Making Historical Shoes: my custom shoe collection

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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. )

How powerful it is to be like "I need new shoes" and then just go and make them?? Holy MOLY 🤯🤯🤯

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 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!

I met a lady last summer who has a pair of your shoes. I was impressed ❤

My shoes from you are some of my most prized possessions, especially the red and white pair! <3

I love all your videos but there's something about your shoe videos that always make extra excited to watch

Out of all the shoes you've made, your 1805 white flats with white bows and black toe cap embroidered area are magical.🥰

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.

Those 1890’s boots are a dream! Absolutely gorgeous!

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?

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.

This was very interesting. My first intro to Nicole was on the production of the Bernadette shoe. I have been following Nicole ever since.

That ink on leather was a really cool technique.

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.

The shoe videos are my favorite. We need some witchy boots!

Amazing. ❤ love this. It's nice to see artisans at work. We need more people like you!

Forget about your excellent programs for one minute I just have to say you look terrific.