ortho-shoes-msg - 5/17/20
Handling shoes in the SCA if you normally need to wear orthopedic shoes.
NOTE: Also see the files: p-shoes-msg, shoes-msg, pattens-chpns-msg, shoemaking-msg, shoes-msg, leather-msg, lea-tooling-msg, 10C-Turnshoe-art.
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From the fb "SCA Garb" group:
Alexandria Abarria
February 25, 2017 at 9:03pm
any ideas on adapting SCA shoes for a 4" lift for one. I know there were all sorts of adaptions made and cannot see getting rid of really good shoes & boots.
The long skirts will cover the scarring and if I have to wear orthopedic shoes, but still.
Cass Zhdanov
Pattens or chopines might be something to look at - overshoes that at some points, were dang near stilts.
February 25 at 10:18pm
Hanna Schempf
You could wear whatever shoes you wear normally-- health and safety definitely trumps historicity.
If you do want to wear historical or historical-ish shoes: What place and period do you favor? It would probably be easiest to get a period look to your lift if you're persona is one that would wear patterns, chopines, or other high shoes, but if you've got something particular in mind it will help focus suggestions.
February 25 at 10:19pm · Edited
Rebecca Le Get
As someone who has had a hard time struggling with "being historical, and having the different gait of someone in soft-soled shoes" vs. "wearing modern orthopaedic shoes and being able to walk the next day," I second Hanna's comment.
There is nothing wrong with wearing your modern shoes.
With that said, I suspect it would be easier to get custom-made shoes with a hard sole, that would hide a heel lift worn inside the shoe. But that does then limit your time period of dress to when hard-soled shoes were worn, which (if this is a big concern for you) could still mean an entirely new wardrobe.
Adler von Drackenstein
You might try taking your shoes to your orthopedist/doctor/whoever to ask if there is something that might work. Explain what you do and want to accomplish - it might turn out to be a puzzle he/she would want to play with. I have a friend who recently had a below-knee amputation. When he went to get the prosthetic he explained the stuff he does (fencing) and the guy who made the prosthetic figured out a way to make it work.
February 25 at 10:23pm
Allyson Szabo
Honestly? I'd say look at what was done in period and make a safe version of it! I've heard of shoes that had lifts built into them from the 1800s. Can't see why we can't find older ones.
February 25 at 11:00pm
Jake Diebolt
Lots of shoes have raised heels or platforms in the later period. Depending on what you have it may be difficult or impossible to modify though.
February 25 at 11:31pm
Maire Nic Shiobhan
Pattens.
February 25 at 11:49pm
Alexandria Abarria
I could give up on the ghillies, but my sodhopper boots would be tragic. already called them and asked. he said he did not have a clue where to begin. 😢 planned to ask a shoe repair place in town, but am waiting for after everything settles and i get an exact measurement.
2/26/17 at 1:35am
Maire Nic Shiobhan
Ultimately, do what is most comfortable and safe for you. Your health is most important.
2/26/17 at 10:05am
Marcia Wallace
Look into Hush Puppies boots. I saw some short lace up boot/shoes that were supportive, period and reasonably priced. I'm sure they can be adapted for your lift. You might want to check them out.
From the fb "SCA Leather workers" group:
Dairmit A Bheithir shared his first post.
10/3/18 at 6:52 AM
So I've been dying to make some 7th century Northern European shoes to wear at events.
Problem for me is I have to wear orthotics due to foot issues or be crippled by the middle of the day. Anyone have any tricks on concealing inserts? Any other ideas to address the issue? I was thinking formed leather soles on a sculpted base but as my friends say I'm prone to overengineering everything possible.
Diane Dooley
Build your pattern with the orthotics included. I like this resource:
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Scandinavian-Turnshoe-Jason-Hovatter/dp/B01MR8ZOBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538571462&sr=8-1&keywords=scandinavian%20turnshoes
Mira Michaud
I have this CD its awesome. Long viewing but well worth it.
Diane Dooley
Yeah. You should be well-rested and have caffeinated beverages handy. The guy has a soothing voice and there's no soundtrack.
John Minard
Diane Dooley, you beat me to it. I have plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, and hammertoe issues. I MUST wear orthotics, or Birkenstocks. Plus, I have size 14EEEEEE feet. So, I make my own turnshoes, and build them around Birkenstock insoles.
Alternatively, just build the shoes around your orthotics.
Faye C. Booker
Since many of the shoes then were gathered rather than cobbled, get a pair of comfy shoes, cover them with socks to hide them and then make a pair over gathered-leather shoes around the outside of it all. Your feet will look a size bigger, but very authentic - and you'll be comfy all day.
Diane Dooley
I've never seen a shoe like that in reference to Viking age shoes. They usually did turnshoes. Where did it come from?
Faye C. Booker
They were common all over Europe.
Germany had shoes like that called 'Bundschuhe' (drawstring shoes), the Romans had 'Carbatinae', I don't know what they were called in Scandinavia, as I don't speak the language, but here are 2 PDFs for further reading:
page 21: In the late 14th century thong shoes (shoes with a drawstring around the foot) almost disappeared [ojs.novus.no/index.php/CM/article/view/25/24]
page 3462: boots fastened with drawstring passing through vertical thonged loops
https://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/AY17-16-Leather-and-leatherworking.pdf
Faye C. Booker
And you did not say 'Viking' in your original question, or I would not have answered, as I know very little about Scandinavia.
Northern Europe is Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, the UK, Ireland, northern Germany, northern Belarus and northwest Russia... and some of those I am familiar with.
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