Bank Holiday Monday in the UK, and it is chucking it down with rain, turning thoughts to a cosy afternoon on the sofa with a film.I could write a thesis on costume in Singin' in the Rain - I have studied it frame by frame over the years. It certainly explains my love of tap dancing. Perhaps it also explains my love for satin shoes - the sheen, the heel shape, the fact that just by putting them on they make your legs as long as Cyd Charisse's. (NB not everything you read on the internet is true.)
Satin shoes also hold the wonderful possibility of change: they take shoe dye very well. If you pick up a vintage pair with a few spots on, it is cheap and quick to bring them back to full loveliness. Modern polyester satin won't take dye (it's basically a sort of plastic) but you can be pretty sure that vintage shoes will be made from genuine 'munched up mulberry leaves by silk worms' type silk satin.
Remember - the dye colour will mix with the shoe colour, so use your junior school knowledge of the colour wheel to work out how they will end up. (blue + yellow = green etc.). It's not a precise process, so just enjoy the thrilling riskiness of it all.
And the addition of salt is VITAL - don't be tempted to leave this step out. It's a chemistry thing - just trust the instruction leaflet when they tell you to add it, even though it seems like a lot.
Dylon are the leading name in dye in the UK. Spybaby get their dye from the lovely people at Portswood Hardware just down the road - about £3 a pop; not much to end up with a unique pair of Cyd Charisse shoes. Dylon sell a satin shoe dye, but we wouldn't bother. Buy the cheaper multi-purpose dye.
There is a good detailed description of the dye process here. Or ask your friendly vintage fashion seller - we are always happy to advise.
