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 returns.) I tend to have wide, flat feet. I'm usually a 6.5, sometimes a 7. I measured my feet and according to the size chart I'm probably better off with a 7.5. But what have you guys noticed about the fit on American Duchess shoes? To they tend to be narrow? What do you think about potentially stuffing the toes or heel a bit?

Thanks for the input!

Comments

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

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.)

[totchipanda.livejournal.com]

I bought size 8 Kensingtons a year ago (haven't worn them for any appreciable amount of time yet though) and i probably should have gotten a 7.5 as they're just a tiny bit too long. I also found it a little tight across the top of the foot but I have high arches and it wasn't in a place where I would find it uncomfortable, it should stretch out with wear. I normally wear a 6.5-7 wide.

[girliegirl32786.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

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

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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.

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

I have found that the sizing and fit can vary substantially between the styles. I have the original Kensingtons, the Hartfield boots, and the Dunmores. I like all of them, but the sizing relative to my feet has been a bit different each time. I have the Kensingtons in 9.5, but I should probably have a 10 for those (I stretched the leather out with an alcohol solution). I have the Hartfields in 11 and they fit perfectly, and I have the Dunmores in 9.5 (I had to exchange a size 10 because they were a little big).

If you go on the larger size, you can wear thicker socks or put insoles in, but you can't fix being too small as easily, so I'd say err towards larger.

All of the shoes have been of good quality!

[chocolatepot.livejournal.com]

Mine fit exactly true to size - I wear an 8.5 just about everywhere. I don't have wide feet, but mine are flat, and I can wear AD shoes without inserts very comfortably, more comfortably than any other uninserted shoe, in fact. So far, I have Gibsons (they were on sale, now MISSING), Renoirs (bought for wedding, wore for about twelve hours straight walking all over NYC, no problems until about 8pm), and the leather Regency boots (still haven't really worn yet).

[atherleisure.livejournal.com]

The only ones I have are the button boots. I wear an 8N normally so I can't speak to any width issues. I have both the Tavistocks and the Renoirs, and they both fit pretty well. The Renoirs have a very flat toe box so if you want them, you may want to go up a half-size based on length to give a bit more height for your toes. They seem to be a little narrower than the Tavistocks, but I'm not sure of that. They also seem to be wider at the ankle than the Tavistocks.

My 18th century shoes are Fugawees so I can't say anything about the AD ones except that they're pretty.

[ashamanja-babu.livejournal.com]

I have size 10 wide feet. Sometimes I can get away with a 9.5 or a regular width, depending on the brand. "Comfort" brands like Clarks I can do a 9.5 regular width.

I only have the AD Tissots, and the 10 was TIGHT. I used a shoe tree and dampened them slightly to try to stretch them. That and a little breaking in with wear and now they feel fine. But she is right when she tells you to wear ultra thin stockings only. There is no way I could cram regular stockings in.

If I order from her again I will definitely go a half size up like she suggests. I didn't before because I was worried about them being too long. It drives me nuts that she doesn't just offer wide widths!

I second Fugawee. They aren't as dainty, but they are SO COMFY! I can wear mine all day, no problem. I have their Anna 18th c shoe and their 1860s faux button boot also. Both are great.

[bauhausfrau.livejournal.com]

I have a bunch of AD shoes and would say I'm a 9.5 wide but with smaller ankles and calves. As a result the boots I've tried don't fit as I'd like - too loose on top and a tad narrow in the foot. But I love the 18th C and edwardian shoes of hers I have. I think of all the models she makes the ones that are the most comfortable and fit the best on me are the Pomps. I've had to send a few models back but have kept about 70 % of what I've ordered from her.

[sadievale.livejournal.com]

I have 18th century, Regency and Victorian boots all from A.D. I wear a normal size 11, and finding shoes that fit where most shoe makers stop at size 10 is difficult. AmDuchess shoes tend to fit my feet well: my feet are not wide, but they are not narrow...they are normal to slightly narrow maybe, and long (size 11). In her early days/shoes, sometimes it was a 10.5 or sometimes an 11.5 was needed. But since those first few runs, her size 11 are almost always perfect on my feet, at least in the shoes styles I buy. So I buy 11's for my modern size 11 feet, and they fit great and last really well. I adore the Victoria boots, and the Hartfield boots are so awesome, that I wore them to a ball in order to break them in, and did NOT walk home limping in agony: that's really saying something! Also, I tend to wear silk stockings with my boots/shoes, so if you plan on thick wool socks say, then you might want to go up a half size...

Good luck!