I paid for both of these myself. Not sponsored.
Someone at a ballet café recommended the Body Wrappers Angelo Luzio to me as the comfortable one. So I bought it.
When I started, I assumed canvas shoes were all much the same and you just picked one you liked the look of. Having now worn several pairs, I can tell you the systems are completely different — and the sizing method is different too.
So: drawstring versus pull-on, both worn.
Allongé SM1 — drawstring, bought at my studio
What it is
An X-shaped band across the instep that you pull tight with a drawstring and tie off.
- Double canvas, stitched
- Separate suede sole — good grip, no sliding
- Comes with a mesh shoe bag, which is more useful than it sounds
How I sized it
Sizes come in 5mm increments.
Measure your bare foot, then add 5mm. If you have wide feet, add 10mm or more.
Example: bare foot 230mm → order 235mm. Wide feet → 240mm.
⚠️ The mistake you cannot undo
This is the important part of this whole post.
Once you’ve tied the drawstring and sealed the ends with a lighter, you cannot go back.
So before you fix it: put the shoe on and walk around. Tie it at the point where you think hmm, this is a touch loose.
I tied mine to a perfect snug fit. They became house slippers within a month.
Body Wrappers Angelo Luzio 248A, peach pink — pull-on, no drawstring
What it is
Reading the product page, I realised “no drawstring” isn’t a feature here. It’s the entire point of the shoe.
Normally you’d have an elastic across the instep to tighten things. This shoe removes that elastic altogether and finishes the instep with a soft band instead. You put it on and it stretches to the shape of your foot. Nothing to tighten, nothing to tie.
Their line for it is “INSTANT FIT — Fits Like a Leotard.”
I’ve seen that kind of copy plenty of times and rolled my eyes. But putting these on, that is genuinely the sensation.
Specs
- 4-way stretch — gives in every direction
- Left and right specific — shaped to the curve of each foot
- Instep elastics already attached — no sewing required
How I sized it
My foot is 235mm. On the brand’s official chart that’s a 4.5.
- Want it tight → 4
- Want it roomy → 5
I don’t have wide feet, so I took the true size, 4.5. In wear it was slightly loose — but the fabric is springy enough that it still holds. Next time I’ll buy the 4 and compare.
The left/right marking is a genuine pleasure. Small thing. Makes every morning easier.
📌 Sizing tip
Because the stretch is so generous, choosing a size feels more like choosing a leotard size than a shoe size.
- Want your foot held tightly → one size down
- Want comfort → true size
📌 What to watch out for
There’s suede on the underside, and it marks easily.
If there’s any chance you’ll exchange or return them, only try them on somewhere clean. I mean it.
Price
₩46,000 plus ₩3,000 shipping — ₩49,000 total, bought from an online ballet shop.
So which one
Want easy on and off → pull-on
Want fine control over the width → drawstring
But — if you go drawstring, remember that the first time you fix it is the only time. Tie it looser than feels right.
That’s the whole lesson, and it cost me a pair of shoes.
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