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 :) Because of its light weight and suede sole you will be sure-footed on the dance floor while still being able to slide and spin. So now you can still wear sneakers without endangering your knees by dancing on rubber soles. The foam insole is removeable which means that you can get a custom fit by replacing the insole (or add arch support, orthotics, etc.) or just wear them as is. These are made with Suede Soles which are wonderful to dance on but require occasional upkeep and regluing. Because this style has a shoelace closure - you can customize the width by loosening or tightening them - so it works with most widths.