...just a thought, as Sarah Juniper points out on her web site, pre-industrial revolution foot wear was built on a straight last - which means both shoes fit either foot and the only way you might tell the difference while breaking them in was which way the buckle crossed over the instep if there was a buckle flap. Straight lasted shoes are horribly uncomfortable to break in. I had to soak my shoes in a stream and wear them dry a couple of times before the leather stretched and conformed to my foot so they were reasonably useful.

I mention this only because at some Juried Invitational Reenactments each participant must undergo an expert inspection before being allowed in to the grounds. If your foot wear is 18th-21st century machine made with vibram soles you are not going to be admitted no matter how good your attire looks. It's almost like being invited to Docent at Colonial Williamsburg. The wrong kind of fabric in your shirt will send you home - and I could go on - but you get the idea. It's all about historical correctness and research. You are representing the host of the activity - some park in Richmond, for example and they insist that the performance be as correct as possible.