Rejoicing with the Truth

So yes, I really do like the new American Duchess boots, the "Nankeen."  These are cloth boots, very commonly worn from 1800-1820. I've been longing for cloth boots so I can be just like the heroines of Georgette Heyer's books - they're all well-equipped with "jean" boots.

Source: Museum of London. Dated 1815.

I'm still getting used to planning ALL details of an outfit ahead of time. I'm pretty good of thinking of everything for the dress itself, but I have a bad habit of forgetting little things like hair, hats, jewelry, and other accessories - including shoes! So here goes trying to fix this, easy to hard:

1. 1790s curtain-along dress

I'm not going to get any new shoes for this. I'm leaning toward my green Robert Land "Regency" shoes. The toe is very round instead of pointed and the sole very heavy for Regency, but I love the latchets. I might put pompoms or bows or something on them. Otherwise, it'll be my regular black B&T 18th century shoes.

Unless... would clearance Pemberlys actually work for mid-1790s? Or is that too early? I am definitely planning on more 1790s styles, so it's not a bad investment if they're appropriate. There are only two left in the size I should need.

2. Red wool/Regency

I'll wear the green shoes for the picnic this Saturday, because it looks like it'll be the one cool and wet weekend in March. :( But I saw American Duchess's teaser about new Regency flats (with pointy toe, spring heel, and inside lacing loops) and I am wildly excited. The Pemberlys didn't really excite me, I guess because I just want flats for Regency. But these, I want! I'm thinking bright yellow. It seems to have been such a popular color for accessories, and it'll go or pleasingly contrast with most of what I have and plan to make.



3. 1860s

Robert Land finally update his website for the first time since Christmas, and the cream and black side-lacers are back! So I think those will be coming to me. I have plain black Balmorals, so I really need something fancier, and I really want some side lacers. Both front- and side-lacing shoes are equally acceptable. (More acceptable would be cloth uppers instead of all leather, but I don't think he's offered those in over two years.)

4. 1692 court dress

This is the trouble one! As far as I can tell, the only option (other than Sarah Juniper) is the AD Pompadours. I'm hesitant, though, for a number of reasons:

(a) The cost. It's the same as a pair of Robert Land's boots, for something I will only use once or twice, three times at most.
(b) Are they really a good option? I remember some skepticism/criticism when they came out on how accurate they really were for the wide time span. Right now I'm interested in actual mantuas (early 1700s) and 1780s onward; I have very little interest in the middle part of the century anyway.

But again, there just doesn't seem to be any kind of compromise. I'd rather wear modern white dress shoes than my black leather 1700s, but even if they had pointy toes that's very little improvement. I'm just about ready to beg to borrow or rent somebody's white Pompadours! Anyone up for the offer? :(