No one brand or style of shoe is perfect for all dancers. Here are some tips for dancers for choosing styles.
Highland Dancers
I tend to steer both competitive and noncompetitive Highland dancers towards straight lasted styles which appear to me to provide a better fit in the arch. These styles include:
Angelo Luzio-- 288 & 300; Hullachan Pro--Standard & Competition; James Sr.-- Strathspey & Cameron; Gandolfi; Avriel--Highland I & II; So Danca.
Scottish Country Dancers
While dancers with previous dance experience might consider the straight lasted styles, beginning Scottish Country dancers might find shoes with fitted lasts more comfortable as they are left/right specific and feel more "normal" on feet. To some beginners, straight lasted shoes feel like they are on the wrong feet. Trying a shoe made on a fitted last should fix this problem.
James Sr.--Jimmy's Fancy & Braemar for ghillies; James Sr.--Duchess for ladies' pumps.
Narrow feet
Angelo Luzio-- widths A-B
Hullachan Pro-- widths XN-N
James Sr.--Strathspey or Cameron (suggested for N/M feet only. Not suggested for XN feet.)
Wide feet
Angelo Luzio--width C. D width avail. by custom order for an additional $10.
Hullachan Pro--widths W & XW
Gandolfi
James Sr--Braemar & Duchess
Avriel-- Highland I & II
Full sole vs. Split sole or Half sole
Some dancers choose split soles over full sole shoes because they feel split or half sole shoes showoff the point better. In general, I tend to agree, but I have yet to find split-sole ghillies without pleats. Pleated shoes tend to be lumpy under the metatarsals.
I suggest that Angelo Luzio style 288 be considered as they show a lovely point even with a full sole. Angelo Luzio style 300 also does a great job as a very light single-piece-sole less ghillie with parallel arch stitches.
The only half-sole or split-sole shoes offered here are Hullachan and So Danca. Other styles that I've found on the market but not offered here for various reasons are: Capezio--does not fit wide feet. Pleats can lead to baggy toe look. Can be purchased at almost any local dance store. Leo--only offered in tan. Sansha--really high vamp, somewhat stiff but light leather. Really lumpy.
What about other brands or styles not listed here?
I am always on the lookout for styles that my customers might be interested in. If you don't see something you like listed here, feel free to ask. For example, I don't offer Forsyth because several local dance instructors order or carry large inventories. If you are having trouble finding a distributor, let me know and I'll try to help.