Poulenes for LARP. Europe XIV-XV

European XIV-XV centuries. Western Europe.

• Made of durable 3-3.5 mm thick natural cowhide leather (KRS)
• Hand-stitched
• Rubber sole reinforcement

These shoes are highly comfortable for events on outdoor asphalt or concrete surfaces, in the forest, or on other challenging terrain. Thanks to the rubber-reinforced sole, it doesn’t wear out on asphalt, gravel, or concrete, and in forest or marshy areas, it doesn’t slip like regular leather soles.

Poulenes (also known as Krakwes or Cloven-toed Shoes) are soft leather shoes with no heels, often without a rigid sole, and featuring pointed toes. They were popular in Europe during the XIV–XV centuries.

The poulenes were brought to Europe from the East (babushis) during the Crusades of the 12th–13th centuries. In the 14th century, the shoes became very narrow, with the toe part growing so long that it was rolled into a tube. During this period, fashion took on extravagant shapes, often compromising the functionality of the footwear.

The longer the toe of the shoe, the wealthier and nobler the owner was considered to be.

In the 16th century, fashion enthusiasts would link the tips of the poulenes’ toes with a silver chain, and tiny bells were hung at the point where the toes met.