I was so excited to buy my first pair of tango shoes.
I was out to lunch with a lovely crew of tango people. Yummy food, great conversation, the wine flowing… and I mentioned I needed proper tango shoes.
Long story short — Margarita (Margaret Hill) had her Retro shop just around the corner from the restaurant, and she stocked tango shoes.
Well.
Off we went.
And that’s how I bought my very first pair. I think I paid about $120. At the time, it felt like a very serious investment.
Since then? Let’s just say my shoe collection has grown significantly.
Funnily enough, I don’t own many “normal” shoes. Boring. 😂
In the beginning, I wore 9cm heels. My main criteria? How pretty they were. If they felt a little wobbly, I’d convince myself I’d “get used to them.”
Ahhh… vanity.
These days I’m much more discerning. I usually wear 7cm heels now. I still love beautiful shoes — but comfort, balance, and stability matter more. I even have some made to measure. ‘My precious!’
And yes… there was also ‘the flying shoe incident’.
I was at a milonga, dancing away and feeling lovely. The shoes were slingbacks — slightly stretched and a little loose (but I ignored that, of course). I executed an adorno… and one of my shoes flew off.
Thank goodness it didn’t hit anyone.
For a split second my leader and I were a little stunned. We locked eyes, had a quiet chuckle, and kept dancing.
Why spoil a good tanda!
I never wore those shoes again.
Now… let’s talk tango clothes.
When I first started going to milongas, I thought I had to wear outfits from tango boutiques to look the part. I spent a lot of money. Phew!, the good news is I still wear some of those pieces.
But over time it dawned on me — I could find beautiful dresses right here at home. I’ve even found some lovely things in op shops.
If only people could see me in the changing room. I lunge. I test boleos. I take exaggerated side and back steps to make sure the fabric moves and doesn’t split or hitch up.
Eeek. I’ve witnessed enough wardrobe malfunctions to know testing is essential.
It’s slightly easier being a leader when it comes to wardrobe… but I have to say, I — and I think most followers would agree — appreciate it when men make an effort too.
Practicas and classes are different — neat casual is perfect.
But a milonga? It depends on the vibe, of course. Still, most people make a little more effort.
And I love that.
For me, dressing up is part of the ritual. It shifts my mindset. It helps me step into my tango energy — ready for an afternoon or evening of whatever unfolds.
Keep it simple. Keep it connected.
Meg 🤍
If this reflection resonated with you, you’re welcome to follow along. I share a new Tango Thought each month.