Aris Allen 1940s Black Velvet Criss-Cross 3-Buckle Burlesque Pump

• These are an exact copy of a 1940s Swing-Era dress shoe and have a suede-bottom sole and heel. The nap on the velvet is very short giving it a suede-like appearance.
• This style is a totally hand stitched and cut vintage reproduction and features three adjustable buckles that gives the shoe some serious character and allows you to control the fit at your instep and has triangular cutwork on the vamp.
• Made with flexible suede-bottom soles and very tall heels so please don't buy them for dancing unless you are used to heels.
• The footbed is made with thick foam lining.
• 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.
• Please check the sizing recommendations before placing your order.
• Item #: 451-BLK

SPECS:

• The heels are approximately 3” inches (7.5cm) tall and the base of the heel is 1” inch (2.54cm) wide. This makes them difficult to dance in unless you are used to heels.

SIZING TIPS - (ALL SHOES ARE USA SIZES):
(Our returns show we are right about 88% of the time)

These fit a bit small. Most of our test dancers wore their normal size or 1/2 size larger.

Below is the result of trying these on dozens of women - plus auditing 150 sales (12% were returned and when they ordered a new size more than half of them got a 1/2 size larger). So 88% of women who have purchased these fit their normal size or a tiny bit larger.

Wide width:
• if you always wear an 8, but sometimes you can wear an 8.5 = you'll probably want an 8.5.
• if you always wear an 8.5, but sometimes an 8 you may want an 8.5 but maybe a 9.

Medium width:
• if you always wear an 8, but sometimes you can wear an 8.5 = you'll probably want an 8.5 but maybe a 9.
• if you always wear an 8.5, but sometimes an 8 you will may want an 8.5 but possibly a 9.

• Narrow width:
• if you always wear an 8, but sometimes you can wear an 8.5 = you'll probably want an 8.5 but maybe a 9.
• if you always wear an 8.5, but sometimes an 8 you will probably want a 9 but maybe an 8.5.

Because this style is covered in buckles you can customize the width by loosening or tightening them - so you should be able to custom-fit this shoe to your feet.

WIDTH INFO:

• Narrow width: not happy
• Average width: happy
• Wide width: happy

ABOUT SUEDE SOLES:

• These 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. 
• Never wear these in the rain!