Help with Latin Shoes

[mamboqueen]

Okay, I need some experts here.

I started out wearing Elegance shoes, which I liked, but took FOREVER to get a pair in narrow width. The last pair I got, I literally picked up on my way to a comp in New York. They were at least a size too big, but I wore them anyway. A friend recommended cutting some of the sole off at the top so that my toes would slightly hang over. I did it, but now, because these are fairly thick-soled (relative to my Internationals), they drag and make a noise when I'm dancing. Any way to fix this?

What I'm really bumming about is that the Internationals have worked well for me and are the only shoe I can find in XN width in stock. The problem is, I've been having balance issues and I think that the middle of my foot, which may not be defined as "narrow" hangs over to the tune of 1+" on each side. I think that lack of support is what is giving me some balance issues. The Elegance shoes are far more supportive.

Any suggestions? I can't really afford to buy new Elegance shoes at the moment (to the tune of $140), and these would be perfectly good if I could figure out how to fix the fronts.

[pygmalion]

No idea how to fix shoes, MQ. Are you saying $140 is too much? Or are you saying no news shoes of any price at this time?

And how does the Elegance special order work? (I never need special order shoes, so I have no idea. :? ) I thought their website advertises like six weeks. Is it really longer then that?

[mamboqueen]

It's usually 10 weeks for narrow width. I have no idea why....makes no sense at all to me.

I can't really spend any money on shoes at the moment when I have 2 pairs that *could* work well enough. I just hate to shell out all kinds of money, wait all kinds of time, to get something that doesn't work. Very frutrating.

I just dropped them off at this shoe repair shop run by this old timer. He couldn't believe I cut the top of the soles off. I told him it was a "dance thing." He said I should have brought them there to begin with. He's going to stitch the front of the soles closed for me, so hopefully that will help. Otherwise I'll either be trippin' or makin' all kinds of noise.

[pygmalion]

Good luck with that. He probably can help. Those old-time cobbler guys really know their shoes, most of the time.

[Twilight_Elena]

:? So when you cut them, the soles opened up or did they just fray?
I agree with pygmalion, old timers know how to deal with us crazy shoe people. :P I wonder if they know about suede resoling as well...
Could just ask my local shoe repair guy. :roll: Sometimes we miss out the most obvious thing!

Twilight Elena

[cocodrilo]

Sorry to hear you've had problems with the Elegance dance shoes. I bought 2 pair(3 years ago) when I started dacning salsa and LOVED them! They advised me to buy 1/2 size smaller than my street size as they stretch out, so I did and they stretched to fit me perfectly. A year later I bought 3 more pair! I ordered on line from their site, and all the shoes I bought were on sale, from as low as $80(which is why I bought so many different styles!).

[mamboqueen]

TE - they're not fraid at all. They have about twice the thickness in the sole as the Melissa's, so when I try to go toe first on the floor, it's not smooth and it makes a noise. The nice ol' guy is going to stitch them down for me so hopefully that will alleviate the problem.

Cocro - I always liked the Elegance shoes, and they have excellent support, but because they're thicker in the soles, they tend to be a little inflexible compared to the Internationals. I could get the "flexi" sole, but I'm not sure that would give me enough support. What I really like about these (I think they're called "Latin Royale's") is that I have a big foot (size 9) and between the ankle part of the shoe and the straps that criss-cross the front of the sandal, they hold my feet in well. I really think the Melissa's don't cover enough of the bottom of my foot.

I'll figure it out...