Not really "flesh tone" shoes

[setsuna713]

Hi! I'm new to the forum, but I've been reading through as many posts as I can get through in a day. I've read many times that it's best to compete in flesh colored shoes. How do I find shoes that are actually my skin color? Being African American, the shoes that I find are always WAY too light in color :oops: Any suggestions on a place to get Latin shoes that are either dyable or darker in color? thanks!

:P

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df Michelle. I'll leave it to the other more knowledgeable dfers to address the shoe issue. However, glad to have you on board and looking forward to participating in other discussions with you. :D

[Chris Stratton]

Any of the satin shoes should be dyeable. I guess latin shoes are often more leather given the straps. I've seen them come in a variety of colors, but wonder if you could use everyday shoe polish to change their color, or if that would just rub off leaving you with a mess and light colored shoes.

It seems a lot of the new shoe companies are offering a huge variety of color choices, but I'd really be concerned to pick a shoe based on the construction and collective knowledge of the company producing it. To pick an example, a friend fell in love with a pair of latin sandals from a new maker and bought them. Only after breaking them and realizing she had no stability did we figure out that the heel cup was not made out of stiff enough materials, and the straps were not placed in a usefull position. They may have looked and felt great in the store, but they weren't designed by someone who really understood dance shoes. So beware the risk of pleasing appearence without proper structure, or materials that won't function for the life of the shoe.

[pygmalion]

Amen to that, setsuna713. Flesh tones shoes are peach or the "dark tan" ones are bronze. Neither one works for me, either, at least not in the summer, when I have a tan. The lighter "flesh" tones look NEON next to my skin (and I have a medium complexion, by no means at the extreme of the color spectrum.)

Okay, so I checked Showtime. There is a limited number of styles available in white satin, which is best for dying, since the color outcome is most predictable. Sometimes, the color can be stripped and the shoes re-dyed, but that's an iffy process. I have my shoes dyed at the shoe shop and matched to a skin tone swatch of fabric I got from the fabric shop.

Freed of London: style "Samba"
International: styles "Cindy" and "Crystal"
Supadance: style "1229"

There are a few others, I just picked these. Take your time and browse through.

Also, dancevision has some Latin sandals in white satin for only $49. They've been on clearance for a while, so call to see what's still in stock in your size. Or, you can custom order shoes in any style or fabric from toe2toe.com (which stocks mostly Coast and Celebrity shoes) or from Elegance (dancehappy.com) Elegance shoes can be a bit pricey, IMHO.


Good luck. btw, yes, this issue is real, and very exasperating to me, too.

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah, and I forgot to say Welcome! :D It's nice to have you lurking among us. :wink: :D

About the shoe dying, you can do it yourself for a couple bucks. I prefer to have it done professionally, since it's not all that expensive and the shoe people have much more experience than I do. My local dance shoe dealer charges $15, the shoe shop charges $10 (and the shoe shop has the ability to mix lots more custom colors.) So you save seven or eight bucks if you buy a box of RIT and do it yourself. It's not worth the risk to me.

[Laura]

Dying your shoes, or having someone do it, is definitely the way to go! You can get Standard, Smooth, and Latin/Rhythm shoes all in white satin.

[setsuna713]

Thanks all! I'll definately look into getting shoes dyed. I love my black shoes todeath but I really can't compete in them. :?

[Pacion]

Welcome setsuna713!

This post reminded me of a question I have been wanting to ask, or asked already but have forgotten that I asked :lol:

I noticed recently that a number of dance shoes have been having 'transparent' heels. Has anyone seen anyone wearing shoes like that? How do they look 'in action'? They are more expensive than 'regular' ones, but, Enquiring minds would like to know :D

http://www.dancesport.uk.com/shoes/dn/902.jpg

[mamboqueen]

Someone posted souldancerusa website on another board; I checked it out and they seem to have a few variations of "nude" color. I just never really trust the color samples online. And I have no idea if their shoes are any good; they are definitely less expensive than any I've purchased.

I don't like those clear-heeled shoes at all. It looks like there shoud be little fish swimming around inside. The shoe itself that you have pictured isn't too bad looking otherwise!

[Pacion]

I don't like those clear-heeled shoes at all. It looks like there shoud be little fish swimming around inside.

:shock: :lol:

[tasche]

I saw Pam Butler wearing them at Emerald and they looked a little weird from a distance. I like the over look of the shoe I just wish it had a regular heel

[mamboqueen]

So, do you know if you can you get those shoes with a regular heel???

[Pacion]

I don't know MamboQueen. I had seen them previously on dancesport.co.uk's website. They are made by Dance Naturals. I do not know if Dance Naturals offer them with a regular heel.

[Elizabeth]

I think I also that Dancsport International was selling some very dark tan shoes at Blackpool. I can't be sure though, since my issue with "flesh" tone goes in the other direction. Lucky for me I dance standard and can wear shoes dyed to match my gown.

[setsuna713]

Also, dancevision has some Latin sandals in white satin for only $49. They've been on clearance for a while, so call to see what's still in stock in your size.

So I went ahead and ordered a pair of shoes ($49 on ballroom shoes... that was an easy decision). They'll be here in a couple of days so I'll be sure to let everyone know how the whole dying process is going. Any suggestions on places to go to get them dyed? Will a normal shoe repair place do that :?: Thanks everyone for answering so many questions.

[mamboqueen]

Good luck with your shoe dying. I have only had one pair dyed once and it was at the place I bought them, so I'm not one to make any recommendatin here.

Stupid question, but is that your picture??? If so, I am sure you make a quite striking dancer on the floor.

[setsuna713]

Stupid question, but is that your picture??? If so, I am sure you make a quite striking dancer on the floor.

:oops: It's a picture I got off of one of my favorite shows ever, Buffy that Vampire Slayer. It's a cult hit (it got me through middle & high school too).

[mamboqueen]

I'm suddenly feeling like an old bat (pun intended!) LOL. The big cult show for me back in the good 'ol days was Twin Peaks.

[SDsalsaguy]

Stupid question, but is that your picture??? If so, I am sure you make a quite striking dancer on the floor.

:oops: It's a picture I got off of one of my favorite shows ever, Buffy that Vampire Slayer. It's a cult hit (it got me through middle & high school too).
Kendra, right?

[setsuna713]

Kendra, right?

Bingo! Another fan?

[SDsalsaguy]

Kendra, right?

Bingo! Another fan?
I guess you'd have to call me a semi-fan. I definately enjoyed it if I was home, but never went out of my way to schedule things so that I wouldn't miss it either.

[Pacion]

I guess you'd have to call me a semi-fan. I definately enjoyed it if I was home, but never went out of my way to schedule things so that I wouldn't miss it either.

Are you sure? :roll: Are you thinking or are you believing that you never went out of your way to be at home when it was on? :wink: :lol:

[Joe]

I don't like those clear-heeled shoes at all. It looks like there shoud be little fish swimming around inside.
Better be careful not to OG, Junebug! :D

[etchuck]

Hey Setsuna/M... :)

Not that this helps much, but I'm getting my standard shoes from 1995 (my practice and swing shoes that I haven't worn recently) and 2003 standards resueded at a shoe repair place really close to campus ($48 for both). They do dye shoes though i don't know the cost.

[pygmalion]

Most of the shoe repair shops near me do dying at a reasonable price. Old fashioned shoe shops can be hard to find, so if you don't know where one is, call a bridal shop. People have bridesmaid shoes dyed to match all the time. I'm sure any bridal shop can refer you to a place. Be careful of the cost if they offer to do it themsleves, though. Adding the word "bridal" multiplies the cost. So I'd start by looking in the phone book under shoe repair, first.

[setsuna713]

They came they came!! For $59 (including shipping) my new white satin ballroom shoes are here! They fit really well (as soon as I get used to 3inch heels instead of 2.5). Next on my list is to try and get them dyed. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted.

[theblondielou]

Hi, when I started dancing in 1980, women dyed their dance shoes to match their ballgown/latin dress and that is occasionally still done. For wear at a dance, wear whatever you wish! If you are a dark skin lady, wear black hose and black shoes, esp if your dress has some black in it if that makes you happiest, esp starting out. I started with the 2.5 thin stilleto heel and am so glad that you now can finally find attractive sandals (and even pumps though I don't wear those even when I dance International which I do primarily) with thicker heel, even as thick looking as a man's to a cuban style to all kinds of varieties of thick heels and heights. I primarily buy from dancershoesonline.com from China where shoes range from $55 to $78 and you have a choice of usually 2 to 5 different fabrics/leathers and 4 to 7 different types of heels. I have tried almost them all from Supadance to Freed to Diamant to Stephanie, etc. and for the price I like what I get there. I am 2 shades darker than albino, my nickname being Casper I am so white, that I can even dye my satin shoes with tea! I have last dyed leather with a spray shoe dye myself. Dylon Dye is a British dye you can get through Manhattan Wardrobe online and other places that have a large range of colors. Usually, with satin you get a fabric swatch to work on. With leather, buy white and then go to Walmart and buy a cheap leather purse for $5 that is white and use it for swatch purposes and then spray and put it up against your skin. If you wear hose, put the hose on and then compare your swatch against your foot/leg with the hose; and if you don't, do it against your bare skin. Good luck!