Caspar Cow Mouth Shoes

The Iconic Broad-Toed Shoe of Tudor Women — The Caspar In the reign of Henry VIII, fashion took a bold turn. The exaggeratedly long pointed poulaine fell out of favour and gave way to something dramatically different — the broad, rounded "cow mouth" shoe, sometimes called the duck-bill. Wide across the toe, flat-soled, and often slashed for decoration, this silhouette became the defining footwear of early 16th century Tudor women across all social classes. Portraits, manuscript illustrations, and surviving examples from the period document this style clearly as one of the most recognisable shoes of the era. Noirtide's Caspar is a bespoke leather reproduction of this beloved Tudor shape — crafted for women who want footwear that is genuinely grounded in history.

Premium Genuine Leather, Built for the Period Each pair of Caspar shoes is handcrafted from premium full-grain genuine leather in your choice of rich Brown or deep Black. The broad rounded toe, flat sole, and period-informed upper construction are shaped individually to your foot measurements using traditional cordwaining techniques. Choose a leather sole for historical accuracy and authentic wear, or a rubber sole for outdoor events, Renaissance faires, and festival ground use.

Fully Bespoke — Any Size, Any Fitting Every pair is made to order with no standard size restrictions. Wide, narrow, and non-standard women's fittings are all accommodated. We will contact you after your order to confirm measurements before production begins.

Perfect for Tudor, Elizabethan & Renaissance Costume The Caspar is ideal for women's Tudor reenactment, Elizabethan and early Jacobean living history, Renaissance faire costume, theatre and film wardrobe, SCA garb, LARP, Henry VIII era portrayals, and anyone building a historically accurate 15th–16th century woman's impression. Available in Brown and Black.

• Outer: 100% genuine full-grain leather
• Lining: 100% genuine leather
• Sole: Traditional leather sole or rubber sole — your choice
• Style: Broad rounded cow mouth toe — 15th–16th century Tudor silhouette
  
• Size: Fully made to order — all women's sizes accepted, including wide & narrow fittings