Aris Allen Black Snub Toe Mary Jane Wingtips

These are women's feather-light Round Toe Mary Janes with a Perforated Wingtip, a very low heel, and suede-bottom sole made for swing dancing. Mary Janes are great dance shoes as they have a strap that allows you to control the fit at your instep. The upper has perforations around the wingtip and heel cup - dressy enough to wear when you're going formal. NOTE: These are absolutely minimalist (on purpose). They weigh almost nothing. Our test dancers have been wearing these for over 6 months and report that they are like slippers. They will be your favorites.  Made with flexible suede-bottom soles and a soft foam footbed which is perfect for dancers of all skill levels. The design of these - with the low heel and strap - gives you incredible agility on the dance floor. Aris Allen is known for making vintage style swing dance shoes and reproduction models that are more authentic equipment for dancing swing than ordinary ballroom shoes are. Their philosophy being that your dancing will look more authentic if you wear the same style of shoes the inventors of the dance were wearing. And if you can't do that then you'd better be in something comfortable because swing dancing is like running track :) Please check the sizing recommendations before placing your order. Item #: 432-BK SPECS:  These are made for comfort and agility. The heel is just a little over a half inch thick so it looks like an ordinary shoe, but because the shock-absorbing sole is 1/4” your heel is only a little higher than your sole - which really helps your stability. The removable molded foam insole is lined with microfiber and can be easily swapped out if you need to add specialized support or orthotics. 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. They look close enough to a dress shoe to wear with skirts, but act like an athletic sneaker. SIZING TIPS:  (Our returns show we are right about 90% of the time) We've found - by trying these on countless dancers - it is best to wear your usual size for a good fit. If you're in between two sizes, you may want to go with the larger of the two sizes you usually wear. Women with average width feet were very happy with the fit. ABOUT SUEDE SOLES: These are made with suede soles which are wonderful to dance on. The suede on the sole is sewn on so they last longer than most other brands' soles. Important: the suede on the heel is NOT sewn on and may catch on something and start to peel off. Most dancers are familiar with this happening and already own shoe glue. If this happens within the first 6 months just send us a photo and we'll be happy to pay for a cobbler to repair them. NOTE: Dancing on suede is not just about agility. It's also about protecting your knees from the drag that rubber-soled shoes cause. So most swing dancers will occasionally wear their suede-bottom shoes outside so they get a little dirty which causes them to eventually form a mirror-like finish on parts of the sole. They are not street shoes so don't wear them outside all the time - but a little of the outdoor environment on your soles will actually help them get shiny on the bottom and keep them from gripping the floor like sneakers.  If you prefer them less zippy you can dull the “mirror finish” they can get by roughing them up with a wire brush periodically.