Need Men's Boots!

[Dinobabe]

I am need of some men's boots around size 6.5-7, I wear a women's 8.5 tennis shoe.  I have had the hardest time finding any that small!  I want to use them for Civil War reenacting as well as Ren Faire so I can't use anything that screams faire (no matter how beautiful they are!).  Thank you!!!

[isabelladangelo]

I'm going to guess you mean the American Civil War - which is a VERY different time period than the Renaissance.  The footwear between the two look radically different as does every aspect of the clothing.  I love fugawee shoes.  I have their 18th C shoes - two different pairs- so I can't speak directly to the 19th century but I have yet to hear anything bad about their shoes.  I wear a pair of dolce vita boots I got a couple of years ago.  I don't see them for sale in your size but these are the ones I have and love.  No zipper, the heel looks stacked, all suede and very comfy. 

[Dinobabe]

Thank you for the link.
Yes, they are very different time periods.  But as far as a standard boot goes there are enough similarities to make it work, especially since the pant leg will cover the boot for Civil War.

This is a Civil War cavalry boot:




This is what I often see at faire:

[Rowan MacD]

 Keep an eye out at Payless, Walmart and Target-seriously-I've seen women's boots that look a lot like this; and sometimes all you have to do is remove some junk, and decorations to find a good match.
  Hubby has some very nice black suede knee boots which he uses with his noble gear-(he cannot have boots with any kind of insole or arch support)-Ladies size 11 at Walmart for about $20.00.   

[isabelladangelo]

My worry is that the Civil War folks tend to be a 1000 times stricter than anyone in the Renn Faire or even the SCA.  I'd go and buy a pair of Civil War boots and just get a pair of Mary Janes to wear to the Renn Faire.  (I throw my Mary Janes/Chinese Slippers in the washing machine the second I get home)   Mary Janes are cheap (sometimes as low as $5 but mostly $9 now) and it would be worth your while to spend the money on the Civil War Boots instead.  Fugawee has some women's boots (towards the bottom of the page I linked to previously) that will work for a solider as well.   

[Dinobabe]

Keep an eye out at Payless, Walmart and Target-seriously-I've seen women's boots that look a lot like this; and sometimes all you have to do is remove some junk, and decorations to find a good match.
  Hubby has some very nice black suede knee boots which he uses with his noble gear-(he cannot have boots with any kind of insole or arch support)-Ladies size 11 at Walmart for about $20.00.

That's awesome!  I have found several pairs at goodwill and such places over the years.  Unfortunately the fashion boots don't last long.  I am hoping to find a good long lasting pair.

My worry is that the Civil War folks tend to be a 1000 times stricter than anyone in the Renn Faire or even the SCA.  I'd go and buy a pair of Civil War boots and just get a pair of Mary Janes to wear to the Renn Faire.  (I throw my Mary Janes/Chinese Slippers in the washing machine the second I get home)   Mary Janes are cheap (sometimes as low as $5 but mostly $9 now) and it would be worth your while to spend the money on the Civil War Boots instead.  Fugawee has some women's boots (towards the bottom of the page I linked to previously) that will work for a solider as well.

We call them stitch counters!!!  My group is very laid back, no worries there.    I wish I could buy some actual Civil War boots, I have been trying them on for years but they are always too big!  And they don't make women's versions.