Where to Buy Tango Shoes and Clothing

Tango shoes and clothing can be a bit hard to find, and it can be challenging to know if the site is reliable and safe. Here are a few places where I find my tango clothes and shoes or have heard about from others. Keep in mind that the creation and shipping can take up to a month, depending on the location. Always check by directly contacting the seller for the final word.

Shoes

For shoes, I recommend that these become a priority over tango clothing as the right shoes should be more comfortable than socks or shoes you can slide in. I started off straight with heels as I have had prior experience with dance heels, but I would recommend starting with a lower heel and wide base like the DNI Model Rocio shoes, which are a bit more accessible than Fulanas (primarily shoes for female leaders). They are essentially a dance sneaker with a bit of a heel, designed for comfort and stability. I have a pair of DNI sneakers I used to use for practice occasionally, and I have recently purchased some Fulanas that I use when my feet are too tired for heels. I have seen many followers wearing either model when heels become too much or for classes/practicas. If you want something a little more elegant but with stability, the sandal flats D32 from Tangolera (Axis Tango Shoes) are another choice.

Tango shoes are a bit expensive, averaging around $180. So, if you find yourself wanting a dance heel but also want to do other Latin dances that require heels, or if you want a slightly cheaper option, getting a pair of Latin heels from Very Fine DanceSport Shoes or other brands can work as well.

Leader shoes, which are typically found under men's shoes, have a slightly smaller price range, usually around $180. They also have a smaller selection in most online shoe stores, but I will note the ones that do offer leader shoes in the list below. Leader shoes typically feature a 0.5 to 1-inch rubber heel for stability and have smooth leather or suede bottoms for pivoting. Typical leader shoe designs also come in women's shoe sizes for those who want a specific shoe for leading. As mentioned above, I like Fulanas for practice/leading as they are very comfortable, well-balanced, and cushioned.

Buying shoes online can be a bit risky, as dance shoes are different from buying a normal street shoe. The shoe should be close to an exact fit, tight but not constricting, and brands often vary slightly in style and sizing. Tango shoes are typically in EU or the equivalent in US sizing. Italian sizing tends to run just a hair smaller than those that are not based in Italy. So, try asking a local teacher if there is someone who is a distributor or has their own shoe line in your area so you can try on a few and figure out what is comfortable and what is not. Another option is to try on and purchase shoes at a tango festival, as most will have a few clothing and shoe vendors that you can check out. If you want to know when brands will be there in advance, check out the festival website or Facebook event page.

Yuli-B Tango Shoes- based in CA, she has heels in her own brand Yuli-B, but primarily carries Regina Tango Shoes

Axis Tango Shoes - carries a wide range of tango shoes for both men(Alagalomi, DNI, Monsieur Pivot, Paso de Fuego, Tangolera, 2x4 al pie) and women(Alagalomi, Cristal, DNI, Fulana, Katrinski, Madame Pivot, Mosh Mosh, Paso de Fuego & Galupi, Tangolera, Yuyo Brujo)

Julia-Bella - based in DC and carries heels in SUR tango shoes and Comme il Faut

DNI Tango - is based in Argentina and carries its own brand DNI. Many followers including myself have their tango trainers(Model Rocio) as they provide full coverage(like sneakers) with a low wide heel for comfort. They also carry different styles of classic women's heels and men's shoes.

Madam Pivot - based in Italy and on their website the shoes are custom-made for you with a diverse range of classic and unique styles. I first discovered the brand by watching Lorena Tarantino and Gianpero Gianni perform on the 030 Tango YouTube channel. They are also seen on a wide range of other worldwide professional dancers.

Lisadore - carries its own line, but is one of the few sellers to the US shipping a wide variety of Comme il Faut shoes(one of the first fashion-forward tango shoe lines)

Movimento - a wide variety of shoes with a good shipping rate with frequent sales

Clothing

For clothing, the allure of buying tango-specific clothing is that they are not only meant to make you feel good and accommodate anything you might do on the dance floor, but they also emphasize good lines and movement. They can be used to catch the eye of other dancers to entice the cabeceo. None of the above is necessary to be a good tango dancer, but there can be some mental, physical, and social benefits to doing so. Also, they are simply fun to wear!

Collection Berlin - playful and fun patterns, I like these styles for practilongas and casual milongas

Roxana Vincelli - a classic in tango wear with classic and contemporary fashion styles

Nocturna Tango Boutique(Roxana Vincelli) - a classic in tango wear with classic and contemporary fashion styles and can purchase from this site directly rather than WhatsApp

Chique Dancewear - great for classic styles but covers a wide range of styles and wear for glamorous nights out. Clarissa Aragon wears their styles often for performances

Touchline Tango - also classic, items that can be worn out normally and for tango

Si Dancewear - really fun patterns, very customizable, and unique styles

LinCreationBoutique on Etsy - elegant and comfortable tops, bottoms, and dresses

TangoinStyle - also very customizable with great styles and can choose fabrics/color

Atelier Vertex - unique colors and patterns with many different styles: dresses, tops, bottoms, skirts, jumpsuits

Mimi Pinzon Tango Clothing - focused on performance wear

Tango With Love - classic casual & performance wear

ConDiva - A really wide variety of tango and other styles of dance-appropriate clothes in fun patterns and in a wide variety of colors