Picking the right shoes to wear to the Kentucky Derby is almost as important as finding the right hat.

As any horseman knows, 90% of lameness originates in the foot. We treat our horses to custom shoes, expertly fitted to the beast and the terrain. Unfortunately, few of us can afford custom footwear for ourselves. Personally, I find myself between hell and highwater or rather hell and high heels when shoe shopping. I love strappy, sexy high heels and what they do for my legs. I hate the discomfort and what they do for my personality. If my feet aren’t happy, I’m no fun to be with. Here’s the compromise that works for me and this week’s Derby Tip. Ballroom Dancing Shoes.

 

During a period often referred to as “a misspent youth” one of my chief activities was competitive ballroom dancing. It was at Roseland that I discovered the comfort and stability of ball room dancing shoes. They’re designed to make the most of your legs and are engineered to provide the best possible base for fast changes of direction, multiple turns and sassy tango stamps. I think it’s the undercut heel but they really are an asset when spending a day on your feet. They come in a variety of styles and colors and, if you order them early enough, (see Derby Tip 1) can be dyed to any color.

Here are a few websites of companies that carry ball room gear. You may find more or better sites by googling “ball room dance shoes” or “tango shoes”.

www.usadanceshoes.com
www.danceshoes4u.com
www.ballroomdancingshoe.com
www.danceshoesonline.com

Derby Day is a long day. While one never chooses to sacrifice fashion, comfortable footwear can be crucial to the all over enjoyment of the event. You need shoes that will enable you to hike to your seat, make flying lead changes on a dash to the betting window, turn on a dime when a hunch strikes and allow you to move like a Samba dancer on fire when your horse starts to move up; and, if it’s a really good day at the Derby, sensible footwear can be there for you when it’s time to dance the night away.

by Jan Masters Yon