Tavistock Victorian Button Boots (Black)

I was incredibly exited to receive them and equally as disappointed to try them on.
Don’t get me wrong these are obviously incredibly well made shoes.
The heels are very supportive and comfortable, the soles are sturdy and supportive as well, I don’t see any out of place glue or lose stitching, they might feel the tiniest bit tight at first but the leather is beautiful and thick, it will stretch. Without a doubt those shoes are good quality.
The problem I have is with the sizing, specifically the shaft. The descriptions states the top circumference measures 27 cm, mine ( when buttoned ) measured 33 cm, and my leg 24.5 cm.
The problem is pretty obvious, it is way too big and I get no ankle support whatsoever and lose that pretty line, and I can’t wear them as is because with time as the leather stretches and ages the boot can end up collapsing.
I know that technically we are able to move the buttons, but with a 7.5 cm difference, it just doesn’t work.
The center seam is out of place, which isn’t that big of a problem, but the entire shaft loses its shape, starts to wrinkle and doesn’t want to lay flat.
I may have misread/misunderstood the sizing.
I will take them to a shoes repair shop, see if we can fix this issue, because I genuinely love these boots.
I want to reiterate that they are beautiful and well made, but if you have smaller calfs, maybe not the best option unless you can afford to bring them to a repair shop ( which I can’t but hey I’ve already paid for them ).

So stylish, I love them ! They are really comfortable from the very first time you wear them and they fit perfectly. I can't wait to wear them more in the winter ! I'd recommend buying the button hook if you don't have one as they are quite hard to button up (it's possible to do it on your own, it's just pretty long). Well, in a word, incredible !

An sich sehr schöne Schuhe. Leider ist gleich bei der ersten Nutzung der Schuhe ein Knopf abgegangen. Auch der Knopfhaken ist bei der ersten Nutzung zerbrochen.
Auf meine Anfrage ob die Schuhe repariert bzw. ersetzt werden, kam keine Antwort. Bei dem Preis der Schuhe finde ich das eine sehr schwache Leistung. Ich bin davon sehr enttäuscht

Das ist mein zweites Paar dieses Modells. Ich habe den Rat einer Bewertung befolgt und hier eine halbe Nummer größer gewählt…ist perfekt.. der andere den ich schon hatte passt, aber dieser ist einfach komfortabler. Ja werde das bei der nächsten Bestellung berücksichtigen. VG Petra

Fulfilling all and any 1890s requirements.

I usually wear size 35EU, size 5 was quite tight with tights, but 5.5 fits nicely. They are really comfortable, I thought they wouldn't be! Boots look great, I recommend.

Super schick und bequem, Größe passt perfekt. Ich hoffe es gibt ihn irgendwann auch in braun? Es ist bestimmt noch nicht mein letztes Paar…viele Grüße aus Germany.

I have been looking for Victorian style boots for years and have looked at these ones for quite a while. I finally took the plunge and bought a pair. I am so pleased I did. I initially bought the equivalent of my English size but they were a little tight. It was no problem I was able to exchange for half size larger and they fit like a dream. Exchange process very easy and quick. Will certainly by more shoes in future from American Duchess. I will just be mindful of getting half size bigger. Normally I am English 5 which is USA 7 but needed 7.5.

They are very comfortable and the quality is amazing ! I recommend buying the button hook as the shoes are pretty hard to button up on your own. For sizing I normally go for 9 but I chose 9.5 and they fit perfectly. Super happy about my order !

These were my first pair of American Duchess boots, I've wanted a pair for a while so was a little nervous, but if my gosh are they incredible!! They are literally so comfortable and I just find myself wanting them on all the time (I have them on now, even though I'm just sat around the house and they don't match the outfit) I literally can't wait to wear them out and walk around in them!

I would advise to size up. I usually wear size EU 39. I ordered these in size 8.5, but they still felt a bit too narrow and my feet are not wide, to begin with! I decided not to change them and to wear them out instead, as it is a minor issue.

Otherwise, they are stunning and comfy. I adore the heel and the buttons! Doesn't take that long to put them on when you get used to it.

I used my term project in my historical dress class as an excuse for myself to finally buy some of these boots! I ordered size 6 after comparing my measurements to the size chart and they fit true to size for me. They are very comfortable (need to be broken in a bit, they are leather of course) and certainly fit the era. I have fairly small ankles and so I was able to do up the buttons without a boot hook (I gave it a try, just to see!) but I would definitely recommend using one, especially if you plan to wear them often. It makes the process a lot quicker and easier.

First off, these boots are beautiful, and I'm happy I finally have a pair of button boots that I've been coveting for years.
I normally wear a size 8.5 - 9, but I have wide feet and *very* wide calves (16.5" at their widest, and just a tad over 13" where the top of the boot sits, which is about mid-calf), so I decided to order size 9.5, since there is no "wide" option here anymore. That was the right choice - they do fit my feet perfectly, so my toes do not feel pinched, and it will *just barely* fit around my calves if I move the top buttons 7/8" from the edge (the top button currently sits 1-3/4" from the edge. I cannot button the top 3 buttons as they came.
Now this is where I was surprised, and why I'm knocking it down a star. I expected the buttons would be sewn on with thread as depicted in the video about how to move the buttons, but they are actually attached to an elastic loop, and that loop is sewn into the boot in a sort of buttonhole placket that the button sits in, and doesn't show on the underside. No doubt, this is more secure and able to hold up to the wear and tear from the button hook, but it makes moving the buttons suddenly way more complicated, and will definitely leave much more visible holes (0.5cm slits) than I expected when they are moved to accommodate my large calves.
A wide calf option would have been much appreciated, but I am still happy to own these!

Gorgeous boots, very well made, fast shipping. I had to exchange them for a half size smaller, but I have skinny calves and very narrow feet, and the exchange process was painless. Unfortunately, I still returned them. They buckled oddly when viewed from the front, and were generally unflattering. Might have been fixed by moving the buttons, but I didn't want to risk it, and then make them unreturnable. That would be a very expensive mistake. Also, I didn't find the buttonhook necessary at all. They were a little finicky, but not $10-15 of finicky. Just things to keep in mind. Still very fond of this company.

I am delighted with these boots. The quality is top notch. I haven't had pair of shoes/boots made with such quality for a very long time. Do not let the price deter you, these are so well made, they are an investment. You will have them for years to come! I was reluctant to order them at first, as I was afraid the pointed toes would pinch, but since they are leather, the more I wear them, the more comfortable they become. The heel height is perfect and they look great with jeans or a skirt. So versatile! The real test will be wearing them all day for cosplay at the next convention. I'll have to do an update.

I absolutely adore my Tavistock boots! I honestly didnt expect them to fit, since I have a difficult time finding shoes that fit my size 9 1/2 duck feet, and I was trying to resign myself ahead of time to returning them. But to my delight they fit beautifully and are so comfortable! I wore them to work the last two days, and there were no problems with fit or comfort at all. They are actually more comfortable and flattering than some Victorian-style boots I have by another reputable maker. They look quite elegant, and I love the heel especially. And I am quickly getting the hang of using the buttonhook, thanks to some how-to videos on YouTube. These were my first purchase from American Duchess, but they definitely wont be my last. Im thrilled with them!

This review for new revised version of Tavistock Very happy with this purchase. Leather is buttery soft, fit is glorious out of box .perfect heel high! Love improved button holes ( very easy use button hook and even more easier to unbutton!). Customer service second to none. Thank you

This is the first review I have ever written on anything. These are the best boots I have ever owned. Because of back and foot problems I need to wear tight boots with ankle support. These are stylish and cool. I wear them all the time and have been wearing them for 5 years. I never wear them in the winter, (I live in Vermont) but wear them from April to October. They are super comfortable. I am a teacher. I am on my feet all day, then I go home and clean, cook and do laundry and put wood in my outdoor furnace, all while wearing these shoes. I now have holes in both soles, but the cobbler can fix them for $55. Highly recommended!

My usual size was out of stock due to being "last call", so I went up a half a size. They still fit like a dream and it means I can wear them with heavier socks on cold days. They came with spare buttons and a pair of replacement heel caps, which will definitely be put to use one day. Sadly I did manage to rip off one of the buttons this morning, but that was due to human error and not the fault of construction. I had grabbed the thread instead of the button with the button hook and managed to snap the knot. Luckily it is a simple fix. These are some of the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. I work retail so I'm on my feet all day and rarely have a chance to sit down. First day out of the box, I threw these on and decided to give them the trial by fire, so I wore them to a 10 hour shift where I had no chance to sit down. My feet don't ache any more than they do after the end of an average day with my well-worn work shoes. I really wish I had bought these sooner, but I will definitely be getting the Tavistock 2.0 after these kick the bucket, which will hopefully be a long time from now.

SUCH soft leather and so very comfortable. I am usually a 9.5 and these fit perfectly! They look amazing and thankfully fit my somewhat full calves without having to move the buttons at all. (good to know there is that option though!) Love love love them, and wear them while NOT in costume sometimes! I got the mink oil too to keep them in good shape, and hope to wear them more often in future. Also JUST bought some insoles to make them even more kind to my feet and we'll see how that goes. Also hooking them up with a button hook makes me feel so posh! :D

These shoes were all I hoped for, and more. The button hook was surprising easy to pick up on, and these are my go to boots when I have a day off. I also believe with proper care, these will be pretty durable in the PNW weather. Love the service and quality, and have will be ordering many more shoes from here.

I just received these yesterday (superfast shipping, I ordered them Wednesday afternoon, they were shipped Thursday morning). I bought the wax with them because I live in the PNW and with rain I definitely wanted them to have some water resistance (the angelus wax was very easy to use and buffed to a nice shine). The leather is baby soft out of the box and the stitching is gorgeous. I have a largish normal size calf but do find the top buttons a bit tight to do up currently (could also be because I'm not very handy with the hook yet). I am not one to buy expensive shoes (I think anything more than $50 requires some serious thought) but these I would buy again in a heartbeat (although I doubt I will as I plan to baby them with care, and you can tell they are going to last). The toe box is a bit tight (I have square toes that don't like to squish) but my 8.5 size foot fits great, and with a bit of breaking in, I don't foresee it being an issue. I bought these for a period event but can see them being my go to shoe for going out (except for quick runs to the store, cuz they do take some work to put on)

AMAZING!!!! These Beautiful boots are a masterpiece! the one and only thing I do have a bit of a problem with, is the buttons don't like to be forced around too much (I got a little overzealous and popped the bottom button off) I think if they were sautered closed that would completely alleviate the problem. And as far as historical accuracy? perfect! When they talk about narrowness of the shoe and going a half size bigger if you have wide feet? DO IT!!! they are narrow. I have very wide feet so I went just a half size bigger and they fit very snug but not tight. All in all Amazing! can't wait to wear these to my wedding!

I have owned these boots for about three years now and I have to say they have been one of the best buys I have ever made shoe wise. They are beautifully crafted and very durable. I once had a heavy metal door swing back towards my heel while wearing these and where it would have made a bloody mess of my foot it barely dented the leather (still a shame though). Along with beautifully crafted, they are also very comfortable. My job requires that I am up and about all day and these help me come out of it without mangling my feet. They are the most comfortable heels you'll ever wear. Size wise, they are very accurate, but you will definitely want to accurately measure your calf and feet to choose the best size for you. I have a wider calf, so it was very nice to see that these boots catered to that. The smell that everyone always comments on when they first receive these shoes does not stay for very long and disappears after some airing out. The only even slightly negative note I can give about these boots is that after a time the inside soles begin to curl up and wave due to sweat, but that took two years to happen.

I love these boots! I love everything about them. They look great and they are very comfortable. I get tons of compliments on them. Recently, I ordered a pair for my daughter for her birthday and she loves them, too. The only problem is that her buttons keep popping off. I need to take them to the cobbler to have them reinforced. Otherwise, these shoes are totally worth the money and American Duchess rocks!