Why the European sizes?
Bleyers are imported from Germany,  so the shoes are made to Continental European sizes. Please consult our size chart to convert your U.S. size. 

If you are familiar with your European size, we recommend that you disregard that! See this chart to figure out your American shoe size from EURO, UK or CM sizes.

Half Sizes
Bleyers come only in whole sizes - so we generally recommend that you go up to the next largest size if you normally wear a half size. Our size charts are based on everyday shoes such as sneakers, not ballroom shoes.

Wide Feet!
Because the leather used is so soft and pliable they generally will stretch to accomodate your foot. However, if your foot is very wide such as a DDD or EEE, we do not recommend that you order the Rock'n'Roll model. Try the Charleston, which has a wide width.

Narrow Feet!
We occasionally find that men and  women with very, very narrow feet cannot wear Bleyers. If you often have trouble finding shoes that are narrow enough, you probably will not be satisfied with the Bleyers fit.

Insoles
Bleyers come ready to have insoles put in them. You are welcome to try to dance without them, but we hold safety and comfort above even style and our shoes are ready for hours of pounding AFTER you put good insoles in them. Ask any professional swing dancer... insoles are a must!

Orthotics
Because Bleyers come "ready for insoles" you will most likely find that they're ready for your orthotics as well. If you have the world's bulkiest orthotics we recommend the Charleston as it is our roomiest model. You can just pull out the built-in insole to make room for your othotics.

Matte? Patent? Say What?
Pictured below are black leather with a  Patent finish (on the left) and Matte finish (on the right). Many dancers wouldn't get caught on the hardwood without Patent, while others think that shiny Patent is too loud for their wardrobe. Matte finish is basically ordinary shoe leather while Patent is almost mirror-like and is a synthetic. 

Which sole is for me?
Bleyer has achieved world reknown for its cutting-edge "Special Sole", a sole developed for swing dancers so that they can move fast and athletically without losing finesse. And dance for hours with the least possible fatigue. The "Swing Sole" and the "Classic Sole" are variants of this Special Sole. All of these soles can be worn on the street on the way to the dance.

Bleyer also provides traditional suede soles for dancers who want to be able to do slide steps, and to spin well on sticky floors. These soles should not be worn off the dance floor as they will wear out. Suede soles become very smooth and sleek with use, which may be fine with you. But you can always scruff up the suede nap with a suede brush to give yourself a little more traction if the floor is too slippery. 

Guarantee?
Please think of Bleyers as equipment. Even though they'll take a pounding you'd never dream of giving your dress shoes or spike heels, they are dance shoes and are not meant to last forever. As they are made entirely by hand, small variations are to be expected. Unworn shoes that are defective can always be returned for exchange.