One item that is necessary at some point for most any cosplayer is a good pair of boots. There are boots in all sorts of costumes: ankle boots, knee-high boots, calf-high boots, brown boots, rain boots, thigh high, armored, the list goes on and on.
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| from thumbuki on Flickr. |
Fortunately, there are plenty of
boot-cover tutorials out there to help you modify your shoes, and a lot or them are even completely removable so you can use the same base shoe for multiple cosplays.
But if you're only going to get one pair of boots, there are some things to look for the get the most bang for your buck.
- Black or dark brown: these are the most common colors.
- Rounded toe: also a common design, and you can even wear them under your pants instead of a dress shoe or sneaker.
- Mid-calf: this style is used extensively in military-style uniforms, and you can make a boot taller with a cover.
- Simple Details: its easier to modify a boot without laces or buckles, but sometimes you want to add some interesting details to your costume. Your mileage may vary, so go smaller rather than larger.
- Think about a small heel, definitely a chunky one so that the silhouette of the shoe can go masculine or feminine.
These ones look pretty good, except for the suede. These
gogo boots are perfect for a lot of cosplays, and can even be stripped of their varnish and painted. They're also fairly cheap, although the sizing isn't great.
These ones look great; I'd even wear those outside of cosplay. (Speaking of which, endless.com is a great resource not only to buy your shoes, but just to look around at what is available at the time.) Doc Martens are a classic for a reason, but tend to be too expensive for my tastes.
Take a look around, and find something that works for you!
