Project: Shoe modification--faking traditional geta

[labricoleuse]

Too much to do and not enough time right now, but i wanted to post this cool project i just finished: faking some traditional geta with no budget.

For this event i'm costuming, one of the characters is a traditional Geisha...at least, as much as possible for no budget and only what can be pulled/altered in our costume stock. Lucky me, we had two beautiful antique kimono to use, and i'm making an obi sash with a big ornate fan-shaped back-knot (possibly to be featured in a future post), and our wigmaster has dressed and ornamented a lovely geisha-style wig. But! I really had my heart set on some big extreme geta sandals--you know, the kind with the giant jacked-up wooden sole? But woodworking some soles was out of the question, and i wanted my actress to have more support for the shoes than two little velvet flipflop straps, too.



These were the original clogs. I didn't think anyone would be standing in line to use these onstage in any future shows, but look at that sole shape! I thought, if i turn those into something approximating a pair of geta, they might get more usage!


Step one: cut the toes off! I cut these down with a utility knife. They were sturdier than i thought--once i got in there i realized the clogs were made from six different layers: a lining, a thermoformable felt, four layers of sized buckram, and the animal print outer layer! You can see in the photo where i've used Sculpt-or-Coat to seal the edges around the perimeter of the sole where i had cut away the clog toecaps, and i also brushed it onto the soles themselves to give them some "wood grain" texture.


I then covered these wide uppers with pieces of white socks, the edges serged off. The idea is, this way my actress can wear some white socks and the eye will see the upper and the sock as one. The pins mark where her big toe is so i can apply some fake velvet straps to these.


And here they are with the wood effect painted on the soles with acrylic shoe paint!


No, not the real thing, but a great fake-up job for stage, if i do say so myself!


Top view. This is where they are least effective in their illusion.

Comments

[saraphina-marie.livejournal.com]

FANtastic!!
Even where they are "least effective" they still look extremely good!
Rock on!
I, myself, got lucky with some $3.99 faux geta at a thrift store this summer.

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! and wow, that's quite a score, four bucks!

[neo-serenity.livejournal.com]

wow, that's fabulous! I love what you decided to do with them, and they should work perfectly for the stage. *two thumbs up* :)

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

Cool project. Why did you decide to cut out the toe area, instead of covering the whole original upper? Does it improve the illusion?

[eggies-red-dres.livejournal.com]

Nifty! So creative!

[velvetink.livejournal.com]

Awesome!!!!

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

I was originally going to just cover the whole upper and try painting a toe illusion, but then i realized that she'd look like she had big cartoon Mickey Mouse feet, whereas if i cut the toecaps off her toes would stop where they naturally would, clear of the edge of the sole, and they'd look like actual toes. I know as it is there's still a bit more "bulk" over the top of the foot, but yes, i cut the toes off to help with the thong-sandal illusion.

I think if i were going to do a second pair, or had more time with this one, i'd cut it back even further on the outside--maybe another 1/2", and i'd applique a little piece of black fabric on the sides to create an impression of a foot arch, perhaps.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

Neat. Thanks for the additional info -- I always find your projects so interesting and want to know tons and tons about them. :)