The Women's 1970s Retro Bowling Dance Shoes share the same basic construction as our Athletic Mary Janes. When you wear these you'll feel like a cat - nimble, surefooted, ready to spring into action - but with the slide- and spin-ability that suede soles give you.
The sole is flexible to help you feel the floor. They look close enough to a dress shoe to wear with skirts, but act like an athletic sneaker.
SIZING TIPS:
Unfortunately these come only in whole sizes. We've found - by trying these on countless dancers that these are running about a half a size small. If you normally wear a 5.5-6 you'll likely fit a 6. But if you normally wear an 6-6.5 you might want a 7, etc.
Check the links at left for our SHOE TERMS GLOSSARY and INTERNATIONAL SIZING for detailed information about styles and terms.
SPECS:
The detailing on the women's retro 70s dance shoes include padding around the ankle.
The molded foam insole is soft, supportive, removeable so you could easily add your orthotics if you wanted.
The heel is almost an inch so it looks like an ordinary shoe, but because the shock-absorbing sole is 1/4" your heel is only a half inch higher than your sole - which really helps your stability.
Even though these are basically a lace-up flat, they are drop-dead cute enough to wear with a casual skirt.
ABOUT SUEDE SOLES:
The Aris Allen Women's 1970s Retro Bowling Dance Shoes are made with Suede Soles which are wonderful to dance on but require occasional upkeep (it's usually a problem with catching the edge on a piece of hardwood that is sticking up on the dance floor).
If you need to re-glue the suede many people just use crazy glue gel. We have also found that commercially produced shoe repair glue (available from the shoe repair shop in your local mall) works great.
You're not supposed to wear suede soles outside - but every swing dancer knows that you can make suede soles faster by wearing them everywhere to get them dirty, then dance in them until they're shiny on the bottom.
If you prefer them less zippy you can dull the "mirror finish" they can get by roughing them up with a wire brush periodically. Just remember that when they get wet on the bottoms they won't spin very easily (conversely - if they're too slippery just spill your drink on the floor and step in it!).
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