romeo" style slippers in a second hand or discount store you can remove the elastic from the cut-out area and sew in latchets, or take them to a shoe repair place to have them added. For mine I split the stitching between the edge of the outer leather and the lining and inserted the latchets between them and sewed it back together through the original holes in the outer leather.
(http://i.tfcdn.com/img2/5t9YwEIAYyq6fYgrsaAgsSg1hyGjpKTASl8_NblCLzM3MT21WDcxN7EqP08vOT9XHyKi76lvYphbUpBokFLg56OXVZAOAA**/fyVMtP8A)
Men's dance tights. They are flexible, long-wearing, and opaque, and often have a back seam. I wore them for years. Also consider just wandering around Ross or TJ Maxx or whatever other discount store is near you (if you're in the ATL area, there are literally four jillion) and picking up a pair or two of women's leggings. There are a ton of dance stores in Atlanta, but I would call to make sure they stock men's wear. Otherwise, check out discountdance.com
Quote from: stonebiscuit on April 01, 2013, 11:00:32 AM
Men's dance tights. They are flexible, long-wearing, and opaque, and often have a back seam. I wore them for years. Also consider just wandering around Ross or TJ Maxx or whatever other discount store is near you (if you're in the ATL area, there are literally four jillion) and picking up a pair or two of women's leggings. There are a ton of dance stores in Atlanta, but I would call to make sure they stock men's wear. Otherwise, check out discountdance.com
This what His Lordship wears. They have the added benefit of preventing chafing from the slops when he gets a little perspiration you know where. Larger sizes available online http://www.dance4less.com/index.html (http://www.dance4less.com/index.html)
I can definitely recommend the Garb the World latchet shoes. Slip some gel inserts in them and you're good to go. The heavy leather soles make a satisfying CLOMP on wooden floors in the vendor shops.
I agree with the Jas. Townsend hose ... I have two pairs of the thinner cotton and one of the heavy cotton. They all look great.
If you want to be a little more historically accurate, this Etsy dealer http://www.etsy.com/listing/112792992/ladies-bias-cut-linen-or-wool-stockings?ref=usr_faveitems (http://www.etsy.com/listing/112792992/ladies-bias-cut-linen-or-wool-stockings?ref=usr_faveitems) makes linen and wool bias-cut cloth hose. It says they're for women, but I don't see why men couldn't wear them. They don't come up as high as the Jas. Townshend hose, and they're $25 a pop. I'm seriously looking at getting a pair for my Landsknecht garb.
I wear only shoes. I get the extra long soccer socks, they look and feel great!
Adding to the 'source for tights' list...Keep an ey e out at Dollar Tree... they have bins of striped and plain tights for a buck if you're lucky. even if you don't fit the upper parts, you can cut them off above the knees, sew in a 'garter' channel and insert ties. Practically disposable at the end of the day, but they do fine in the laundry.
Another good tights place is https://www.welovecolors.com/ (https://www.welovecolors.com/) Wonderful selection of colors, and even patterns. Their performance tights go up to weight of 210, while their regular nylon tights go up to 330 pounds. They have GREAT customer service. I am using their products in my current production of robin hood. I haven't heard any complaints form the actors about them.
So, if one is vending in breeches (for instance, on pirate weekend), rather than on cast, is it acceptable to go without tights on a really hot day? Or are bare legs completely out of the question?
Quote from: GryffinSong on April 09, 2013, 01:24:52 AM
So, if one is vending in breeches (for instance, on pirate weekend), rather than on cast, is it acceptable to go without tights on a really hot day? Or are bare legs completely out of the question?
This question would be better addressed to your merchant coordinator. What we would suggest and what they require might be quite different.
Quote from: Rowen MacD on April 08, 2013, 08:56:10 AM
Adding to the 'source for tights' list...Keep an ey e out at Dollar Tree... they have bins of striped and plain tights for a buck if you're lucky. even if you don't fit the upper parts, you can cut them off above the knees, sew in a 'garter' channel and insert ties. Practically disposable at the end of the day, but they do fine in the laundry.
Sew in a garter channel with ties! - Genius!!
Thanks, DonaCatalina. That's what I figured for a final verdict, but I was wondering if anyone did it at all. I won't ask (or do it) if its never done at all.
I generally don't see the vendors' legs, since they're behind their counters or whatnot. ;) That said, I've seen *plenty* of bare-legged fairies, and know for certain that lots of gents wear long breeches + sandals, or go bare-legged with kilts. Remember, as always, what's worn at Fair isn't necessarily what was done in period. (That said, I've seen period artwork of farm workers stripped to their skivvies in the field. So there you go. ;)) People have made appropriate concessions to the heat forever.