Ordering dance shoes without trying them on?

[Twilight_Elena]

We don't have any dance shoes stores here in Greece, so we have to order them either by catalogue or online. I wanted to buy my first pair (teacher reccomended open toe) but I'm very suspicious. Buying shoes (expensive ballroom heels no less) without trying them on? I've always been a difficult customer when it comes to shoes, and I don't have 120$ or more to spare if the shoe doesn't fit. It will be tough already, convincing my parents to spend that sort of money. After all, I am only 17.
Around summer will be the best time for me to buy them, as I'll be over with high school. It will be my one and only pair till they break down, so I need all the advice I can get. What to do? What to get? What should I look out for? How high should the heels be? And should I trust those mail orders and online stores?

Twilight Elena

P.s. I'm going to alternate them with sneakers to make them last longer. Will the height difference between flat and high heel be bad?

 

[Laura]

A good dance shoe web site will allow you to return shoes so long as you've only tried them on and moved around on carpet so as not to soil the shoes. A really good dance shoe web site will help you to pick out what pair(s) of shoes to try. Since you're in Europe I'll recommend my favorite site on your side of the Atlantic: dancesport.uk.com . You can also try going to a dance competition and trying on shoes there. Many competitions have shoe vendors there. Good luck!!

 

[dancin_feet]

Shoes, our favourite topic!!

There are a few DF members who run shoe businesses so hopefully they will be able to jump in here and give you some professional advice. Tasche has a good website, check her profile for the address.

For me, I find it much easier to wear the same size heel and not alternate. Helps train my body to balance without the weight shifting all the time on different heel heights. The heel height that suits you best is a personal thing. Try normal heeled shoes and see which ones you feel comfortable in. For me 2.5" is best, 3" not bad for latin but too high for smooth dancing.

I have just recently bought my first pair of shoes online, and am awaiting their delivery. I was like you very wary because I have never bought shoes without trying them on first, but if this is the only way you can buy them, talk to someone in the know and get as much information as you can. Also make sure that the company you buy from has an easy return policy if they turn out to be the wrong size, etc.

 

[tasche]

Be aware also that international shipping times can vary from a few days to a few weeks. Mostly they fall into the 4-10 days but if your package gets put on the slow boat instead of the plane like its suppose to ( this happens alot for some reason) it can take longer.

Also for fitting make sure you know what your street size is as often calculating the size is based on that.

 

[cocodrilo]

I've always ordered my dance shoes online. The leather stretches to fit your foot anyhow, so if you follow the sizing charts and ordering specifications of the company, you should get what you order. The first time I ordered 2 pairs of jazz shoes, they were like one size small. I managed to stretch out one pair pretty much, but they were still pretty tight. As the $30 (Bloch) shoes go for $80 in this country, I was able to sell them for the price I paid for them, even slightly used! To send a box of shoes back costs approxiamately $30 postage from Japan, so I would prefer to sell a shoe that doesn't fit to someone I know.
Elena, where in Greece are you from? I have been there twice and it is my favorite country! I noticed there were several salsa clubs as well as discos in Athens and quite a few on the outlying islands.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

I'm from Athens. I wouldn't know the first thing about clubs here, as I'm a small fry (17y.o.) and have no time to go clubbing anyway. But if you say there are salsa clubs... you're making me very happy .poor clubs won't know what hit'em when I start my clubbing sprees...
Damn, Greece is a gorgeous country. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Only bad thing about it... no dance shoes stores! *whines*
Think there's any other way of ordering them without giving credit card numbers and such? Parents won't like the idea at all...

Twilight Elena

 

[Laura]

Elena, there aren't many partner-dance shoe stoes in the US either. I think the majority of people here buy from a catalog or online.

A few of the ballet supply shops carry one or two styles of ballroom/latin shoes, have you tried any ballet supply shops in Athens? In my experience in the US, though, the ballet shops I've been to carry pretty cruddy ballroom shoes.

 

[IvyAB]

I always order shoes online. The only stores around here that carry ballroom shoes at all only carry Capezio, and they tend to be low-quality (fine for jazz, but not the best for ballroom). As the other Laura said, if the shoes don't fit, you can send them back (don't get them dirty!). When you find a pair you like, and know your size, you never have to worry about it again. You can also order by mail, and send a check if you don't want to use a credit card.

 

[Patapouf]

IWhen you find a pair you like, and know your size, you never have to worry about it again.

Sounds good, but as a woman, I wouldn't want to wear the same style of shoes for a long time?? :? :lol:

 

[IvyAB]

Well, for me, the shoe is about comfortable support for dancing, I don't care about changing styles, except to have a pair for latin and a pair for smooth. Street shoes are where I get to be stylish.

 

[randomMysh]

you should check out the actual manufacturers' websites as they tend to be cheaper. www.supadance.com or www.dancenaturals.com are good places to start.
i've been told that nude-colored satin is best as far as the material goes. yeah, leather stays pretty longer, but satin doesn't stretch out as much. although the actual structure beneath the satin is the same leather, so i don't know how much i buy that, but that's what i've heard. besides, the satins are about as invisible as it gets, so it doesn't matter what style you're wearing, they become a part of your foot. as all shoes should be, in my humble opinion.
definitely send them back if they're even a tiniest bit loose, as they have to stay snug for your feet to be safe. and unless you have really really strong and flexible feet, don't go above 2.5" height.
good luck!

 

[standardgirl]

I have ordered Capezio shoes from allaboutdance.com For Latin Shoes, Capezio actually gives me a lot better support than Supadance, and it's a lot cheaper! You can return shoes in oringinal condition at Allaboutdance.com even if the shoes you ordered were specially ordered.

 

[squirrel]

I cannot order online... My left foot is half a size smaller than my right... so I have to try them shoes on!

 

[MacMoto]

Damn, Greece is a gorgeous country.

Absolutely! I'm planning to go there for my summer holiday this year. I don't intend to stay in Athens (will be island hopping), but a visit to a salsa club or two will definitely be on the itinerary...

Back to topic, the company I order my dance shoes from says you can send a piece of paper with your "foot prints" if you are not sure what size you are (stand on the paper and get someone to draw around your feet). You can also send back the shoes for replacement if they don't fit.

 

[Joe]

IWhen you find a pair you like, and know your size, you never have to worry about it again.

Sounds good, but as a woman, I wouldn't want to wear the same style of shoes for a long time?? :? :lol:

Yes you would, rather than go through the hassle (not to mention foot pain) of choosing another style of shoe.