Looking for street soled dance shoes

[pygmalion]

A friend asked. Looks like my usual answers aren't entirely applicable anymore.

Showtime discontinued their (street-soled) tango line, it appears. Not sure why. I liked those -- pretty, pretty shoes, that you could buy off-the-rack with a street sole.

So my recommendations were all custom-order places: Toe2toe, where you can order a lot of their shoes (Celebrity and Coast?) with any sole. Elegance, same deal. And there's a tango shoe designer in Miami who does the same -- couldn't remember the name. Still searching for that one.

Anybody else have recommendations of where one could get a decent-looking dance shoe with a leather sole?

 

[PasoDancer]

I just saw those on ebay- are you talking about the ones that are "ballroom shoes" for all appearances, complete with the suede... only they "rubberize" the bottom? They are on ebay... but now I can't remember which seller had them. If I weren't making my rounds after a super awesome hella night out, I'd search- gimme a tic, eh?

 

[waltzgirl]

Discount Dance Supply has some leather-soled character shoes, but they are all pretty boring.

 

[PasoDancer]

I can't find 'em. I think they were in UK currency, shipping out of Asia, though (wait, that's like most of the lower-tiered shoes ON ebay, right?).

 

[Joe]

There's "Comme Il Faut" tango shoes...

 

[yippee1999]

Yeah, I'm having same problem. I'm looking for a 1.5-2.0" ballroom/latin style sandal, but with a smooth leather bottom. I can't seem to find at Capezio or online.

Also, can anyone suggest good places online, or else in Manhattan, to buy dresses... sorta wrap-style or otherwise "slinky" dresses appropriate for salsa?

Tx!

 

[yippee1999]

I was just doing some more searching on the internet and came across what appears to be an awesome site for shoes.

Tons of selection, and you can custom design the fabric, color, heel height, and sole of your shoe. However, their "street sole" is apparently a hard, smooth plastic. They don't seem to offer smooth leather (non-suede) soles. However, I've written in to them to see if a leather sole COULD be an option. If they say "yes", I'll let you all know.

In the meantime, check out their options for custom-designed shoes. I think I'm gonna have to order at least one pair of their "sparkly" shoes to add to my salsa shoe arsenal!!

http://www.bestballroomshoes.com/Home.html

 

[Peaches]

Try Guaranteed Fit Tango Shoes.

Most of these are definitely more AT looking than ballroom, but some of them would work. Most can be customized with heel heights, extra padding, choice of sole (leather/suede/rubber) and other stuff.

Also, you might want to look at Tara Shoes. Again, more AT looking, but could be workable.

If I my ask, what's her point in wanting ballroom shoes with a street sole?

 

[pygmalion]

The young lady I talked with is looking for shoes suitable for club dancing -- salsa or freestyle, for example -- but, since she's an actual dancer, she wants a shoe that's balanced for dancing, which street shoes aren't. And she doesn't want the hassle of babying suede soles in a nightclub.

 

[Peaches]

Aah, that makes sense.

For that purpose, I'm more than happy to sing the praises of Comme Il Faut shoes. Very sexy, nicely balanced, very comfy, very danceable. Unfortunately, no picture, limited distributorship, pricey. I have run across 1 person who said they weren't comfy for here.

As for shoes that are viewable online (besides the fun looking Best Ballroom Shoes mentioned above)...and, again, these are AT shoes b/c they're the only ones I know of that readily come with a leather sole...

http://www.guaranteedfittangoshoes....dproduct=180&idCat=17&curPage=1&sortField=pop

http://www.guaranteedfittangoshoes....dproduct=185&idCat=17&curPage=1&sortField=pop

http://www.guaranteedfittangoshoes....dproduct=135&idCat=17&curPage=6&sortField=pop

http://www.22tangoshoes.com/whats_new.php

 

[yippee1999]

Thanks Peaches! If the other place doesn't offer leather soles, then I'll def order from Guaranteed Fit!

 

[tsb]

i've not found that shoes with "leather" soles flex properly - note how a lot of men end up with their weight on their heels when they try to dance in dress shoes.

 

[Peaches]

No, leather soles won't ever flex as much as suede. But if you're not going to be dancing on a good floor, and don't want to ruin the suede, and want balanced for dancing...you'v got to compromise somewhere.

My leather soled AT shoes have gotten much more flexible as I've worn them. Nowhere near as flexy as a latin shoe, of course, but it now flexes pretty well and pretty easily in the toe box. Of course, it might have something to do with the fact that I've also worn them as street shoes, and I've been caught in the rain a couple of times, so the leather has gotten soaked two or three times.

 

[noobster]

(OT): So do you guys really buy your dance shoes online most of the time?
About how frequently do you find you have to return them due to poor fit?

I'm kind of afraid to spend >$100 on shoes without trying them on. I won't even buy street shoes over the web, and the fit for dance shoes is so much more important. But right now I have a really specific idea of the shoe I want and I haven't seen anything like it in any of the local stores.