Tango Shoe Divas

I am considering several firsts: buying tango shoes on the Internet, trying a platform, and designing my own shoes.

I have some limitations. My feet have fallen arches and joint pain in the big toes as a result. (Any favorites among metatarsal pads?) My best discovery is gel toe spacers. I wear flat shoes with orthotics to work and put the orthotics in my Sansha sneakers for other dancing (contra, swing). I’m only 27 and I want to keep my feet from getting worse! I have been dancing tango in low heeled cross-strap Werner Kerns, but I’m feeling the beautiful shoes calling my name… besides, I recently tried my first pair of hard leather soles for tango and I can never go back! So, new shoes are in order and I’m not finding the right selection, even in New York.

I had Tango Wear recommended by a friend of mine and I love all the options. I’ve narrowed it down to several styles but the color choices are daunting. I want to go beyond black, but I’m not fond of the stereotypical red-black combination. I want purple-green, turquoise-orange, silver-black (not all on the same shoe). Am I crazy? I need your input.

Here are the STYLES I’m considering. Because of my foot issues, I’ve ruled out sandal toes. It’s too risky without being able to try them on. A full heel cage gives me needed stability. I’m sticking to a heel under 3″; I’m happy about the 6cm option! Probably a .5cm platform so my toes can still flex. Preferences on heel styles? Tango Wear offers flared and straight. I’m inclined to go with the flared for stability, but do you think the straight would look better on any of these models?

The fun ones: (remember, I’m coming from plain black Werner Kern ballroom shoes)

Under Baires: I love the strap across the heel look.

Eduviges: I love this heel cage even more, but it only comes in a 7.5cm heel.

The safeties:

Alfonsina: the stable cross-strap design

Or Aroma de Mujer

Or Zigana

Tanguera for maximum coverage.

Or Marmolina:

The comfort shoe:

Sabrina: love the heel cage and it comes in 4.5, 5, and 5.5cm! They can make this a closed toe, right? Of course they can.

Now for the COLORS!! I haven’t emailed Tango Wear yet to find out what’s possible, so I’m using my imagination. Another important question: durability. I’ve read that the metallics don’t last long. How does suede wear? Does patent leather get scuffed beyond recognition? Will the silver dots on the black suede get rubbed off? Does satin just get dirty? I would like to mix textures: suede on patent, metallic on leather, etc.

For a neutral shoe (the safety):

Beige with gold

Animal!

Black satin with white polka dots, white or silver leather

Black suede with silver dots, silver leather

Black base with pink trim

For a fun shoe:

Metalized blue and orange. It’s not featured on their page, but they must have a regular blue leather I could use as a base, right? The orange is for accents.

Various combinations of black and purple. Add green trim for contrast? Probably for the Sabrina, since the low heel is purple.

Since it takes so long for Tango Wear to arrive, should I order one to try it out, or go for all three at once? If I order now, I might get them by Christmas!

Marguerite

Marguerite writes:

I would like the opinions and expertise of the divas on an important issue: PLATFORMS.
I’m looking to buy my first pair of platforms, possibly from Tango Wear. Pros, cons, preferred height, flexibility, stability?

I have a lot to say about platforms, but I am short on time so I will be brief. I like them. I really like the ones I just got from Tango Wear, but they were kind of a PITA to deal with. Definitely read my post about my most recent pair, before ordering. If you are concerned about flexibility, get the .5 cm platform, wrapped in suede or a soft leather. Patent wrapped platforms will be less flexible (I have a pair like that that I hate – I call them the Frankenstein Shoes). They also offer a 1 cm platform (which is what you find everywhere else, like Tara Tango) but I currently love the .5 cm as a compromise between flexibility and padding. I don’t really like Tango Wear’s added ball of foot padding, I find that the platform takes care of it and lasts longer… That’s all I can say for now, I have to go back to cutting drywall out of my bathroom. I’d MUCH rather be talking about tango shoes!

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?

Since I started leading I have discovered an new problem. I need more shoes. Stop laughing. Seriously. I have ONE pair of 3 inch heels and the rest are 3.5 and 4. For awhile I led in my “Go-To” following pair, but as I got serious I realized that I needed the grounding of a real pair of lead shoes. I bought a cheap pair of canvas ballroom shoes with a 1.75″ heel – they work ok, but they are UGLY, they truly offend the Shoe Diva in me. I have also bought a couple of pairs of street shoes with varying results (one pair I really like, but they are gold, and I find myself having to constantly find new clothes to go with them because I wear them so much).

These are what I’ve been trying to lead in:

Additionally I think about occasionally going out for some swing dancing. Guess what? I don’t have any swing dance shoes either. Can you imagine me trying to Lindy Hop in 4″ CiF? Could someone call an orthopedic surgeon and keep him on hold? (I HAVE done it in 3″ Jorge Nel shoes however – the swing dancers thought I was nuts… They were probably right.)

So here is a list of my demands:
Ideal lead height <2"
Chunky Heel for stability
Looks ok with a skirt (Dance sneakers look ridiculous on me)
Cute enough to be my primary swing shoe
A platform would be really nice (with a 2-2.5" heel would be awesome)
Can I dream that I could follow in them?

I am getting desperate. I'm teaching. I'm leading. I dance 5+ days a week. And dammit, I want to go swing dancing! It was getting to the point that I had been toying with the idea of sucking it up and buying some Jorge Nel (my negative association with my JN shoes is actually what inspired me to start this site). I actually kind of like these but with this heel (The picture on the left, I’m imagining them in silver leather with maybe a black or grey mesh). But I was really disappointed to find that he doesn’t offer a platform option (of course the platform is part of what caused the problem last time…). He does offer these in virtually unlimited colors (picture on the right) but by the time I get a platform, arch support and proper padding they would be $150… Ouch!

Desperate times call for Jorge Nel?

I was heading that direction, but salvation is at hand!

Reviewing comments here, I realized I might be making a logical error. Stop trying to make tango shoes work for swing, make swing shoes work for tango… Enter Aris Allen. Now I don’t know all that much about swing shoes (it’s been at least 5 years since I went swing dancing!), but I have done some looking around and these seem to be the brand. Long ago, before the explosion of tango shoes, I had considered getting some Bleyer swing shoes as a comfortable practice alternative, but they seem to have disappeared (thank you weak dollar and crashing economy…)

So this is my current frontrunner:

It’s no CiF, but I think it might fit the bill. It has a leather sole, a platform and the heel height is perfect (2.25 – .5 inch platform). And it is only $90 with all the options! Anyone want to tell me that it is the most hideous thing ever? Because if you don’t talk me out of it those babies will be here, hopefully before the next time we have practice.

There are a bunch of oxford styled shoes, but there are some others that I think would be good with skirts:

Closed Back Wedge, funky but kind of cool…

Mary Jane (no platform on this one, but I like the look)
Rug Cutter – I like this style, but I have gold shoes that I like for now.

Hmmm. It is hard for me to buy sensible shoes, but these are looking pretty good, all things considered… Anyone want to tell me that I am crazy?

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.

Tango Wear – “Osscira” – $69 (on sale) + $12 shipping – Black and Silver – Platform – 3 3/8 inch “Thin Flare” heel – ordered 8/19/06 – received 10/10/06

From the picture on the website (shown in red and black below) I thought that this shoe would be a lot more delicate. I also ordered it with a “Thin Straight” heel and I am pretty sure that this is a “Thin Flare” heel. It is the identical heel to my Uva shoes that I ordered at the same time. The Uva I requested with the “Thin Flare” so one of them came with the wrong heel, and I think it is this pair. The sizing on these shoes was pretty accurate (though they fussed at me about my measurements and I had to tell them – “Just make them a 7.5, it’ll be fine.”)

I just couldn’t wear these shoes. The straight cut across my foot made the front of my foot look about as puffy as they have looked since I was pregnant. Then the ankle strap made my calves look fat, and was uncomfortable to boot. I wish I had a “before” picture of just how off they looked when I put them on. I tried a couple of times to wear them, but they just made my feet feel not pretty… Not a good thing for a Tango Shoe Diva. So these shoes hung on my Shoe Wall for 6 months, would occasionally get put in my shoe bag and go for a ride to a milonga, but there they would stay until they were returned to the Wall.

It was a waste of a good pair of shoes that were otherwise ok and pretty comfortable. I messed around with them for a while, with some ribbons and such, and formulated a plan. I took them to a local shoe repair place that had come highly recommended from another Tango Shoe Diva. I didn’t like him as much as she did, but that is a whole different story. I got a little bit of last minute inspiration and explained to him what I wanted. He said $10 and two days. I wore them for the first time last night and I was pretty pleased with the results. Do you see the difference?

I had him add the T-strap. It pulls the ankle strap down from the crease of my ankle enough that it is way more comfortable. And the strap breaks up the straight line so that the front of my foot doesn’t look nearly so broad and puffy. The last minute inspiration was to attach the T-strap through one of the cut outs. Even though the leather wasn’t a perfect match, attaching the loop this way made it look more unified. They are quite comfortable now and much more attractive. I wish the shoe man’s other work had been as competent (the stitching isn’t that straight, but it is much more obvious in the pictures because of the flash).

Tango Wear – “Uva” – $70.50 (on sale) + $12 shipping – Purple Platform – 3 3/8 inch “Thin Flare” heel – ordered 8/19/06 – received 10/10/06

These shoes are fun to look at. I love the color. I got the 1 cm platform added and they didn’t charge me extra. The heel height is a good one for me. The fit is fine size-wise, but I just can’t love them. The bands across the toe don’t come quite high enough on my foot and the outside of the ball of my foot comes out. Strappy sandals don’t work particularly great on me regardless. My baby toe tries to make an escape and the bands dig in. I’m going to stay away from this style from now on.

I had to have the insole replaced because the original came loose and bunched up under my toes. This seems to be a pretty common problem. It isn’t a big deal (about $8) but it is annoying.

The biggest problem with these shoes is the color wear. I collect my feet very well. The insides of my heel cage take a LOT of wear. After the first wearing these were already starting to show some pretty significant marks and now, after about 10 wearings they have marks all over the heels too (most of which I acquired last night). I don’t know how that happened, I don’t usually hit my heels on things. Possibly embellishment accidents… That probably explains it, though this is the ONLY pair I own that has gotten bad marks on the heel. So maybe it was just the stress of wearing them to an outdoor milonga which caused me to have to do a lot of strange things to compensate for a very sticky floor surface.

This seems to be a universal problem with their metallic leathers since I am having the same kind of wear on The Blue Hooker Shoes. It is very unfortunate because I LOVE the color of the metallics. I would probably have bought the Green Diva by now (certainly in time for St. Patrick’s Day) if I didn’t know they would have the same problem. I’m going to have to stick to suede on the heel cage.

Anyway I really wish I liked these shoes better. I’m trying to find something to repair the color damage, but it has proved difficult to find something that looks decent. They may end up with a contrasting heel eventually…

I finally have a new recommendation!!! And not a moment too soon. A proper tango diva can only survive so long with only one pair of tango shoes (even if they are as fabulous as the the ones above). I just got a new pair of shoes from The Tango Shop and while I don’t love them quite as much as my Fattomanos they are much better than the other pair I bought recently. I was able to have a platform added to them, get a leather sole and choose a heel height. This pair is suede and they were soft, high quality feeling from the moment I put them on.

The platform is decently flexible (this is NOT the one inch platform you see on some of their shoes). Not quite as flexible as my Fattomanos, but they also haven’t been truely broken in. They are the first shoe I’ve had since my Fattomanos that I didn’t feel like I needed to break in, the leather is already soft and comfortable and the platform flexes reasonably with my step. I do hope that the platform gets even more flexible as I dance in them, but that is the only thing that I hope breaks in really. I do not know how well they will last in the long run since I have only had them a couple of weeks, but my first impression is that the quality is very good and the prices are about $50 less than Tara Tango. They did take closer to 6 weeks to deliver than the four weeks quoted on their site, but they were well worth the wait.