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December 27, 2010

Buying Vintage Shoes Online – and a SALE!

I just came across this helpful chart from Vintage Martini for sizing vintage shoes. Perfect timing, because I was recently talking to a friend about how important sizing is when buying shoes vintage online (and how I learned this the hard way…) Every half size is only a change of 1/8″ !!

The chart looks accurate to me – I wear a size 8, and 9 3/4″ is the magic number I look for. The other crucial number is the width at the ball of the foot – measure a similar pair of shoes you already own to compare. (i.e. Don’t measure sneakers if you’re buying heels.)

Also, Vintage Martini is having a sale on their entire inventory, 50% off everything starting tomorrow through the end of the year! They don’t have an online shopping cart, so you email them to place an order, but they have excellent and speedy customer service.

Regency Gown #1

I hope everyone had a great Christmas weekend! We visited with family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and in between I’ve been working on both Chris’s coat and my Regency dress.

I’m using the same pattern I used last year, the Sense and Sensibility pattern. I don’t love it, but I’m already familiar with it. As much as I didn’t want to bother, I needed some pattern adjustments from last year’s version (the bust was too short). I did a mockup out of lining fabric, since I don’t have enough self fabric to recut if the pattern was wrong.

Ginger helps choose lining fabric.

Whew! Glad I did a mockup – I did need more corrections – the straps were falling off, it would have been a disaster! Lining/Mockup #2 is good, thank goodness!

I’m planning to do spiral lacing up the back, my first time trying it. (Why can’t I keep anything simple?)
Here’s my lacing inspiration, from the Kyoto Costume Institute:

And here’s the fab how-to online resource I found for Spiral Lacing: The Zen of Spiral Lacing

I’m having Chris cut down some steel bones for me with the new Dremel tool he got for Christmas. Yay for new tools! Hopefully the dress will come together this week. Yay for short work weeks!