Tango Shoe Divas

How depressing. I have no luck when it comes to tango shoes.

No. Really…no luck at all…I think that is why I am so obsessed with them.

If I had easy to fit feet, could wear any heel height I wanted, and was happy with monotone shoes…I’d be such a happier person. But that is not the case.

My feet are small, but wide. I have foot problems and can’t wear high heels,and I HATE monotone shoes.

So I saw a preview for this pair:

They were supposedly going to have a heel cage that had light colored detailing to offset the leather (which looked a lot more golden yellow in the photo) and a flower which I decided to nix because the detailing on the strap and heel cage should have been enough. (Don’t know whether the distributor or Greta Flora made that change.)

The heel cage is from a different model and they are beige. No getting around it. Beige beige beige…all over….even clipping the crystal flower on isn’t enough…

The heel height is great- love it-

well made…check…

Flexible sole…check…

Fit…true to size for the size it is but on the verge of too big for me unless I add a small insole (I ordered this size on the distributor’s suggestion and we were CLOSE, but close doesn’t count here.)

I do highly recommend Greta FLora shoes. This rant is in no way something about them…it’s just why can’t low heel shoe designs also be pretty? Why?

They are returnable (yay…) but that still leaves me with, yet again…no useful low heel tango shoes, and about 4 pairs that are too high for regular use.

Any suggestions on what I could do with these? I think the next half size down might end up too small (maybe not)…

After a very long wait, I am happy to say that there are some people making decent looking lower heeled tango shoes. And…to deal with my biggest shoe pet peeve…they are ALL returnable if they don’t fit me!

I have a couple of pair of low heeled shoes on order with Kathleen, from Diva Boutique, who has recently invested in some Greta Floras (one of the few companies making lower heels). Below is a purple pair I am considering and a black pair:

She’ll be getting a range of styles and heels heights for the shoes she ordered from Greta Flora and I am very happy she was thoughtful to order both the 5.5cm heel and 6.5cm styles also. I’m looking forward to them.

Another company (Werner Kern) produced a newline of tango shoes called Nueva Epoca. This year they came out with a new set of shoes in lower 6.5cm heel heights (though they nixed the style I really liked in the higher heels). So I am trying to fit a pair of one of these in my budget somewhere also.

I tried a pair of the higher ones on back in the spring, and found them very well made, and even lightly cushioned from heel to toe…which is a very rare thing in a tango shoe. I hope they kept that aspect as it will bear heavily on my spending $200+ for them.

One pair I am considering is the Ilaria, in red and black suede. My only reservation is about the strap going through the back of the shoe. Other shoes I have tried on in this ankle strap arrangement haven’t fit me in the heel very well. But I really like this shoe…

And then there is the purple and black pair…a color combo I really love and I like the ankle strap arrangement and heel cut outs.

And then the last- I love the crossed ankle straps, not so sure on the purple and brownish-gold color combo…

I’m just happy to have some choices now where I don’t have to beg or plead with a distributor for something special, then end up with something a little too boring, or not at all returnable.

***Update- I’ve decided on trying the red/black Ilaria pair out. I sure hope that heel cage is comfortable!***

In my search for lower heel tango shoes, and something more interesting than plain black or plain red, I came across a line called Nueva Epoca (made by Werner Kern, a well respected dance shoe company who has made dance shoes for many many years).

I tried out the Lourdes model, in a butter fishscale and matte gold.

The heel is still too high for me, but they can make them lower now and I have to say it was one of the most comfortable shoes I ver tried on.

They are padded lightly from heel to toe, the materials are softer than similar materials I have tried on from Argentine companies (like the fishscale leather). It was clear they would mould to my feet. The craftsmanship was excellent.

My only wish is they needed just a hair more room at the front of the shoe so the toes wouldn’t be too close to the edge. (I sent feedback on this and am pretty sure it got passed on.)

They have some lovely models of 3 3/8″ heels if you are looking for a well made shoe and aren’t all that enthused by Comme Il Faut.

We received our first samples, GretaFlora has done a wonderfull job…. our designs look great.

Please send me your comments…… I am so excited that finally the samples have arrived and I want to know what you think about the designs

Thanks,

Lenette

Browsing the Tara site after a long day of entirely too much talking (Yes, when I am brain dead I look at pictures of shoes to relax.)  I looked at some of the new, light colors that she is offering for summer.  I need some light color shoes, but I don’t know if I can deal with white/linen color.  I think I would cringe at every foot drag, sandwich, etc that a leader did.  But then I looked at her Coming Soon and there was “Calesita”


I have mixed feelings about this shoe. On the one hand I have been looking for a fun springy shoe and this would look great with a denim mini. And she says that this is a new flexible platform, which I find very interesting. But I am not in love with the buckles. I have a shoe with buckles across the toes and I get blisters under the buckles. I am afraid that these would be the same way…

I am sorely tempted though. Do the shoe divas have any opinions?

The new “Bellissima” from Tara Tango Shoes is very aptly named. What a color! What a shape! I am sorely tempted, though I have tried to put myself on a restricted shoe diet (I need a new laptop unfortunately). I have TOO many pairs of stilletoes and I still find myself reaching for my Tara and Tango Shop more often. In fact I wore my Taras Saturday night for the loooong milonga (9-3) and I danced the best I have in ages! I don’t know if it was the shoes, or just the night. Anyway, these new shoes have a platform AND memory foam. My feet are tingling in anticipation… Now if I can justify them – maybe a Christmas present to myself? I don’t own a single pair of plain red shoes? Hmmm. The rationalization isn’t working.

It had been a really long time since Tango Wear released any new models, but sometime in the last week they added about 20 new styles (some of them ARE just new colors on old styles, but there are some novel design elements). Some people have had bad experiences with them (wrong sizes, difficult returns etc) but my experience has been essentially positive. They aren’t shoes that I love, but they are good solid shoes. You can read about them here, here, and here.

I bought my Tango Wear shoes when they were on sale and we did a big group order so we really saved on shipping (about $80 per pair after shipping) . I don’t know that I would order from them again unless I was getting a great deal, BUT I really think some of their new models are cute. The big temptation for me is that I can get a platform added, which is really good for long nights of dancing. I’ve been too much about the stilettos recently.

	I think this is my favorite of the new models. I really like the line of the ankle strap and the silver edging. Since it doesn’t have a stiletto heel it is likely that a platform can be added.
	I have a pair much like this in blue and black that is coming from an ebay buy. Really everyone is selling shoes from only a few manufacturers. It is just a matter of who you like dealing with.
	Case in point. This shoe has the same strap detail that I admired in the previous post from Raquel Shoes. (I like the single band toe better though). And what is up with the strange heel angle? I suspect it is a funky picture, because the shoes I have from Tango Wear do NOT have a backwards slanted heel. I hope this is not something new and strange they are doing, or a sign of marginal quality control.
	The strap through the heel style has been very popular on ebay (one of my friends bought two pair recently) so it is no surprise that this model has been added. I didn’t love the look of how the strap cut across my foot (of COURSE I tried hers on – great to have friends who wear the same size) but I like the rest of the design.
	This model is named “Lady Mate” which I think is a charming name for this green shoe. This is the same style as my BLUE H00KER shoes. They now offer them in red, green, black, black suede, and grape (I am not sure if the original Pink and Black version is still available, but you can ask for custom colors if you absolutely MUST have it)
	They are also making a version in pink leather and a thicker purple suede heel. Makes me tempted to try this shoe with a platform (and maybe a different color combo)
	I have been secretly coveting Animal, for quite some time (I have a collection of various “endangered species” shoes), but I like the more dramatic cutouts on this shoe. It’s a nice color of suede too.
	And lastly, the pair that I am most likely to buy, regardless of the comments byMiss Tango to this post. I’ve been really coveting polka dots recently, even if that does make me one of the “crazy people”… It wouldn’t be the first time someone called me that. This shoe with a platform would be a very good addition to my collection…

Tara Tango Shoes just released some new models! All appear to have a memory sole lining. She writes the blurb like it is a platform height (“This 3.5″ heel feels like 3″ with it’s memory foam insole and full leather linings.”) but she doesn’t mention a platform. I’ve been really wanting to try a pair that have memory foam linings, but I keep getting seduced by flashy Comme il Faut instead. I did try on a pair of her Clio shoes at a festival (and my housemate bought a pair) and they fit really well. They weren’t instant heaven on my feet, but my platform shoes weren’t either. I would really have to wear a pair for a few weeks to get a good impression of them.

The new model “Alma Nueva” is gorgeous with black suede trimmed in red patent leather, a slightly slimmer heel and a less obvious platform (responding to the market pressure of Comme il Faut perhaps?). I own a pair of the old “Alma” in black and white (now discontinued) and I love them. My only complaint is that the footbed lining on the old Alma style peeled up and bunched under my toes. I glued it down, but I have never been able to get it quite right, which is a little annoying (it irritates my toes and it is the only thing preventing these shoes from being divinely comfortable). Tara and I chatted a little bit about this at a recent festival and I really hope that this problem has been corrected with the new models.

I am not as sure what I think of the Nueva Luna Style. I’ve been wanting a pair of polka dotted shoes, but these are VERY dotty. I think I would definitely have to see these in person (or at least a MUCH better picture) and probably on my foot, to see how I liked the textures, etc. I normally don’t shy away from flashy shoes, but for some reason the dots just don’t do it for me at the moment. I am capricious though. Next week I could feel completely differently. This is the silver color, this model is also available in black with copper dots.

Jennifer Bratt over at Maleva Shoes just posted a bunch of new shoes. I got four pictures sent to me this morning. Go buy them so I won’t!!! Especially these:

I really covet them. Are you sure you don’t want to buy them instead?

ETA:
It looks like Diva Boutique restocked too. She’s got about 5 pair that I would like to own. Must. Put. Down. Credit Card.

Please, SOMEONE buy these shoes. I’ve been thinking that I need to stop buying flashy shoes and buy some more sensible shoes (platforms and flare heels) but these shoes are seriously tempting my resolve…