Ladies Dance Tips - how do I know if the shoe fits?

[msplaingray]

I'm having an issue with my dance shoes. I have a 2.5" heel ballroom shoe with a strap that wraps around the foot and ends on the ankle. The ankle is just fine and my toes just barely go over the edge. My big problem is that the sides are too tight on the ball of my feet and just below my pinky toe. I was told they would stretch to fit me as I danced but so far, not much luck. Is it possible to cheat and use the ice bag trick to stretch them out a little for me or will that will ruin my shoes?

[aussievonnie]

@msplaingray - sometimes the sole of the shoe isn't wide enough to support the foot when the strapping does stretch, leaving your foot hanging off the side, keep the size of the sole in mind when you're purchasing them, hanging toes are one thing but hanging foot another.

[aussievonnie]

@aussievonnie If the strapping is made of leather, they always give a little. If you have a synthetic strap, stretching isn't going to help it. If you try the ice bag trick and you have satin trim on your strap, it will leave a water mark. You'd also want to make sure you didn't get the ice on the sole of the shoe if you have a suede sole. You can also buy an apparatus from your shoe repairer that you stick inside the shoe and slowly use it to stretch out the strapping.