zam's shoes ...pradas

Man, I have had the most difficult time finding shoes. I've looked for months. I spent about 6 hours today going through stores in the malls in Denver and got to the last store and the last row of shoes. There in the new arrivals at Neiman Marcus were some pradas. About 8 pairs between sizes 6 and 10. I had actually given in and bought a pair of state streets at payless for $11.00 which are the same as steve maddens, bass, sketchers, etc.... even though I wasn't happy with the differences in the soles. The Pradas are still a bit pricey ($260.) but they're much more correct and I finally found some. I was actually a little giddy when I rounded the corner and saw them My wife gets to see me act like a kid when I find star wars stuff I've been hunting for.



There are also some "Hot Topic" beads in the box I finally picked up

I am happy you found a pair. The pair I have actually has the sole not quite right. The desing on the bottom is too fine on my pair, but after all I have been through looking for them and the price I got them at.I am going to keep them and call it close enough until I can afford another set.

I took my shoes to a cobbler today and he says it'll be no problem to modify them. He's nearly positive he can strip the black and dye the tops of the shoes the light purple and sew the brown strips on top of it and around the sides..which tuck underneath the rubber sole / lip thingy He estimated a total price of $100.00 to do them both. If he can't get the black to lighten up enough to dye purple, he'll sew thin strips of dyed purple on first and then the brown strips which will be more like $175. Seems like a good deal to me..saves me a little work. I'll just have to be sure I watch his progress and check his scaling and dying

my prob is that they won't cut up the shoe patterning for me. So, i need to find someone better. I could cut it myself, but patterning is essential to comfort. My guess was that mine would all have to be glued, cause i have a red material underneath. And, i am not so sure they'd work with it, they just do shoe repair. UGh.

i believe Zam's shoes were black with just a brown spray over it... look how it's all worn and chipped around the sole and lower portion of the shoe - exposing black underneath.

I was just going to get some deglazer from the shoe store to remove some of the gloss of the black - then spray it was a brown spray dye... then cut out triangles off the top and sew purple leather on from the inside (or have a cobbler do that part).


see where i drew purple in this pic - that's where i will cut... leaving the middle strip in tact. (I haven't decided how high i'll go with the cuts - thus the two difernt versions drawn).Then placing purple pieces in the triangle windows - from behind.

DCB,
That's a good idea. I thought about that when I got home last night so I haven't talked with the cobbler about that option. I agree..I think they're black and painted brown also. I might do it the same way. Have you decided what to do with the zipper? The cobbler said if he put the brown leather on top and tucked it into the rubber, a flap (so to speak) could be left along the zipper and actually covering up about 1/2" of the bottom of the zipper making it more hidden.


Zam I am,
Surely there is someone who could put it together for you. I suppose you could make the patterning yourself. You would have to stitch it to the existing upper as best you can. I realize the shoe stores have a machine that reaches down inside the shoe so you'd have to tuck your new upper into the rubber sole and glue it. Maybe that shoe store could at least do that for you. The thing is you'd probably have to put a zipper or elastic on the top or it won't be going on very easily.

i figured the zipper would be pretty much covered by the ankle guard (at least the guard i made seems to cover it up pretty good) - so i wasn't going to worry about it.

I figured zipper on the side of the shoe or better yet, at the very back of the shoe. that way, if the ankle gaurd flips up, you don't see it

Grrr, i have been getting No's because the sole is moulded to the shoe, unlike leather shoes that are sewn/glued together, i will have problems glueing/putting the material together with leather. I might buy some rit dye tonite and see if I can just dye the parts i need purp/brown. It won't be leather, fer now, but is a good makeshift untill i can get someone to say YES!

What model of Pradas are those?

Dark Trooper wrote:
What model of Pradas are those?

Yes I am curious about this too. Is there a model No./serial No. or a model name to these Prada Boots? Just in hope to find the same one...

*pulls out Prada box from underneath pile of Zam stuff*

*wipes sweat from brow*

Okay.. the label on the box (in Italian of course) calls them "Calzature Donna" : Art. 3U1400 : Group Name Skiskolaer. They are the same boots that DCB and MonCal have images of.

When I bought them (on eBay) they were simply termed "Prada Sport Boots" I remember running through the listings for weeks trying to find my size at a somewhat reasonable price *LOL!* Lost out on a couple auctions... But eventually snagged them! *For all I know it was the same pair being traded around and around and around! *

MaulMaus wrote:

Okay.. the label on the box (in Italian of course) calls them "Calzature Donna" : Art. 3U1400 : Group Name Skiskolaer. They are the same boots that DCB and MonCal have images of.

I have one variation. :

CALZATURE DONNA
art. PR4410
group name. SKISKOLAER
colour. NERO

Originally Posted by MaulMaus

DCB has pics of the boots in the "Costume Tips" section of his Zam site. The name on the box of mine is "Calzature Donna" (Actually, I think they're pretty darn ugly )

Well, I'm trying to get up to speed on these boots! It looks like the hunt is on for those darn Pradas that I suppose are a 4 year old boot

My question is, does anyone have a tutorial on how they converted their boots? (Or could kind of post an update on how they finally did it?) I read that Dustin Crops Boy had one at one time, but is his site Kaput now? Or do I just need a link to where it might be burried on his site? Perhaps someone saved some of his info?

On one hand, I have it easy since so many of you have worked in this for years. On the other hand, links and images that were once here are now gone so I feel like I missed out

PM Zam I Am, she my be kind and help you. She is the "go-to gal" for Zam info.

No, don't pm me about shoes! I actually "lucked out" and found the perfect soles at a thrift store. I converted my shoes by adding leather that a shoemaker gave me and I chiselled and sewed on a strip up the middle of the shoe. Sorry no tutorials, and I haven't updated my site in awhile because I just had to renew and well, I have been lagging on somethings due to me not learning html good enough, getting the neoprene thing on, and life in general.

The actual footwear is a boot that goes up to the calf. In "Dressing the Galaxy" book, you can see an image on a brown pull out tab. Almost like duck/water/snow boots.

Oops Sorry Zam I guess I should'ent have just volunteered you without asking. I just knew that you had one of the best outfits here.

Thanks pennywise for the but, I would rather people post on the thread and not pm me. Because most people are looking for the same info, and if it's out on the forum, it prevents my inbox from getting maxed out on questions that everyone would like answers to.

Well i just got a new (used, but new for me lol) pair of Pradas, they arent the same as some ppls i think because they have a zip (better for me cause i have wide feet and struggle to get elasticated ones on! lol) They are also brown but they have the correct sole.

I must have trawled ebay for months in total for Prada boots LOL.

In the end i just typed "prada boots" into the search, got it to search title and description across the whole world and just looked at every auction.

I think i paid $170 inc shipping to the UK.

Yes, I'm in the middle of a long ebay hunt for that hopeful used item to turn up. Honestly, I'm wondering if people have photos of the Prada boots they started with ? When I did a search for the style number of boot listed in this thread, this is the shoe that turned up. It does have a zipper on the side.



I guess a full blown tutorial isn't exactly what I needed if it isn't there any longer (or nobody saved DCB's), but a few clarifications would be good.

ZamIAm, did you hand sew your leather onto your shoe? I figure with the sole on there, there is zero way an average sewing maching can stitch there. Did anyone have a different way they went about it (Luck with a cobbler sewing the added leather on?)

Also, did anyone start with black leather and truley have luck deglazing it and re-dying it brown? From what I know of dyes, once something is black it would have to be faded or bleached to get it a lighter color like brown. Unless people are using the leather acrylic paints sparingly to cover up the black.

ZamIAm, did you hand sew your leather onto your shoe? I figure with the sole on there, there is zero way an average sewing maching can stitch there. Did anyone have a different way they went about it (Luck with a cobbler sewing the added leather on?)

Chiseled the holes then ~ Yep hand sewed it with leather needles. It was a bugger. Then I painted the white parts purple. My shoe was red. The top part if you look at the FIDM/MOM shots, is a white leather upper painted purple with a brown strip of leather in the middle. You can use brown paint on a strip if you want. I did for the piece that is around the base rubber of the shoe. I just traced the shoe with a piece of paper that matched what it would look like for the back heel leather and the strip. Then used it as my pattern for the leather.

Originally Posted by MonCal

You'll then use brown leather paint. Spray it on in several fine layers. It will take a lot so get 2 cans. This is actually how stormtrooper boots were made originally by painting black boots white.

Thanks for the input! What brand of spray paint do you use? I've only used Cova Color sold at Tandy to paint my belts, but it is liquid in bottles. Perhaps I could airbrush it on? What brand of leather spray paint are you using? I've herd mixed reviews on spray paints like nulife due to cracking.

Lastly, has anyone used the Angelus Acylic Leather paints or Fiebings Acrylic Paint for any parts of their Zam costumes? (I will eventually have questions for the leather parts thread too.)

Yep... those are the same boots I have! Just about killed me to "mutilate" my one and only pair of designer shoes though!

First I cut off the "Prada" label on the red stripe on the bottom with an exacto. Then colored it with a black permanent marker - figured I could just re-color as needed easily enough!

Then deglazed like MonCal explained. But I also took some sandpaper to the boots to rough up the leather a bit and the soles too. A very-fine sandpaper should I point out. When I painted with the leather paint, I custom mixed the color and applied it with a sponge, not an airbrush. (In a couple thin layers of course). I've not had any cracking or peeling.

I haven't decided how to put on the purple leather pieces yet ... I'm still mulling it over. :/

Thanks MaulMaus! So did your boots fit pretty true to size? I spotted a pair of 9's on ebay but I'm an 8. I don't know if I should get them and just stuff my shoes with thick socks and insoles, or hold out and hope something closer to my size becomes available? Yikes!

Here are pics of my boots - i dont have them yet but hopefully they will arive soon.

There is a glue called "Shoe-goo" has anyone had success with this stuff as opposed to sewing? I heard it was pretty good stuff.

My boots are held together with Fabri-tac and it seems to hold pretty well. My base boots are a Wal-Mart find and then I made basically a slip cover for them out of a brown vinyl that matched the boot after it was weathered, and some scraps of the suede from my veil, gluing it on at the sole with Fabritac. They're not nearly as nice as the Pradas, but they cost me a grand total of $30 or so, and they'll do until I can afford a $200 pair of shoes to destroy.

did anyone notice that the last post of this thread was in 03?

It's okay to revive threads if you're actually reviving the conversation that goes with them. Hush.

Originally Posted by pennywise

There is a glue called "Shoe-goo" has anyone had success with this stuff as opposed to sewing? I heard it was pretty good stuff.

I did both to mine to "make sure" it stayed in place while I sewed it

Originally Posted by Kay_Dee

Lucky you! Did you find brown ones or is that the result of someone else's paint work? The way the red logo stands out, it looks like you lucked out and found some that were already brown!

Yeah i think they are actualy brown to start with, the sellr didnt advertize them as zam boots so i guess they had no reasn to make the brown, i just gotta hope these pair fit!!! LOL

Lord im looking forward to hacking these apart .... NOT! Im in an industry that supplies to cobblers but the one that gives me free services im not sure i trust with my Pradas haha!! Ill have to shop around and get a few quotes and if its too much do it myself lol

Originally Posted by Cylrul Pbz

did anyone notice that the last post of this thread was in 03?

With the rapidly approaching Celebration Europe and the new neoprene run its only natural that these old threads will be gettng posted on again, there is a weath of information on them and we as "newbies" are using tis and asing questions and adding to it. I expect a LOT more activity on the Zam boards and i love seeing the threads come back to life with new zammers!!!

I agree we should keep the threads alive and the topics in one place. The only unfortunate part is a lot of pics have disappeared. If you read a post that seems to be missing a picture I for one would be happy to re post my pictures if you pm me and tell me which post needs a pic.

As for glue, shoe goo is good. I think it's basically the same as "goop" which I use a lot. Another glue that works great is Barge cement. Leather workers use it and it holds great. It's a contact cement so it works best if you coat both surfaces, let it tack and then put the pieces together.

I have a question on the Prada sizing for those of you who already have them. If I check International Size Conversion Charts, Generally a 38 = 7.5 US, 38.5 = 8, 39 = 8.5 - etc. However, on ebay most of the Prada listings say 37=7, 38=8, 39=9. It is really inconsistent. So how have you all found that they run? What Euro size is stamped in your shoe, and what US size do you actually wear?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by MonCal

As for glue, shoe goo is good. I think it's basically the same as "goop" which I use a lot. Another glue that works great is Barge cement. Leather workers use it and it holds great. It's a contact cement so it works best if you coat both surfaces, let it tack and then put the pieces together.

For whatever reason, the finish on my holster didn't react well with barge cement, that was the first thing we tried and it popped apart within a couple hours of using it, despite giving the glue 48 hours to cure while held together with clamps. The Fabritac is holding just fine a year and a half later, though.

Julie

Barge works, you have to hold it in place with some clips or something for 5-10 minutes though for it to cure right. E6000 is great for anything and everything.

Wondering if anyone can answer this question.
Do pradas run a little big or a little small or are they spot on usually?
There is an ebay auction for a pair 1/2 size smaller than I am. No way I can stand the pain of a pair of shoes too small with all the walking and standing you do in these things. And I've got 2 little kids I'd be taking care of too.
They're priced pretty low, it's got a shipping price that I bets more then it should be, but even with that it's not a bad price.

Kathy's Pradas are a 37.5 Euro and she wears either a 6.5 or 7 U.S.

Okay, in response to the question about Prada sizing...

My Pradas are a size 37 and should be a size 7 US. Normally, I wear a size 7 1/2 Medium width - so naturally, I was worried about them fitting (But I got a pretty good deal on the price...) They fit me fine. Because of the way these boots are shaped, the toe part is pretty roomy. I do find that the back/heel part is tighter than I would normally wear (though I don't normally wear boots either) but is nothing uncomfortable. The overall length is perfectly fine as well.

And just for the record Langsuir666 ... I'm officialy jealous of your footwear! How on earth did you manage to get a pair of brown Pradas? I've never seen those before! Ever!!! They look a little worn too.. cool!

I just got my Prada's too.....just put them on for the first time and holy narrow heel! Actually the area above the front part of the arch is fairly snug too. Usually I have the exact opposite problem with footwear being too wide or too sloppy. I think I might have to take them to be stretched a little. Length wise though.....it's allllll good.

Sounds like they may work then. I could always see if they can be stretched in the heal a little bit.
If anything, if I can't stand them I could always offer them up here to someone they'd fit better.

Wanted to post a pic of my boots so far... still dont' have the purple inserts done...



And here with a sort of "mock-up" with the shin and toe guards. Yeah... I know they aren't velcroed down yet... and yes the one shin guard has a bolt missing on the left side (it broke off when I took it apart and I haven't replaced it yet).

Ooooooooh!! Looking awesome!!! How did you do your shins? I love the look of them! Really nice job

Yep! looking well smart!

What have you used on the shin guards?

Some people say to use leather but I'm uncertain as what they're made from?
On the close ups from the exhibition they don't look leather but in some promotional shots they do

Poking around I ran across these at REI. I wanted to get an opinion. There were a couple other styles online that were similar. I'm not so sold on them being an exact match though. That's why I wanted opinions.

http://tinyurl.com/y8qg6r

Originally Posted by Langsuir666

Ooooooooh!! Looking awesome!!! How did you do your shins? I love the look of them! Really nice job

While I would love to take credit for the shins... I can't. Mr. MonCal must step up once again as the Grand-Zam-Master! I only added a bit more weathering to them and used the good-ol' Rub-n-Buff on the silver part.

Note: The flash on the camera washed out the colors a bit on that pic, they aren't quite so lavender looking and the brown on the boots is lighter than in real life too!

me*gonk: The shoes would work in a pinch, but they aren't that close to the Zam boots. I think I would keep looking for something closer before spending that kind of money on something not that accurate. Just my 2 cents.

I wish I could just give you the name of the producer of my shoes and you guys could refurb them, but they were from a thrift store, and the inner sides with their name got worn out. My soles are exactly like hers as is the stitching. They modified her shoe tops or had them produced differently the uppers like duck boots with an elastic I think. From the promo shots, there is the "twirling zam" pic I had dubbed ~that shows how her rubber sole has an arrow on it. I wish I could do a crop but don't have time atm.

That was sorta my thought on the ones at REI as well. If it gets down to it and I can't find something better I could go with them. I kinda like them as regular shoes too
I think we're going there today for something completely unrelated so I'm going to look at what they have in the store.

Guess what i have on my feet!!?!? Hahahahhaa!!!!!!!!!!! I love getting new bits lol!

Pradas are a bit narrow though eh?! That or i must have really wide feet! Im trying to stretch them a bit with a big pair of socks and wearing them doing the ironing lol!!!!

Originally Posted by Langsuir666

Pradas are a bit narrow though eh?! That or i must have really wide feet!

You've got fat feet... Like the rest of us!

Try some shoe stretchers... Target here carries them, about $6-10 each I think. Congrats! Mine are narrow a bit in the heel - but stiff since I haven't worn them that much and they were "New" when I bought them. Maybe I need to go hiking or something...

I found these pradas and picked them up for zam purposes....

i know they are not the exact boot, but they have the same profile and sole. I plan on doing a bit of customizing to them like removing the nylon section and cutting down the shaft to be about an inch below the shin guards. I was thinking velcroing the shin guards to the actual outside of the boot shaft that was left. once the laces are covered with the leather details and other pieces i think they will work pretty nice...the funny thing is they are mens boots. we had some issues locating the correct prada in ladies and when searching found these mens boots in a small size that sported the correct outsole and profile...just another choice for those who cant find the actual womans boots.

Good find on the sole there!!! Id be happy using those

my wife was a little reserved cause they were guys boots...but i think once put together she will be pleasantly surprised

A lot of the boots listed on eekbay are mens as well.
In this case it doesn't really matter...sort of like Doc Martins

Yep.. those are much better! Nothing wrong with those boots - the shin guard assembly will cover up the laces. They are a little thick at the top, but if you cut them down like you said, you shouldn't have a problem getting the shin guard assembly around them!

You can tell your wife that they are more comfortable than the women's boots anyway... the heel is quite narrow on the women's boots! Great find!