What style TOS boots for ST50 in Las vegas 2016?

[Kerry]

Hi All from Old York, Old England,

my apologies if this has been asked before, but we are attending a ST Convention for the first time and I'm worried folk may point and criticise and remonstrate with us if we are not completely accurately dressed. I'm OK with a green wrap and TOS yellow low-cut V-neck top, and am currently researching trousers (pants in US).

But, I'm getting stuck on what type of boots I should go for, without having to spend £100's on a pair. Could anyone please advise what kind of boot Kirk would have worn and would replica boot be accepted by the serious Trekkies 'Costume Police' (sadly we have such folk in the UK gatherings) that would not get us tried then lynched, then ejected from the Rio, as it were?

Many thanks.

Kerry

 

[HIjol]

Hi, Kerry!

I remember back in the Original TOS times, I begged my parents to buy what were called "Wellingtons" in the States. They were plain-toed, black leather pull-ons that went to about lower calf/above the ankle. I f I remember correctly. Not the large rubber "galoshes" kind, but sturdy leather.

Maybe these for today?

Google "Funtasma Captain - 100"

Sorry, I am at work and they block all pictures here...good luck!

 

[1001001]

I thought this sounded familiar...

There was a thread about this, here:

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=238261&highlight=Boots

Maybe something useful in there.

 

[Kelso]

my apologies if this has been asked before, but we are attending a ST Convention for the first time and I'm worried folk may point and criticise and remonstrate with us if we are not completely accurately dressed.

They won't.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Yeah, I don't think true Star Trek fans will point and giggle. We were raised with the Vulcan concept of Infinite Footwear in Infinite Combinations, and that's what we live by.

 

[T'Bonz]

They won't.

And if they do, they can go eff themselves.

 

[Botany Bay]

Hey Kerry - look forward to seeing you there!

It's a very welcoming atmosphere, and a great party. I urge as many TOS fans to come as possible.

As for boots, two options :

If you're on a budget look for "Funtasma Captain 100" on Amazon.com - these are fine, I use these.

If you want to get screen accurate ones I'm told "Willie's Shoe Service" in Los Angeles has been making them for decades, but, as custom made boots, they don't come cheap.

 

[FrankT]

Now that's interesting, because I too am planning a cosplay like it. But they don't come cheap... I'll see what I can dig up.

 

[Mytran]

Nice titbit about the boots, thanks Botany Bay! Certainly a little friendlier on the old purse strings

 

[LadyT'Anna]

Hm. Is it permitted to dress vividly but not in Trek uniform? I am debating whether to attend Trek 50, and I have no wish to be unceremoniously ejected from the venue.

 

[Trimm]

Hm. Is it permitted to dress vividly but not in Trek uniform? I am debating whether to attend Trek 50, and I have no wish to be unceremoniously ejected from the venue.

I have no idea what "vividly" implies, so the answer to your question would be maybe?

 

[LadyT'Anna]

Hm. Is it permitted to dress vividly but not in Trek uniform? I am debating whether to attend Trek 50, and I have no wish to be unceremoniously ejected from the venue.

I have no idea what "vividly" implies, so the answer to your question would be maybe?

Bright colors, intricately patterned long skirts, (mostly) modest necklines. Think hippie-meets-Gibson Girl.

Would people laugh?

 

[Trimm]

Hm. Is it permitted to dress vividly but not in Trek uniform? I am debating whether to attend Trek 50, and I have no wish to be unceremoniously ejected from the venue.

I have no idea what "vividly" implies, so the answer to your question would be maybe?

Bright colors, intricately patterned long skirts, (mostly) modest necklines. Think hippie-meets-Gibson Girl.

Would people laugh?

Oh no, not at all.

 

[LadyT'Anna]

I have no idea what "vividly" implies, so the answer to your question would be maybe?

Bright colors, intricately patterned long skirts, (mostly) modest necklines. Think hippie-meets-Gibson Girl.

Would people laugh?

Oh no, not at all.

Thank you for that, Trimm; I appreciate it.

 

[MaximRecoil]

If you want to get screen accurate ones I'm told "Willie's Shoe Service" in Los Angeles has been making them for decades, but, as custom made boots, they don't come cheap.

I've read that they made the original screen-used ones. Here is a pair that a fan had custom made by them in 2010, for $800, and as someone who worked for a total of five years in two different shoe factories, I'll say that they are the best looking ones I've ever seen. All others I've seen look "off" in one or more respects, but the last they used to make those is fantastic (the "last" is the wooden or plastic form, roughly shaped like a foot, that the shoe/boot is formed around; it determines its overall shape), plus the quality of leather appears to be excellent, and the thin leather soles not only look good, but are screen-accurate as well (for the most part; sometimes drastically different boots were seen with thick manmade-material soles, and of course there were the lace-up boxing/wrestling boots that they sometimes wore for action scenes).

A note about leather soles: they look great, and they are very comfortable once they break in (which doesn't take long), because they mold to the shape of the bottom of your foot. However, they wear out very quickly, and at $800 (maybe more by now), it might be best to not wear them very often.

When I worked at SAS (San Antonio Shoe), I worked in the "making room", which was the room that made their traditional leather-soled shoes (e.g., penny loafers), and I was given several pairs of them free for "wear test" purposes. It always took about 8 months of wearing them daily to wear holes in the soles. They could be resoled, but it would only put them on life support for a few more months. The problem with resoling is they have to be Littleway stitched a second time (the process of stitching the midsole to the upper), and an extra set of stitching holes drastically weakens the leather in that area. So what happens is: the upper starts to tear away from the new sole along the path of the Littleway stitching well before the new sole wears out, at which point, the shoes are done for.

Some leather-soled shoes/boots integrate a rubber section into the sole under the toe/ball area of the foot (like so), which greatly prolongs their life, but those Willie's Shoe Service boots don't have such a thing, as you can see here. Since they custom make them, you may be able to request such a feature though.

 

[spockboy]

Here is a good shot of the boot.
The heel is interesting.

Spockboy

 

[FormerLurker]

Wear a pair of riding boots with knee flaps and go as Mirror Kirk.

 

[MANT!]

I always used a well polished set of US issue combat boots, (yes they laced up) they were always good enough..now with the assorted suede boots the US military sports today, your best bet are a pair of US Police tactical boots..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Surplus-Und...Army-Leather-10-Eye-Boots-Black-/281644010122

 

[MGagen]

Here is a good shot of the boot.
The heel is interesting.

Spockboy

That's a close up of Kirk's boot from "What are Little Girls Made Of?" and you can see the extra heel extension and sole extension. I believe Shatner's were the only ones with this feature, intended to add a little bit more height to "captain shorty."

 

[Botany Bay]

All the first season boots had that "cuban heel", but that sole looks unique to the captain. A few guest actors have commented that Mr. Shatner had few concerns about looking too short next to them, to the point where he refused to be in the same frame as taller actors.

I've just ordered a pair of the 1st season style from a new company...will let you know how they turn out.