Mako Magellan Menswear

This blog did not exist when I first started releasing items in Blue Mars, and some items have therefore never been properly announced. Nothing that cannot be rectified retrospectively, of course. The very first item I uploaded was this pair of patent leather opera shoes - evening wear for men. These pictures show the shoe both with and without its sheer black silk sock (it is sold with the sock). The detail close-ups show the grosgrain bow and edging used to finish the shoe.

I've been working for some time on this pair of boots and I am pleased to say that they have finally reached the shop. Visit Caledonia to see them first hand.

It was very common for Victorian ladies boots to be made out of different materials, and a patent leather toe and heel cup was fairly common. I trust that connoisseurs will appreciate the detail of the eyes, the laces, the trim and the bow.

By popular request, I have created three styles of tall ladies boots, all in leather, and in black, white, and brown. The boots share the heel with the ladies court shoes I created a couple of weeks ago, and the general shaping of the foot is similar, though the toe is much more pointed than that of the court shoe. Another difference is that the outsole is coloured to match the uppers. I've added wrinkles at the back of the ankles and finished the shaft of the boot with a moulded top edge.

These boots should go well with the short skirts that appear to be popular in Blue Mars.

The Hessian boot is one of several garments that made a transition from military to civilian wear, and they are therefore suitable for both uniforms and gentlemen's daily wear. They became very popular during the Regency period and led to both the cowboy boot, famed in America, and the Wellington boot, a variation popularised by Wellington himself.

The heel is low, and the toes are soft, not stiffened with a shaped toecap. The leather is cut generously around the ankles, allowing plenty of flexibility, and also producing the characteristic folded effect. As a result of these features, the boots have a comfortable appearance, yet remain striking. They were made in a range of heights, reaching to just below the knee (as in the case of these designs) or only to just over mid-calf. The tops were cut in curves, and finished with braid and distinctive front tassles.

I have created three different styles. The first is black, finished in a smooth and highly polished leather, and quite ideal for wear in town. The second is brown, has a slightly rougher finish, but is still highly polished, and would be suitable for a country gentleman. The third is in worn brown leather, of low sheen, and would be appropriate for a local squire, a steampunk more fascinated with his gadgetrty that his grooming, perhaps, or a hard-bitten soldier, not long from the battlefield.

As with most high boots in virtual worlds, wearers must take care over how they combine clothing. Normal trousers will neither drape over boots nor fit inside them. I therefore recommend that wearers of these Hessians combine them with breeches instead. Find them in Beach City, shops 1 and 2.