How to keep "ballet" style shoes on

Bexm

Hi

I have very very narrow feet but have always wanted some ballet style shoes.. you know the ones with no straps or anything and just slip on.
Unfortunately due to such narrow feet I have not been able to buy them because they just won't stay on.

Now 2 weeks ago I went to tesco, and on the off chance I tried on a pair and they appeared to fit and stay on perfectly. I was ecstatic, so jumped at the chance of buying them.

Now having discovered my feet were probably hot when I tried them on, so bigger than usual, the shoes are now falling off.

I love these shoes, but they are impractical if they won't stay on.
I have tried heel grips, insoles, those little toe only insoles, but they just won't stay on!

I have had them too long now to take back, so to save losing the money I have spent I need an idea of what to do?

Has anyone had the same problem? Have to managed to use some sort of elastic? Any suggestions at all?

Short of getting some specially made I can't see me ever being able to wear this sort of shoe, which will cost a fortune, so I need a cheaper alternative so I can make do!

Thanks

Bex

podperson

A friend of mine has some plain ballet style pumps and she's attached matching ribbons to the sides that cross over on her ankles and tie at the back - like the 'proper' ballet shoes. They look really pretty.

peachyprice

Some of the ones in New Look have the same drawstring around them like proper ballet shoes. You can tighten the string to get a perfect fit. They come in lots of colours too.

If you look at the close-up of this one you'll see what I mean

http://www.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/shoes/dark-red-ballet-pumps_227741662

HTH

Bexm

Thanks for the suggestions! May try the ribbon although not sure it will work for my shoes. I'll have to make a trip to a big new look and try those shoes! Ours is tiny so doesn't sell shoes! Haha!

Gillyx

Half insoles may do the trick, I have to do this frequently due to having a half size.

angelil

podperson wrote: »

A friend of mine has some plain ballet style pumps and she's attached matching ribbons to the sides that cross over on her ankles and tie at the back - like the 'proper' ballet shoes. They look really pretty.

peachyprice wrote: »

Some of the ones in New Look have the same drawstring around them like proper ballet shoes. You can tighten the string to get a perfect fit. They come in lots of colours too.

If you look at the close-up of this one you'll see what I mean

http://www.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/shoes/dark-red-ballet-pumps_227741662

HTH

You *can* do this, but be careful - you can damage your Achilles tendon if you tie the shoes too tightly or incorrectly. Ballet dancers learn how to tie the shoes a certain way so that they avoid doing this; they don't just tie them any which way!

My other suggestions:

Is it possible that you just had the wrong size? It's always better to try shoes on when your feet are cooler.

Cheap shoes also don't always have a very good fit. If you were to trade up on the brand you may find you get a better fit.

Sometimes it's also the shape of our feet which means we can't wear certain styles. I have wide feet and there have often been times where I'm not able to wear a certain style of shoe no matter what the size.

The only other thing I can think of is that your posture or walking style is such that you are not able to keep the shoes on/wear them correctly (think of all those Ugg wearers who have managed to collapse one side of the boot! If their posture was correct I can't believe that would happen; I have never had it happen to me either with cheap Uggs or with the real deal).

Hope some of that helps a bit.

floss2

OP, have you tried the ones with elastic around the heel? Primark are usually good for these - I can't wear any other type!

Fuzzy_Duck

I have this problem too but I did find one pair of ballet flats that fit me- they were La Redoute ones. I think French shoes tend to be a narrower fit that UK shoes (which I'm sure are getting wider ) I've also seen some in Clarks (both in store and on the website) that are scrunched up so they can be folded in a bag. I haven't had a chance to try them on but as they stretch out to fit they may well fit a narrower foot.

I know you said you've tried insoles, but have you tried those really chunky ones? I use those in my other pumps and it does make a difference, but only the La Redoute pair fit perfectly. I don't think it matters so much if they're a little bit loose though as you wouldn't wear ballet pumps for serious walking.

I'm a size 6 but I find the only kind of shoes that fit me in a size 6 are boots or lace ups. The rest of the time I usually go for a size 5.5 or a 5 if the shop don't do half sizes, so I'd suggest going a size down too and seeing if the fit is any better. It doesn't always work for me, but it's worth a try.

I would absolutely love to open a shop selling narrow fitting shoes at standard prices. It really annoys me that wider fitting shoes are available everywhere but you have to pay ridiculous amounts for a narrow fitting shoe from an online shop, so you can't even try them on first!

avstar

I have this problem too because I have very narrow heels, shoes just slip off the back. I've tried smaller sizes (just squashes my toes ouch!), insoles, heels grips etc but really I have to just stick to styles with a strap across the foot. I can't wear court shoes or ballet pumps.

I do own one pair of ballet pumps from Hush Puppy and they do stay on, the heel area is narrower than normal for some reason.


Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look. But yes I agree, wish shops would stock shoes for narrow feet too x

jenniewb

Its worth noting that proper ballet shoes are worn so the toes are cramped in, and its this which helps keep them in place hence the reason they are not advised- because they can cause bunions as a result.

You can get some gel pads to stick inside- many supermarkets and chemist type stores sell these and they just stick into place. I'd not advise the sticky spots though as they just tend to roll off or look very odd when they've crawled up your legs!

Some of the really expensive brands do tend to come up narrower- French Sole and Pretty Balletrinas both are narrower then any other ballet shoes I know of.

Callie22

Suede heel grips also help - you can buy stick on ones that you put at the back of the shoe.