Dyeing Satin shoes

[Katarzyna]

What are your thoughts on dying shoes to match the costume. Flesh tone satin shoes create longer leg lines, but would you recommend dying white satin shoes to match a light pink gown? My partner is strongly set against it, but I've seen it done by quite a few top pro ladies... Any thoughts?

 

[Laura]

The fashion for the past few years has been to wear skin-toned shoes, with the exception being if your dress was white or pastel. In this case, some people dye their shoes to match. But only do it if you have dainty feet and impeccable footwork. The light shoes will make your feet look bigger, and will draw attention to your feet and therefore your footwork.

 

[Katarzyna]

Thank you Laura!

My gown is a very light pastel pink, and I was able to get an extremaly good price on white satin shoes. I am debating if I should dye them to match or not. My footwork is definitely not perfect, but dyeing them in flesh color seems a bit like a waste... I am not sure, I still have another new pair of flesh tone shoes for competitions, but I have to make the decision sooner or later.

 

[twnkltoz]

The nice thing about flesh toned shoes is that they go with everything! When you get rid of the pink dress, what will you do with pink shoes?

 

[Chris Stratton]

My partner is strongly set against it, but I've seen it done by quite a few top pro ladies... Any thoughts?

Since when was that a factor?

You could always tell him your sister spilled cranberry juice on them and this was the best you could do to wash it out.

 

[Laura]

The nice thing about flesh toned shoes is that they go with everything! When you get rid of the pink dress, what will you do with pink shoes?

Dye them some dark color (purple if you're feeling funky, black if not) and use them for social dancing and/or practice.

 

[Chris Stratton]

I don't think women with the discipline to practice in court shoes have any trouble with them outlasting their interst in a dress, or at least any trouble finding a way to use up the remaining life in a color-orphaned pair.

 

[Katarzyna]

The nice thing about flesh toned shoes is that they go with everything! When you get rid of the pink dress, what will you do with pink shoes?

With what I spent on the gown, the shoes will DEFINITELY be outlived

 

[Katarzyna]

My partner is strongly set against it, but I've seen it done by quite a few top pro ladies... Any thoughts?

Since when was that a factor?

You could always tell him your sister spilled cranberry juice on them and this was the best you could do to wash it out.

Chris,
This sounds like a pretty good idea.... My sister does things like that

 

[twnkltoz]

See, this is how long it's been since I've worn "real" dance shoes for social dancing or practice...I always wear practice shoes because my feet are so bad! It didn't even occur to me that you could use court shoes for that.

 

[Laura]

Hahhaa, it's the opposite for me: I was spending so much money in the search for the 'perfect' dance shoe that I stopped buying practice shoes and just used up all my comp shoes or "not so bad that I can't dance in them but not what I want to wear in a comp" test shoes.

 

[Katarzyna]

I never practice in anything but court shoes.. I wore practice shoes couple of times at social, but I never wear them to practice...

 

[pygmalion]

Are you saying the shoes had better be worn out long before that expensive gown? :wink: :lol: Understood.

I've know some people who had shoes re-dyed. It works best if the second dye job is a darker color than the first, but either way, it's another option. *shrug*

 

[Katarzyna]

I usually wear out a pair every 2-3 months... When I wear them out, they have holes on the toes and the sides... No need to re-dye

I guess I don't get that much life out of them, but I practice almost every day for at least 2-3 hours...

 

[Joe]

I find it much easier to dance with a partner who practices in court shoes. Even if the girl spends a couple of weeks leading up to a comp practicing in the court shoes, if she spends most of the time in practice shoes it's not the same. Her balance is definitely altered--I can feel it--and it affects how I have to dance with her. Unfortunately, it's been six years since I've had a partner who practiced in court shoes.

As far as color, my vote is for flesh. Even with a white dress.

Is KatharineH still dancing with Chris, and if so, why did she have to buy a ballgown?

Edit: Katharine, have you considered trying leather court shoes for practice? From what I hear they last a lot longer than satin.