[Steppes] More Newbie Questions

[Susan Hill]

I think that you would not find many what are commonly called 'costume 
nazis' here in the Steppes. The whole key is that you make an ATTEMPT at 
reasonably period garb. My feet are very hard to find mundane shoes for, let 
alone ready made 'period' footweare. I was told by someone who had played 
for years in An Tir and did make his own shoes, that my Birkenstock 'Boston" 
shoes were about as period a style as I could get in a mundanely made shoe. 
There are lots of people who wear the Minnetonka high top suede moccasins 
but have cut the fringe off at the top. These are considered good enough to 
pass muster, so I don't see why yours wouldn't, at least to start off with. 
You dont have to have everything down when you start out. If it is clear 
that you have made that reasonable attempt, then that's all that anyone 
around here will ask. As you play for a while, you may find that you want 
something a bit different. That's fine, but lots of us play in T-tunics for 
a long time.

As much as we hate to admit it, mundane life still comes first, and it can 
take years to accumulate the more authentic garb that our hearts desire, but 
our pocketbooks can not. Come play with us for a while and see what the rest 
of us are wearing. If you arn't comfortable with what you have, there is 
loaner garb available from the hospitaler. No shoes, I don't think, but for 
newbies, we will even look aside at tennis shoes and 'gasp' jeans, so long 
as they have a decent t-tunic. We want you to have fun, not stress about 
what you are wearing.

Still new after a year and a half

Lady Linet Grey


----Original Message Follows----
From: Lady Sunnifa <sunnifa at housewhiteshark.org>
Reply-To: "Barony of Steppes - SCA, Inc." <steppes at ansteorra.org>
To: "Barony of Steppes - SCA, Inc." <steppes at ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Steppes] More Newbie Questions
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 01:44:43 -0500 (CDT)


Footwear is a tough one. Because it was largely made of leather, it
doesn't survive well outside of bogs, tundra, or other conditions where
cloth or bodies are also preserved. I would conjecture that the majority
of evidence is pictorial. That said, what you have is what I would
consider an attempt, which is about as close as most get in the shoe
department. :) An attempt is all that is required, so you are fine on your
boots. Like the other respondent mentioned, as you develop your choice of
culture and time period, you can start to examine what plausible footwear
may have existed from what evidence can be found and perhaps then change
your boots, but until then, wear them in good health. :)

I have fleece-lined suede shoes that look Viking-Age-ish save for the
rubber sole (except I can't wear them in summer!). Many also use
thin-soled cotton, satin, or velvet 'mary-jane' style shoes that come
close to approximating a wide era of style. I've checked into custom made
period shoes, and one can spend quite a pretty penny if one does not make
them oneself.

If anyone in the area has the knowledge to teach a class on turn-shoes or
some other basic style along with what leathers are good for shoes, etc, I
for one would be very interested.

Sunnifa

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003, Stosh Gypsy wrote:

 > I have been attending renaissance festivals for a number of years and 
have
 > accumulated a largish pile of garb.  I know that some of the stuff won't
 > pass muster for SCA, and I am planning on making new garb, but my primary
 > question is, will my boots be okay? I made them from a pattern on a 
website,
 > and they are the same basic style as sodhoppers, catskills and the other
 > various moccasin type boots.  They are not the prettiest boots in the 
world,
 > but they get the job done.  Without posting a picture, could someone give 
me
 > a general sort of opinion about whether the moccasin style boots are
 > acceptable for SCA events?
 >
 >
 > Stosh Gypsy
 >
 > _______________________________________________
 > Steppes mailing list
 > Steppes at ansteorra.org
 > http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/steppes
 >
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