I just got a pair of dance shoes and the straps are too loose. I was told to use a pin to tighten the straps if necessary. I tried a hat pin but couldn't find the hole the pin made. Is there a technique to making a hole or would a small paperclip work better? Thanks for any suggestions.

Try an ice pick or a similar sharp tool with a point that is circular and a little larger than a pin. Paperclips aren't going to be sharp enough. If you still have trouble take it to a shoe repair.

Piece of advice, unless you have bird ankles your dance shoes are probably too big if your straps are too big. I was horrified to find out that for dance shoes to fit the right way they had to be much smaller than your street shoes. Latin shoes, your big toe should be on the floor, at least part way and your smooth should fit like a glove, I mean really like a glove so that you can kick with all your strength and the shoe wouldn't even think of coming off. If your feet can move or wiggle or shift inside even a little bit they are too big. I didn't believe this at first and I was wrong.

The right shoes in dance make all the difference. Pay for good shoes and make sure they fit and they will pay their own dividends. I suggest trying Ray Rose and DanceNaturals. To put it in perspective, my dance shoes are 3 full sizes smaller than my normal shoes. Good luck.

I agree with Belle (I always do). Your shoes are most likely too wide. You should try on a pair of narrow shoes and if they fit better, see if you can sell your old ones. If they are satin they will stretch and the fit will be even worse. It is hard to convince beginners that their shoes have to be tight and their toe has to go over the end (latin) but it is very important.

What the other posters have said about shoe size is correct, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're in the same position I was in. My shoes fit as they should, but there weren't holes in the right places to make the straps fit right.

What I was told when I bought my shoes is that the best thing to do is to go to a jewelry store and have them put more holes in your straps with the tool they use to put holes in leather watch bands. A shoe repair store would have this tool too, but the size holes they'd make for street shoes/belts are far too big for narrow dance shoe straps with tiny buckles.

What hotpenguin37 is what it is. There are not enough holes. I ran into that with my Latin shoes but they were close and by the end of an evening of dancing, my feet swell a bit so they fit just fine. I'll check with a local jeweler. Thank you very much.

A quick fix for loose shoes. Sellotape them to your feet. It can't be seen

Love it Cyd,

Brilliant idea...why didn't I think of that...I have a super sexy pair of tango shoes I've been wanting to wear but no straps and my feet are too thin....yeah!!

You've made my night!

I use wide clear elastic bands (I got mine from a Ray Rose distributer). Every shoe company seems to have them. They are great for my old standard shoes that have stretched.

belleofyourball. Another other little trick i saw. This was an international lady dancer. I think she might have been breaking in a new pair of Court shoes. She smeared Vasaline over her feet. I would imagine this was to stop any irritation from a new tight fitting shoe which hadn't yet stretched

That I have to try...superb Cyd!