Tango Shoes... Please help!

[Lilyad]

I received my new pair of Comme il Faut tango shoes a couple of weeks ago, which I'm so happy with! When I first tried them, they were a little tight both in width and length, but wasn't concerned much as I knew they would eventually take the shape of my feet. Now, however, the width fits perfectly like a glove but they seemed to have stretched a bit too much lengthways and although there is an ankle strap to keep my feet secure, the shoes slightly slip at the heel when I'm dancing which makes it a little unstable for me when performing ochos and giros in particular.

Is there anything I can do to keep my heels in place without stretching the shoe anymore than it has been? I'm really upset and would very much appreciate any suggestions as to what I can do about this.

 

[raindance]

I don't know anything about tango shoes, but in general if your heel is slipping around in a high heeled shoe it can help to add some padding. They sell heel huggers or heel pads at drug stores and shoe stores. Some are gel, some are foam, etc. I like the foam ones, but buy a few and see what works for you.

 

[Lilyad]

Thanks for your reply, raindance.

Actually, I've already tried those heel cushions. They help a bit but the only problem is that they start to slip out of the shoe while I'm dancing - which neither feels nor looks good.

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

I don't really understand how the heel cups could stretch so much... are those open heels, sling back types, perhaps? I only encountered that problem with that kind, and not after only two weeks... more like after 2 years.
At any rate, perhaps, you would be better off selling those shoes (Comme il Faut usually have a good resale value) and getting a new pair that fits.

 

[Lilyad]

lilly of the valle, no, they're not sling backs. I'm also surprised that they stretched so much as they were quite tight at first (so much so that I got a blister the first day I wore them). Oh well, I suppose there's not much I can do about it.

 

[raindance]

Thanks for your reply, raindance.

Actually, I've already tried those heel cushions. They help a bit but the only problem is that they start to slip out of the shoe while I'm dancing - which neither feels nor looks good.

Hi Lilyad,
The sorts of cushions I am thinking of are self-adhesive, so they shouldn't slip out of the shoe with use. A google search for "heel gripper" brings up the type I am talking about (I think of them as heel huggers or heel pads but searching that way brings up different things than what I mean):

https://www.google.com/search?q=hee...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[raindance]

Meant to add - hit the "images" option at the top of the page I linked to for pictures of lots of different types.

 

[Lilyad]

Raindance, yes, they're the ones I tried. In fact, I found the bought both the gel and the suede ones, stuck them on the inside heel area, but somehow they eventually move up and hang out of the shoe. Maybe, they'd be ok if you were just walking, but they can't seem to hold up the pressure exerted on them while dancing,

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

I saw some women sticking those cushions to the shoe with band aids and duct tape, and still it does not seem to work 100% (due to the movement, the heat and the sweat factors, I guess), as I noticed they had to readjust the contraption from time to time during the night.

 

[Desert Diva]

I saw some women sticking those cushions to the shoe with band aids and duct tape, and still it does not seem to work 100% (due to the movement, the heat and the sweat factors, I guess), as I noticed they had to readjust the contraption from time to time during the night.

You might try taking them to a shoe repair shop and explain the problem to the cobbler. Sometimes they can work wonders!