Your thoughts: Rhinestones on Shoes

[Artemia]

There are a few threads out there on this, however they don't exactly answer the question I am looking to have discussed. (Please don't smite me, moderators!!!)

What are your personal thoughts on having rhinestones on your shoes? As in... if someone offered you the opportunity to either

A: Buy shoes that are a style you already know fit, but embellished by rhinestones...

or

B: Send in your own shoes and have rhinestones added...

would you consider it?


I was recently at my first real comp and I noticed many of the amateurs and professionals had rhinestones on their shoes. There were so many styles, from the entire heel being covered, to just the outsides (to prevent loss when shoes brush against one another) to embellishments on the straps or seams. When I was first learning, the major rule (and I've read this as echoed by many others in the other rhinestone threads I read) is to "not draw attention to your footwork unless it's absolutely flawless.) This even extended to the fact that one should not wear silver or black shoes, but rather "match the floor."

Yet, I spent more time looking at how beautifully sparkle-filled their shoes were, rather than their footwork!!! Of course, I'm not a judge, and I am sure judges look past that.. but my rambling is beside the point.

I love creative ventures. I'm sure we all do, as many of you stone (or even sew!!) your own dresses, or add bling to just about anything you can get your hands on! However, I am hoping to turn this into my own small business, primarily to fuel my dancing addiction which has grown exponentially since I returned from the previously-mentioned comp.

I appreciate any time you can spare me to tell me of your thoughts of having rhinestones affixed to the shoes you wear, either for practice, comp or social setting. Would you buy them from someone else? Would you rather select a style of shoe you already know and love (but is brand new) or send in your own shoes to have them fancied-up?

 

[fascination]

personally, it isn't my style...I find it to usually be over the top, and often over-compensating for something that isn't there...

 

[tanya_the_dancer]

I heard someone say that if you do something with the shoes to make them stand out - put a lot of rhinestones on them or dye them to match your dress, then your footwork is better be perfect.

That said, my preferred standard shoe has a strip of tiny stones (Internationals, ICS Vogue http://www.dancesport.uk.com/shoes/inter/ics-vogue.jpg). They are very tiny (ss8 or ss10, definitely smaller than ss12), and I don't think they draw too much attention to the feet.

 

[Artemia]

I have always loved those shoes, they are super elegant.

I guess large amounts of rhinestones really have a place more in a social setting, do you think? Perhaps for the dancer who isn't really completely into competition but rather going to a studio on a Saturday night for a party?

I was actually shocked to see the number of people with rhinestones on their shoes, some of them done very poorly. Just studding ss20s in various places randomly doesn't flatter, but I have managed to make a pair of shoes look stunning by working with the various straps and seams... so perhaps its a matter of choosing shoes, style and setting.

I just need to find my market, so the more thoughts the better on helping me narrow it down. Thanks for the comments!!

 

[Ithink]

I heard someone say that if you do something with the shoes to make them stand out - put a lot of rhinestones on them or dye them to match your dress, then your footwork is better be perfect.

I agree! If you do that, you should have very pretty feet to be able to draw extra attention to them like that.

 

[middy]

I personally wouldn't pay extra to have them done, but stone them myself if I really wanted to. I like a little bit of rhinestone accent for competition shoes (if any) but wouldn't bling them out for comps, because of the footwork thing. For a performance or for fun, maybe yes.

I could see people liking this a lot though!

 

[JANATHOME]

I am with you, I love the look but not for myself. I am so tough on my shoes they would look a mess in no time anyway.

 

[Artemia]

I am currently dance-testing my shoes by stoning my everyday practice rhythm shoes and so far they have stood up to the abuse. (I'm going to work on a countdown until I start to lose stones, and I'm very happy so far as nothing is even threatening to jump ship!)

If you were to think within your studio, are there certain people who might tend towards this "fashion" more than others?

 

[kckc]

I've seen it done well (artfully on the heels or straps only) and I've seen the shoes completely covered (Oxana Lebedew is one example). I've heard it is quite heavy if you do that many stones. With my short little legs, I need all of the visual tricks I can find, so no stones for me!

 

[TinyDancer109]

Hi Artemia,

Just wanted to give you my $0.02 from experience.

I like stoning my own shoes. i dont over do it. on my rhythm shoes, i do one line of stones down the heel and one line down the T-strap with a small cluster at the end. It's pretty and fun, but elegant.

My pro doesnt mind that I do it (in fact i think he likes it) because i have strong footwork. its one of my strengths (along with my legs). i probably wouldnt do it if this were not the case. but its pretty.

but to answer your question - i like, but i dont think its a good idea to overdo it. too many stones can look tacky. keeping it elegant but subtle enough that the judge will notice the rest of your dancing isthe best way.

I dont pay anyone to do my stoning. i do it myself, as it is very easy. same as stoning a dress. you can PM me for more info if you'd like.

I must warn you that some "patterns" of stones on shoes are not flattering (can make your foot look wider, etc.) so be careful before you start - have a plan on what pattern will make your feet look narrower! I will try to post pictures of my shoes later this week if you'd like. so that you can get an idea.

Good luck!

 

[Artemia]

Those are good thoughts, TinyDancer, thank you! I definitely agree with the fact that too much is ... well, too much. Elegance really is in the details, and if you drown someone you're not going to be able to appreciate the detail and thought that went into it. I guess the more and more I work on my plans, the more I tend towards marketing towards social dancers, the kind of people who (like me) go: "Ooooooh, shiny!!" rather than are planning on using shoes in a competition setting.

I don't know... I just know that I love embellishing shoes and hope that there are people out there who don't know how to do it themselves (this forum is a huge exception to that!!)

 

[soshedances]

I think shoes with nice sparkly accents are good...I have a pair of latins that have rhinestone buckles, which I think looks nice for competitions, but I wouldn't want more than that because my footwork is not really something I want to draw excess attention to...

However, I think there are a lot of folks who might love a really fabulous pair of social shoes...

Or for showcases...the performers might have a specific "look" in mind, and just want to enhance that with really special shoes. Plus technique isn't scrutinized during a showcase as much as on the comp floor....

 

[19DancerBabyLin]

I guess the more and more I work on my plans, the more I tend towards marketing towards social dancers, the kind of people who (like me) go: "Ooooooh, shiny!!" rather than are planning on using shoes in a competition setting.

I don't know... I just know that I love embellishing shoes and hope that there are people out there who don't know how to do it themselves (this forum is a huge exception to that!!)

LOL I feel like you're talking about me!!!
This was my first TWO pairs of shoes

I've "graduated" since then and am now using flesh/tan satin shoes... haha.

You'll definitely find people interested in the shiny stuff, so I say go right ahead :bouncy:

 

[TinyDancer109]

oops! i missed the part about turning this into a small business... sorry! i can definitely send you pictures of what i have done if you'd like some ideas... and if you would like more discussion on what patterns flatter the feet, feel free to PM me

 

[NonieS]

I stoned my comp shoes when I danced latin.... I really liked the look. It worked for me, but everyone is entitled to their personal taste. The first pair of shoes I stoned was about 3 years ago and I did not use swarovskis, therefore, I have no pictures in which you can really see the stones. It was just a single strip of stones down the back of the heel.

I attached pics of the other shoes I stoned. I got a lot of compliments on them if that says anything. Not sure I would stone a pair of standard shoes unless it fit in with a showcase routine...