Shoe Straps

[AquaDancer]

I recently purchased the Capezio X-Strap ballroom shoe. The strap is too long so I'm wondering if I can just snip it to the right size? :roll: Do I need to do anything to the strap after I cut it?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[pygmalion]

Where did you go?

When I bought shoes with long straps, the women who fitted them just snipped them off for me, with no more attention required. Try giving a call to your shoe dealer, and see if they'll cut off the straps for you. Mine did.

Jenn

[AquaDancer]

Thanks Jenn, but unfortunatelly I got these mail order. I'm just concerned that I might mess them up.

[MissAlyssa]

cut them at an angle so that they don't fray. I always use a bit of clear nail polish on the ends just to make sure. then just poke extra buckle holes if you need them. :D

[AquaDancer]

Thanks a bunch MissAlyssa :D

[MissAlyssa]

no problem aqua. welcome to the forums, I'm glad you posted! :D

[Pacion]

Didn't quite know which shoe thread to put this in, searched and decided this was probably the best one. :lol:

In Strictly Dance Fever, the dance competition that is currently going on in the UK, three couples had to learn the Foxtrot. I noticed that their shoes were court shoes with a strap going from the top inside of the shoe, to the outside back. This no doubt makes the shoe a lot more stable on the foot and the lady can dance without worrying about losing her shoe.

I think this is a design that may have only come about in the last year or so? Why did it take so long?

As anyone (ladies I mean :wink: ) danced with this style? How do you feel in them versus the slip on court shoes? Does it make it easier to focus on the dancing and not that you might lose your shoe (even though the shoe is probably very snug in the first place), or am I imagining things?

[Laura]

Do you mean the ones with the diagonal strap across the instep, or something else?

If you mean the diagonal strap ones, they've been around for a while and International makes them. If you mean something else, can you draw us a picture or find one on the web?

[ShyDancer]

Supadance have them too.

I own a pair and love them, i dont think I will ever go back to the ones without the straps..I still have a few old pairs here that I wear for practice occasionally, but mostly its my strap ones.

I dont know if it actually gives you more stability..but i do feel more comfortable knowing that the back of my shoes wont slip off when Im on my toes, it gives me a sense of stability and I feel a lot more confident putting more power into my steps.

[randomMysh]

I noticed a lot of women dancing with a clear wide rubber band around the shoe and the instep. I think it's for the same purpose and I think they sell those in dance shoe stores.

[Laura]

Yes, but the clear straps are considered by some to be a bit declasse', so to speak.

I used to wear the diagonal strap shoes that International sells. They were very pretty and I loved the way they looked and the fact they always stayed on, but they didn't fit my feet very well. I've since switched to a style of shoe that fits my foot and has elastic sewn inside the entire foot opening. These stay on great, don't hurt my feet, and are just right for me.

[cocodrilo]

cut them at an angle so that they don't fray. I always use a bit of clear nail polish on the ends just to make sure. then just poke extra buckle holes if you need them. :D
I do this too! Funny, some people just don't have a clue. The Japanese salseras over here with their tiny ankles have these 6" lengths of extra strap blowin' in the breeze, well it looks pretty silly... :?

[pygmalion]

Maybe they're afraid to cut them because they don't know the cut-at-an-angle trick. :? :?:

[cocodrilo]

Maybe they're afraid to cut them because they don't know the cut-at-an-angle trick. :? :?:
I actually cut mine straight across- they are not satin but leather, so they won't fray anyway. Maybe some people feel they would damage their shoes by doing this procedure.(shrug)

[pygmalion]

I can't imagine why they don't ask the folks at the shoe shop. The first time I got strappy dance shoes, the lady who sold them offered and cut them for me on the spot. *shrug*

[mamboqueen]

6" lengths of extra strap blowin' in the breeze,

My biggest shoe pet-peeve! Cut the suckers!

Okay; what do you use to poke extra holes?? I'm in need of this on a pair I have.

[and123]

Okay; what do you use to poke extra holes?? I'm in need of this on a pair I have.

I use a really big, sharp needle (used for embroidery and/or sewing with yarn). The pros probably use an awl. I then use the tips of my sewing/manicure/embroidery scissors and wiggle them around in the hole to widen it a bit if necessary. Generally forcing the buckle through the hole does the trick too, but it's much more blunt and harder to push through. Afterwards, I use some fray-check on the hole to reinforce it. It sucks to tear a buckle hole. At that point, the only reliable solution is to replace the entire strap (though I did have a pair of latin shoes that I swear were held together with glue and layer upon layer of fabric paint. Just couldn't give them up).

Melissa

[cocodrilo]

I can't imagine why they don't ask the folks at the shoe shop. The first time I got strappy dance shoes, the lady who sold them offered and cut them for me on the spot. *shrug*
Most of the ladies I know have purchased them from their dance teachers, who order them from large distributors far away in Tokyo.

[MacMoto]

I noticed that their shoes were court shoes with a strap going from the top inside of the shoe, to the outside back. This no doubt makes the shoe a lot more stable on the foot and the lady can dance without worrying about losing her shoe.

I think this is a design that may have only come about in the last year or so? Why did it take so long?

As anyone (ladies I mean :wink: ) danced with this style? How do you feel in them versus the slip on court shoes? Does it make it easier to focus on the dancing and not that you might lose your shoe (even though the shoe is probably very snug in the first place), or am I imagining things?

Do you mean like this?
http://www.danceuniverse.co.kr/prodimg/shoes/large/intl_C2003.jpg
This is by International, presumably the one Laura's talking about.

[Swingolder]

MacMoto, that sure is a beautiful shoe!

I just snipped off my long straps when I first got my new shoes. I DON'T have tiny ankles but still had a lot of extra.

[cocodrilo]

I think they make them long intentionally for those who are NOT blessed with tiny ankles.

[pygmalion]

I can't imagine why they don't ask the folks at the shoe shop. The first time I got strappy dance shoes, the lady who sold them offered and cut them for me on the spot. *shrug*
Most of the ladies I know have purchased them from their dance teachers, who order them from large distributors far away in Tokyo.

Yeah. I figured something like that (A bit late :oops: :lol: ) I was thinking mail-order might be involved. *shrug*

[cocodrilo]

All of mine were mail ordered as well(from much further away than Tokyo, at half the price, heh heh!) yet those flapping straps looked so geeky I clipped them before I wore them in public.

[Another Elizabeth]

I cut the straps to the right length on my first pair of latin shoes. Then I did a lot of standard and built up my ankle and foot strength. When I tried to wear the (still almost new) latin shoes again, I couldn't get the strap around my foot any more. So that's one reason for not cutting them!

[Purr]

Interesting. I've never had to cut the straps of any of my shoes. I guess I have big ankles to begin with.

[DancingMommy]

I cut the straps to the right length on my first pair of latin shoes. Then I did a lot of standard and built up my ankle and foot strength. When I tried to wear the (still almost new) latin shoes again, I couldn't get the strap around my foot any more. So that's one reason for not cutting them!

THAT'S why my latin shoes don't fit anymore.... I was beginning to wonder.... Especially as I've gone DOWN a size in my street shoes....

[19DancerBabyLin]

I use the clear rubber bands most shoe vendors have at comps. They're a life saver! I have sweaty feet haha, without them my shoes will fly off!

[NonieS]

snip the straps at an angle, burn the end with a lighter, then add clear nail polish..... works for me :D

[contracheck]

cut them at an angle so that they don't fray. I always use a bit of clear nail polish on the ends just to make sure. then just poke extra buckle holes if you need them. :D

The multi-purpose Gem Tac glue is perfect for preventing fraying and make threading through the holes much easier.

[Bella]

The multi-purpose Gem Tac glue is perfect for preventing fraying and make threading through the holes much easier.

Thanks contracheck! Will try this!