First pair

BBLoverEric · 20th June 2007, 00:00

So I still don't believe it but I just ordered my first pair of ballet heels, got ankle boots. I will post back on how they fit and such. Now I have to go dig up the thread on shortening the heels for once I have the right fit.

Marcus · 20th June 2007, 11:42

Wow! Could you post a pic of these boots?

JimC · 21st June 2007, 18:38

The real trick for shortening the heel is removing the heel tip without pulling the metal stud out of the plastic heel tip. I wasnt 100% sucessfull doing that, but I had some 'spare' heels from a pair of boots that I removed the heels from. I was able to get 2 clean heel tips/studs out of 4 heels.

After that, you slowly peel back the material from the heel shaft, mark off whatever length you plan to cut and have at it with a hacksaw/etc. You can use a file or something to make sure the end of the heel is somewhat square, then carefully drill out a hole for the stud of the heel tip to fit into.

Slowly roll the material back down the heel saft, figure out how much you need to cut off to fit it back under the heel tip, then tuck the edges back under the tip as you wedge in the stud. I had to glue mine in, you might have better luck.

If you have any other questions let me know, I recently did this on a pair of boots from Devious, and have been very happy with the results. So far I can go over an hour standing/walking without any real issues. Now to find somewhere public to wear them.

WobbleFan · 24th June 2007, 18:36

Just out of curiosity: why would you buy a pair of ballet shoes, which have the highest heels (im)possible and then proceed to *shorten* the heels? Beats me.

BBLoverEric · 24th June 2007, 22:45

It's only if the heel is too long to make them comfortable in which to stand. There seems to be a tendency for the Pleaser ones to have a heel that's around 1/4" maybe 1/2" too long and causes the wearer to lean forward instead of rest straight.

jo · 24th June 2007, 22:46

.... because the sole of the shoe or boot is normally made flat (without curve or bend, that is), wearing the shoe or boot puts a huge strain on your ankles. Lowering the heel height by half an inch removes a large proportion of that strain.

Another way to remove some of that ankle stress would be to curve the arch more (like in the superarch shoes made by 6IHF), but no UK ballet shoe or boot makers that I have asked to do this have any last that they can do that with.

BBLoverEric · 26th June 2007, 01:24

WOOT! Got them in today. Surprising comfortable just relaxing. Managed to stand in them without much trouble -- first pair of heels so the stiletto is a bit to get used to. The problem isn't until after I sit down when my toes cramp but I think that's just something that'll go away once they get acclimated. They feel a bit flimsy in the toe but that may just be because I'm a bit of a big man. Anyway, off to do my thing :-D

BBLoverEric · 26th June 2007, 02:41

The thing I'm running into the most trouble with is lacing... It's so hard to get the tight.

BBLoverEric · 26th June 2007, 03:56

WOOHOO, first steps with a counter to lean on. The balancing isn't all that difficult except for Devious boots having a little too much heel. I think that, instead of cutting the heel with the tools I don't have, I'll try out putting stuff on the front as was mentioned. Any suggestions as to what can be used?

BBLoverEric · 27th June 2007, 03:52

So I was doing a little walking today and got a little bit off balanced then *SNAP* the right heel broke :-(. The tacs and the screws are fine so can it be salvaged or does it require a new heel?