Question for those of you who have American Duchess shoes

[mala_14]

How do you find they fit? I'm thinking of the new 18th century Dunsmores at the moment, but I could probably also use the buttoned boots eventually. A pair may be in my future and want to know what size I should be looking at. (I want to do my research because it's like $20 to ship to Canada and I don't want to have to deal with figuring out

Comments

[isabelladangelo]

Every pair I bought, I ended up returning or selling on ebay. Even the ones I bought for my Mom. Both my Mom (7.5) and I (8.5) have perfectly normal feet but the shoes hurt like crazy. The back of the Elizabethan shoes (Staford?) came up so high that it cut into my achilles heel before even putting my foot down on the ground. I couldn't even stand up in them it was so terrible. I have noticed that people with bigger feet tend to have less issues with the shoes than those with smaller feet - although it's not always the case.

For 18th century shoes, I'd highly recommend fugawees. They are cheaper, they are more accurately constructed in many cases (straight lasts rather than lefts and rights), and I love the mules I got from them.

[ktlovely]

Go up half a size and you'll have room for supportive inserts!

[padawansguide]

I have wide feet and they fit great! I have a ton of AD shoes. Eep! The only ones I had problems with were the original run of regency flats - they were rather narrow. And the Tudor heels I had to go up half a size, but they are so pretty, I luves them! (And I believe she put the rest of that batch on sale because she reworked them to be more consistent with the rest of her sizing.) I haven't had an issue with any of the others. The original silk 18c repros were very wide (almost too wide), but she doesn't use that shape anymore. The newer shaped ones have fit me great and the red leather ones are some of my most comfortable 18c shoes for walking. So I give them a thumbs up. Plus she has a great return policy, you can ship them back, no questions asked - though I realize the shipping is steep for you. I also had good luck reselling mine on ebay (I had a pair of unworn white edwardian ones I just didn't need and since I got them at a presale price, I about broke even after fees.)

[girliegirl32786]

I'm a true six, normal width, and I have both the Dunmores and the button boots in a size 6. Both fit well, if a hair too long for my feet, but fine in width. I have super high arches, though. I hope that is helpful. :/

[starlightmasque]

I'm a useless friend concerning pretty shoes, since my feet are problem feet-- but wanted to say YAY! PRETTY SHOES!

[theladyrebecca]

Do you have the same problem I do? Because my problem is that she doesn't make size 12! :(

[starlightmasque]

Yes! Larger size and wide, plus I have the dreaded plantar fasciitis so I need shoes with huge arch support. I spent my youth destroying my feet (wearing high heels to work retail! What a dope!) Every costume I make needs to hide my feet somehow so I wear comfort shoes unnoticed!

[theladyrebecca]

Yeah, I have plantar fasciitis, too. I've started wearing inserts in my normal shoes, though I haven't had any costuming events recently, so I have yet to try them in any of those shoes.