Ballet slippers are perhaps more closely connected with pointe shoes. These are shoes meant to assist advanced dancers in standing on pointe, or on the points of their toes. Ballet slippers, on the other hand, are lightweight shoes that are frequently worn in dance practice. They are not designed for safety on pointe but rather to allow dancers to move freely without injuring themselves. Pointe shoes are much harder to come by than ballet slippers, but they do exist. Pointe shoes are similar to regular women's shoes in that they have four layers: an outer shell, a midsole, an inner lining, and a sock-like insert called a pochette. The main difference is that the upper material is made of leather or synthetic materials designed to support your feet while performing complex moves on pointe. Leather has long been used for pointe shoes because of its strength and flexibility. However, this same quality that makes leather useful also makes it vulnerable to wear and tear. Over time, the sole of a leather shoe will begin to crack and split if it's not replaced regularly. This is why true pointe shoes are difficult to find - only a few companies make them and they don't ever seem to last very long. Synthetic materials have become popular instead.