Character shoes are so named because they tend to be worn by actors and actresses performing in or auditioning for theater productions. They can be fitted with metal taps, in which case, they are tap shoes. In some cases, they’re also called dance shoes, especially as they can be worn for extended periods of dancing in musicals or in dance classes. Some people make the distinction between “dance” or “jazz” shoes and character shoes, and assert that the character types tend to be sturdier than dance types.

Women’s character shoes are simple in construction, and most often come in the colors black or light tan or taupe. They resemble a heeled mary jane, with a strap over the ankle, and a pump front. Alternately the pump can have a top t-strap.

Heel height and width vary, though most character shoes have a chunky rather than stiletto type heel. The crucial feature of the character shoe is its leather sole, which is perfect for standing, walking or dancing on stages. In recent years though, a number of manmade alternatives for the shoe’s upper and its leather sole have been developed so that folks who are committed to not wearing leather have shoe choices too.

Men’s character shoes look like a typical, undecorated, lace up oxford. They also are most commonly available with leather soles, and may be purchased with taps. Women can also use character shoes of this type, especially in jazz dance or tap classes. Most shoes that offer taps come with them unattached, so you need only attach them if you want tap shoes.

Such shoes are wonderful on stage, but ill suited to wear outdoors. Leather soles are not particularly durable, and they will degrade quickly. Given the expense of these shoes, anywhere from about $30-200 US Dollars (USD), it’s a good idea to bring the shoes along with you to theaters or classes and change into them when they are needed. It’s also recommended that you buy at least your first pair of shoes at a retail store, like a dance store, so that you can try out various heel heights and fits to see which is most comfortable. If you’re wearing these shoes for long rehearsals, comfort is something to aim for.

One difficulty with many character shoes brands is relative limitation in sizes available, especially in retail stores. It’s often hard to find anything at dance stores above a size 10 for women and harder still to find anything on the Internet in size 12 or over. Similarly, it may be difficult to get wide widths in most stores, though these are more commonly available on the Internet. If you must order shoes to get an appropriate size, choose stores that have generous return policies, like free return shipping. Also, try wearing the shoes indoors for an hour or two to make sure they really will be comfortable and fit well, before committing to wearing them for a day’s long rehearsal.