Pointe Shoes Online

If you don't want to darn your pointe shoes, but want to make the platform last longer, there are alternatives.

A very cute English tradition is crochet toe covers.  These are little circles of crochet, slightly larger than the platform, which you simply sew on to your pointe shoes.  You have to be very, very careful to sew these on properly - otherwise they'll stretch, and wrinkle in on themselves when you try to pirouette (with nasty results).

Another option is suede patches (you can even buy Gaynor Mindens with them already fitted).  Some people swear by them, but the idea scares me!

I dance ballroom these days, and I know the suede soles of my ballroom dancing shoes get slick and shiny very quickly - and once that happens, it's like dancing on ice.  It's bad enough balancing with high heels on slippery soles - I can't imagine what it would be like en pointe!

If you're going with suede or moleskin patches, please make sure they're very securely glued on, as otherwise they can peel off (see the shoe on the right) - very dangerous if it happens while you're turning.

The other alternative, of course, is not to worry about it.   If you choose not to protect your pointe shoe platform, it's a good idea to cut the satin off the platform and stitch the raw edge neatly.