Aris Allen Black and White Wingtip Athletic Mary Jane Swing Dance Shoe synthetic upper suede sole These are adorable Wingtip Mary Janes and have a very low heel and suede-bottom sole. Mary Janes are great dance shoes as they have a strap that allows you to control the fit at your instep. The upper has perforations around the wingtip and heel cup - just dressy enough to wear when you're dressing up. Made with suede-bottom soles and a soft foam footbed which is perfect for dancers of all skill levels. The design of these - with the low heel and strap - gives you almost cat-like agility on the dance floor. Aris Allen is known for making vintage style swing dance shoes and reproduction models that are more authentic equipment for dancing swing than ordinary ballroom shoes are. Their philosophy being that your dancing will look more authentic if you wear the same style of shoes the inventors of the dance were wearing. And if you can't do that then you'd better be in something comfortable because swing dancing is like running track. :)