Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Finding the perfect Tango Shoes

Yes it is true that there is much more to Buenos Aires than tango, and much more to tango than the shoes. But its also true that newly arrived tango dancers are just overwhelmed by the gorgeous tango shoes available here - for men as well as women.


And it's not only tango dancers who are seduced - I've seen female guests who never dance (and who normally get around in flat, sensible shoes) go all light-headed at the sight of row after row of these jewels for the feet, and the next thing they are walking away with a surprising number of shoe bags.


Believe me, once you've been here five or seven times (or lived here a few years) your powers of resistence will increase. But by then you'll have your very own tango shoe wardrobe, stuffed with the lovely things.


Here is my tango shoe wardrobe in its current state:


Before I help you find some of the best places to buy zapatos de tango, here are my words of wisdom about which shoes to purchase:


  • Don't be seduced by all the lovely shoes in the first shop you go to.


  • Remember that comfort is critical to those all day / all night marathons at milongas, and not all shoes are comfortable once they are put to use.


  • All shops have their own 'last' (the wooden foot model the shoes are shaped around) - and only some lasts will create comfort for your very own special feet.


  • Don't take it for granted that your friend's super comfortable shoes will be supercomfortable for you - we all have different feet.


  • So just buy one pair at first that you really like and dance in them for a few days. If they aren't super comfortable, buy your next pair from another shop - there are dozens of them and they all have gorgeous models.


Now of course I know you won't take my advice - I didn't myself when I first got here. And my shoe wardrobe would be double the size if I had, because I wouldn't have given away so many pairs that just weren't great to dance in.

Even some I still have (like my 2 stunning pairs from Comme Il Faut - the Rolls Royce of tango shoes) don't get much floor time because I have shoes that are simply more comfortable. In my case, the last at Darcos Magic Shoes is just perfect - shoes I have had from there have been a dream from day one (you don't need to 'wear in' a good pair of shoes). So despite the fact that their staff can be very rude, and the service is terrible, I still buy all my shoes there.

Which leads me to some more advice:

  • Don't get hung up on good service (not a strength in most shops here) - the experience of buying the shoes will fade but good shoes will be carrying you to heaven in the tango embrace for some years to come.


  • Do insist that any minor alterations (eg extra holes in the straps) are done then and there - not 'tomorrow'.


  • If you order anything special, from stretching or major alterations to hand made shoes, do make sure that the estimated delivery day is well before your flight out, and if they aren't ready on that day, go to the shop and ask for them every day until you get them.

  • Most shops want cash and charge extra for credit cards. If you must use your credit card, do make sure they take your brand of credit card before you get too involved in choosing shoes.

So where can you buy good tango shoes? To help you out I have listed below all the shops for which I have currently addresses or websites. (If you know of more, let me know and I will add them.) But since choosing and buying tango shoes is such a personal affair, I have also listed some blog entries and other records created by others about their delightful (or awful) experiences in search of the perfect tango shoe.



May your shoebag never be empty, and your tacos (heels) never break!



In search of dream shoes: Places to buy tango shoes

  • Alanis Tango Shoes - Diagonal Norte 936 (Centro) (Can't find a website for them)

  • Artesenal - Anchorena 537 (Abasto) Tel 4865-3717 Mon-Fri 10am - 7pm Sat 10am - 4pm or Riobamba 448 (Once) Tel 4953-6874 Mon-Fri 10am - 8pm Sat 11am - 5pm.

  • Comme Il Faut - Arenales 1239 Rue de Artisans Apt 'M' (upstairs) (Recoleta) Tel: 4815-5690. These people make the Rolls Royce (or Manolo Blahniks) of tango shoes, and sell them from a salon (rather than a crude shop - like the others). You will never forget your first time at Comme Il Faut - it is worth going just for the experience. Because they don't display their shoes, it is best to have a good idea of your desired colour, style and heel height before you go. I took along two dresses I wanted to match and that really helped. Last time I went they only took cash and Visa (no Mastercard, Amex, etc) but that may have changed. Phone them and ask if it is important to you.

  • Darcos - Suipacha 259 (Centro) Tel 4326-0232 / 4328-6618 or Malabia 1616 (Palermo Soho) Tel 4832-7436. As I said above, the service here can be dreadful and the staff rude and unhelpful. And they are now pretty expensive too. But if they have the best fit for you.... sigh.

  • DNI School - Corrientes 2140 (Once) and Bulnes 1011 /13 (Almagro) Tel 4864 5339. This is really a dance school but also has a store with tango clothes and shoes. I have heard that they are currently renovating the Corrientes location, so plan to go to Bulnes.

  • Fatomano - Guatamala 4464 (Palermo viejo) Tel 4832-3156 (Close to Salon Canning)

  • Flabella - Suipacha 263 (Next door to Darcos) Tel 4322-6036. I bought my very first pair of BA tango shoes here - green suede and gorgeous. And much cheaper than the shop next door. But they just weren't as comfortable. Sigh.

  • GretaFlora - Acuna de Figueroa 1612 (Palermo Viejo) Tel 4861-6382 Mon - Fri 2-7pm. Their website is seriously annoying, but the shoes are lovely with their signature flower.

  • Lolo Gerard - Tomas de Anchorena 607 (Abasto) Tel 4962 3860. I bought a lovely black suede and purple pair here, that have worn very well. And they weren't expensive, and the service was great.

  • Madreselva - Corrientes 3190 (Abasto Plaza Hotel) Tel 6311-4412 Mon-Fri 3-8pm

  • Maria Jazmin - Anchorena 606 (Abasto) Tel 4864-3847

  • Mimi Pinzon - Maza 507 3B Tel 4932-0946 (clothes only)

  • Raquel Shoes - Arenales 1974 (Recoleta) Tel (??)

  • Secunda Generacion - Esmeralda 1249 (Recoleta) Tel 4312-7136 (clothes only)

  • NeoTango - Sarmiento 1938 (Once) Tel/Fax: 4951-8694 15-5147-3308. Prices here are very reasonable, and they have a goood selection for both women and men. Many of my guests have bought shoes at NeoTango (partly because it is only a few blocks from Casa Rosa and Casa Jasmin), and they have been very happy with their purchases. I've heard complaints about their service though from foreigners who didn't have time to wait.

  • Scarpe Mahara - Suipacha 252 (Centro) Tel 4328-3528 (close to Darcos) (Can't find a website.)

  • Taconeando - Arenales 1606 (Recoleta) Tel (??) Mon-Fri 10am - 8pm Sat 10am - 2pm

  • Tango Brujo - Esmeralda 754 (Centro) Tel 4325-8264

  • Tango Leike - Sarmiento 1547 (Once) Tel 4953-0360 (Or at Nino Bien on Thursday nights)

  • Tango VIP Shoes - Suipacha 256 - Tel (next door to Darcos)

  • Tango 8 - Lavalle 3101 y Anchorena 602 (Abasto) Mon-Fri 10am - 8pm and Defensa 1129 (San Telmo) Thurs - Sun 11am - 5pm el 4864-0471.

  • Victorio Tango Shoes - Montevideo 224 (Congreso) Tel 4375-0237 or visit the factory at Mataderos. This website shoes you the process of making the shoes.

  • 2 x 4 Al Pie - Scalabrini Ortiz 1753 D3 Tel 15-5011-2000 Mon-Fri 2-7pm Sat 3-7pm . These shoes have interchangeable soles (leather, suede, rubber) so can be used to dance on any surface.

Finding your dream shoes: Experiences choosing and buying tango shoes

I've read some other lovely stories, and will put up links to them as I come across them again. Let me know if you have a good link I could add here.









Posted by El Jardin del Tango at 12:54 pm 4 comments
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