Generally, GMs last three to five times longer than ordinary pointe shoes. As always, there are variations according to intensity of dancing, surface on which you are dancing, etc. Unlike other pointe shoes, GMs will NOT soften, loosen, or stretch. You need to allow a small amount of space for normal expansion and contraction of the foot during dancing.
GMs generally fit one size longer than street shoes.
Sometimes it is only half a size, sometimes a size and a half, but usually it is one whole size. Width and box size need to be determined at the time of fitting. Because there are so many options available with each pair of GMs and because each dancer has two feet that are usually slightly different from each other, it is best to have a custom fitting with one of our fitters or at one of the retail stores that sells GMs. If there is no store in your area that can fit GMs, you can obtain them from us in the mail and a fitter will talk you through the fitting over the phone. The important thing to remember with GMs is that the way the shoes feel in the fitting is the way they will feel for the life of the shoes.