A Beginners Guide to Pole Shoes

The time has finally arrived. 

Your confidence has grown, or your curiosity has been piqued. 

Maybe you've secretly yearned for them, you've marveled at others on them, or you feel you may be close to being ready.

Perhaps you get a bit giddy at the thought of them, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid, you feel the adrenaline surge. Or that could be just me, I don't know?

Anyhoo, the time is closing in, or the time is now, whatever the reasons...

IT'S TIME TO BUY POLE SHOES! 

A variety of 6 inch heels

Your first purchase of pole shoes can be quite daunting, as well as exciting. There seems to be a huge array of styles, colours, and brands, and there is. The decision making process involved is mind blowing and can seem overwhelming. 

HOW IS A PERSON EXPECTED TO NARROW IT DOWN TO ONLY. ONE. PAIR! 

Chillax, I'm here to help. 

By no means do I consider myself as having the status of pole shoe queen or goddess... yet, I've reached double digits in my pole shoe collection and I've learned a few things along the way, practical and mistakes too.

First up my go to brand is Pleaser. 

I fully agree with the adage "You get what you pay for". With Pleaser's you expect quality, and I've not been disappointed yet.

The Pleaser pole shoe is designed for the rigours and demands that pole dancing will place upon the shoe. They are light, and under the circumstances reasonably durable. Non pole shoes just can't handle the demands you will put on them. 

Pleaser's range of shoes and variety of styles is huge! And when I say huge do not for one second think I'm exaggerating. By huge I mean load the website, make a cuppa and a small snack because your arse is not going to lift off the chair your sitting on for a few hours.

The start off heel height I recommend is 6 inches. 

The classic glass slipper: Pleaser 6 inch

I know some people reading this are squirming, and not with excitement, instead it's fear, trepidation, or anxiety. 

Now let me explain a secret that will help calm your nerves. That height and that anticipated awkwardness, it's all an illusion. It truly is a good old trick of the eye and comes down to the platform under the ball of the foot. With the six inch heel the platform is almost at two inches which really gives you the equivalent heel height of wearing a four inch heel. A four inch heel is your standard women's high heel. See, you can do this.

Selecting a style you like is very personal. Pole shoes come as a slide, a strap sandal, ankle boots - open toe or closed toe, knee-hi boots, thigh-high boots, or chaps.

So many styles and only two feet... *drool*

When you're starting out I say go the strap sandal. The reasoning being inexperience can lead you to fling off a slide during a routine - so not sexy and very dangerous to anyone else in the room. The boots are a bit dearer and too lovely to be destroyed which makes them a good second buy when you're more experienced and know what you're doing, or a buy you save for performances. 

Did your heart skip a beat there at the word destroyed? Unfortunately it's true. Your pole shoes, as gorgeous as they are, are essentially the equivalent of gym shoes, and we all know how they end up over time.

Remember your shoes will be dragged as you sashay about the pole. They will be banged together as you master clacking and floor work. They will slide and drag when you do rollovers and any sort of tumbling, and they will knock into the pole intentionally or unintentionally. Basically your beautiful high heels will cop a beating over time. But then you're not buying them to look at them right, they're a functional piece of equipment for you to dance, and move, and be sexy in.

My first pole shoes *sigh*

These are my very first pair of Pleaser's. They lasted two years before I had to stop wearing them. I love the style, the chrome base with the black top. The colour variety available in the chrome is like a rainbow, just gorgeous. The chrome hardly marked at all considering the significant amount of time I spent banging the crap out of them with leg work. 

As you can see I have worn the front down from floor drags, but even that's not so bad. What made me have to give them up was the black covering stretching through wear and my toes sliding forward. Instead of dragging the tip of the shoe I was dragging my toes and that hurt like a bitch. Fortunately for me the time was right and I also went up a heel height as I felt very confident in the six in heels.

Toe overhang took a while but the material will eventually stretch... ouch

Yep, I now dance in eight inches, I train in them when I can, and believe it or not I'm very fortunate that I get to wear them to work. Working as a receptionist a my pole studio has some wonderful perks - like shoe wearing to showcase the different shoes I have, just because.

I know what 8 inches is ;)

Now here's something to remember... YOU CANNOT ORDER PLEASERS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR WEBSITE, they wholesale only so you need to find a retailer. A lot of pole studios are able to order in shoes for you, but not all. If you find yourself in this situation I have the PERFECT retailer for you! 

See, I've even taken the hard work out of this bit.

If your pole studio cannot order your Pleasers then there is a WONDERFUL online business.

I've been dealing with them for well over four years now. I actually got my very first pair of 'real' high heels from her (Ramarim) and I haven't looked back; I started late with this whole shoe thing, my 40's, up until then I was a 'practical and safe' shoe wearer (boring) which really means I wasn't confident in my own skin to give high heels a go.

What is this wonderful business of which I speak? It's called Shoe Me Gorgeous and is run by Jess Brown. Jess's customer service is OUTSTANDING, and delivery is quick - if there are delays she will get in touch and it is pretty much always a hold up at the other end. Another bonus is if you're not sure of your shoe size and you haven't been able to wrestle someones Pleasers off them to find out your correct shoe size (Pleasers are sized US which is different to Australia and Europe), Shoe Me Gorgeous does offer exchange. One off pole studio orders may not be able to offer this.

Yes, be that chick!

I hope you like the information above and do note it is by no means exhaustive, it's just a beginners guide - something to get you started, just a tip of the heel that is pole shoe wisdom.

There is so much for me to tell you and show you in the many posts ahead about pole shoes. Until then what are you waiting for? Put the kettle on, rummage up a snack, open the website and get to it!

Happy pole shoe shopping... xox

This one makes me smile every time ;)

P.S. If you do go ahead and buy pole shoes please, please, please take picture of them and post it to Grip and Squeeze's facebook page. I'm always up for a bit of shoe porn <3