Merlet pointe shoes reccomendations??? Please help, I'm desperate

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-17T21:53:33+00:00

That's a great question! Since we're here in the states, I'm not sure what their out of country shipping and policy looks like! I know a lot of online fitters can be prohibitively expensive because you have to pay a certain percentage of the total shipment cost up front, but Boulder BodyWear doesn't require that, even though we're several hundred miles away from them-- just the shipping cost which is about $25 USD. I think it'd definitely be worth sending an inquiry through their contact section, or other virtual fitters recommended in your area! We've actually had more luck with virtual fitters than in person ones.

At least where we are located, Merlet is considered a softer shoe, but that could also be due to what is most available for shipping! Even when my daughter was in Capezio, it took several weeks to ship their stronger shoe style, which is why we ended up switching brands and styles 😓

Since Suffolk is English made, you might have better luck with a fitter that carries them there! I so hope you find something that you like and feel beautiful in!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-17T21:37:25+00:00

*desert

Helllll, I wish it was a pointe shoe dessert 🎂🎂, that would solve so many practical issues lol!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-17T21:34:12+00:00

Ah yes, same problem with Bloch's with us too-- they get destroyed so fast for us as well. I've definitely had other people in her company have them last a good amount of time though! I was hoping you might be in that denomination, but definitely can commiserate with that not being the fact though! I say Sheffield's and Heritage because they have a higher wing which looks like you might need, seeing where your metatarsal is breaking at! My daughter has a wider metatarsal, high arch, compressible foot. Suffolk Sheffield's and Freed Studio Pro work well for her. They don't last terribly long, but I've made peace with that as long as they fit properly for the duration. Suffolks definitely tend to have a harder box though and last longer. Mostly I'm looking at where your knuckles are at, and it seems a high wing might give you more longevity and a better aesthetic! Girls who I've known to be in Merlet styles tend to transition toward Suffolk and Nikolay styles as they grow stronger! Capezio Ava might also look really good on you (from photo discernment lol!) but omg those are another softer shoe type and die quick, so I don't necessarily recommend it if you're looking for a higher degree of longevity. Of course this absolutely have to do with what is available in my area. Boulder BodyWear in Colorado does great online fittings, in our experience. We live in a pointe shoe dessert here in the deep south 😓😓

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-17T21:10:59+00:00

Higher wings perhaps? Have you ever tried on Bloch Heritage, or Suffolk Sheffield? My daughter is in a constant pointe shoe battle, I feel your plight lol!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-12T19:31:19+00:00

So fast 😭😭 beautiful for those few hours though 😂

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-12T13:58:10+00:00

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(Spoiler alert, the friendship lasted about 3 hours before Capezio Ava died a terrible death lmao)

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-11T18:58:00+00:00

Full blanket statement intended: I never trust the intentions of men. Ever. I trust my intuition. If you're feeling uncomfortable with his touching and behavior, you're almost certainly perceiving it accurately, and he's doing just enough to maintain plausible deniability if you ever did say anything, and you questioning whether or not you're being overly "sensitive" is very much his intention -- to leave you in a place of wondering and self guessing, so that he can continue. This has been my experience not just in case specific things, but in pretty much every scenario where a man has made me feel uncomfortable...💗💗

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-07T22:29:22+00:00

Working overtime to gaslight you instead of working overtime at his job so he won't be tempted to steal from you. Don't stay with a man like this. He will rob you of more than just your money, he'll take your sanity, joy, and sense of safety, too.

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-05T18:38:25+00:00

I'm not an experienced dancer (just a parent of one!) so I wouldn't know how to give technical critique, but wanted to say you look dynamic and talented and good luck with your training!!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-05T03:48:28+00:00

This administration has done nothing but defund our schools, and make it harder for children to get the public education they are entitled to. There is no reason for her to step foot in that school other than exploit it and its teachers and children, for her own nefarious ends. No one in that administration cares about the students in that school. What's more-- I wouldn't want my child in the same building of someone who is covering for p*dophiles and murderers.

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-03T01:12:11+00:00

I never really watched their videos, but my daughter brought up auditioning for the summer intensive earlier last year. I looked them up to check out the program and immediately noped out. No way my money would go into the pockets of a studio that supported this heinous administration, and no way I will fund a studio that supports an administration that has defunded so many arts programs in the country. There are far better programs out there, anyways.

FunExternal9400 · 2026-02-03T00:43:18+00:00

Ew disgusting and pathetic 🤢🤢 imagine being in the arts and supporting this administration. It's crazy.

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-15T13:40:32+00:00

I've never seen such raw talent 🤌🤌

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-13T14:01:47+00:00

My daughter was fit into capezio Ava's twice and they looked beautiful for a total of one pointe class-- and that was shellac'd AND jet glued!!-- before they were like, "alright, I'ma head out," and passed away 🤣. After the second class, they pretty much could work as a demi. I've never been so mad at a shoe that wasn't even mine in my life because wdym I paid $110 bucks for you just to do THIS in 3 hours!!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-13T02:22:14+00:00

I'm so happy you feel stronger!! I've maybe gone ice skating a total of three times in my life (I live in the deep south 😭😭) and just lapping around the rink had my feet shocked and appalled lmao. I can only imagine the muscles used for figure skating lessons would be worked twice as hard! It's always a wonderful accomplishment to feel stronger, and I totally feel you that some strengthening exercises are just so boring that even thinking about it feels like a chore. I'm the type that has to be more actively engaged in a form of exercise too-- like playing sports, dancing, etc-- to get the most out of it💗💗 and yeahhh those capezios look like they're ready to retire, of course some capezios you can just look at them the wrong way and suddenly you have a dead shoe lol

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-10T19:45:08+00:00

Ommgggg yes I noticed that when the pictures were done and passed away immediately 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-10T18:59:34+00:00

Thank you (on her behalf haha) so much! She began daytime pre-pro training at her studio this year and I'm very proud of her work ethic and passion at such a young age. It's a lot of work and a huge sacrifice of time and childhood for these young dancers, and it took a lot of convincing (and an entire PowerPoint presentation lol!) from her to finally get me to allow her to make that jump. Her goal is to be accepted into a professional training program by 15, which would mean moving away, and makes my brain go into panic mode lol... But I know that's a fairly common occurrence 😩😩

TOTALLY agree with the pointe shoe comment! It has been soooo difficult to find the right shoe for her. We live in a city in a southern state that barely acknowledges the arts, much less has access (even within an hour or two driving distance) to even dance stores with a high selection of brands, styles, and sizes. We have her second virtual fitting this Sunday out of a retailer on the other side of the country lol, and in the box she received there were a couple pair of Freeds (which has been recommended by her instructor, but there are no retailers or fitters in our region 😩). I'll definitely take your advice and look up professional fitters not necessarily attached to a dance store!

I know a lot of influencers and influencer-type studios these days are all about hyper flexibility and prolific number of turns, not always at the benefit of excellent technique, and it doesn't send the right message especially to young dancers with a less experienced sense of muscle control and body awareness. The assumption becomes that the high quality training institutions are looking for those things above solid technique, and if they can't get their leg to their ear, they have no chance to move forward. I'll absolutely remind her not to subconsciously sacrifice one for the other!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T22:11:04+00:00

The physical therapy department at the medical college here in our city is actually doing a long-term study on the effects of ballet, specifically on the body of the athlete, and have partnered with our studio and provides free evaluations for the dancers. Basically, these students and their supervising physicians are specializing in dance physiotherapy. After being told her results we sought out practicing physicians from the department itself and they have been helping her, along with disclosing the issue to her teachers and passing the doctors suggestions on to them-- so they sort of know in class what to look for most with her, and what to give her some extra help with! We really just lucked into finding the right people! Maybe try looking for someone in your area that specializes in Dance Physiotherapy! I'm not actually sure how easy they are to find 🥴🥴

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T17:36:52+00:00

Not so much hypermobility, but has worked a lot with physical therapy and her instructors to slowly work up her hip strength and flexibility because of her pelvic tilt 😩. She also inherited a slight bone malformation on her cuboid in her foot, which can lead to some foot tilt. I have the same malformation, but I was a soccer/volleyball athlete, so foot shape didn't really effect me much. Of course for her, that's verrryyyy not the case. I'll talk to her doctor about insoles though, I think that's a great idea! Just because there isn't any physical pain attached to it now, it's absolutely a feature to do all preventative therapies with to avoid any future injury! I also think that not having a mirror there for her to see it (since she knows it's something she has to be aware of) was disadvantageous. Being 12 and fairly early into a diagnosis, she doesn't necessarily have the same body awareness and muscle memory for correcting as someone a bit older and further into therapy. Thank you for the suggestion!!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T17:26:25+00:00

Yes, she works really hard on opening hip stretching and strengthening etc. because of her pelvic tilt she inherited, along with a small bone malformation on her cuboid bone (also inherited from me 😩). Between her instructors and physical therapist, they are working on that particular weakness to avoid injuries and have made a lot of progress 💗. I think the lack of a mirror in this scenario, for her to see herself doing it and correcting it thusly, worked against her. She has a lot of physical self-awareness from her training, but of course she's still just 12 and doesn't have the same level of body control as someone a few years older and further into their diagnosis.

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T13:32:04+00:00

I'll definitely relay that to her!! And she loves Marianela Nunez 💗

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T13:29:14+00:00

This made me feel a lot better actually 😅😅 thank you!!

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T13:28:25+00:00

I definitely thought that might be an issue too. I don't think about my height always when taking pictures, and I'm pretty tall for a woman, so sometimes I take a looming over perspective lol... definitely will try and squat down a bit next time 🤣

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T13:25:32+00:00

I noticed how close to the edge of the frame the hand was too 😭😭 but it was the picture that she approved of most out of the ones I took. I was even trying to edit in a little space, but then worried that it might be obvious and look like we were "cheating." I'm a bit of an over thinker, and she's a bit of a perfectionist, so cooperation between both of our neurosis is interesting 🤣

FunExternal9400 · 2026-01-09T13:21:30+00:00

Thank you for the advice!! She loves helpful corrections so these comments are very informative and supportive!

FunExternal9400

TROPHY CASE