Painting leather ballet shoes

[Paleblueleotard]

Has anyone ever done this, and is it worth the effort re buying the paint and does the new colour lasts for the duration of once a week shoe use? We have oodles of old but still serviceable pairs from our oldest, but now her younger sibling is starting ballet and it seems a shame to have to go and buy new shoes, when we have a stable of shoes already, albeit in pink not in white.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

A panto company used gold spray paint when dd was in a month long run, think they had to be resprayed after about 3 weeks.  I also used green car spray paint when dd was Tinkerbell but that was for a one night only show.

[Paleblueleotard]

Thanks, that's helpful to know. I suspected as much re the longevity of any painting that it would be fine for a few weeks only. I don't know if there is such as thing as movable shoe paint  - I've seen it advertised online in Australia when I googled painting leather ballet shoes.

It would be easier if it was black shoes that was required, as we could colour them in with a sharpie or something 😀

[SugarPlum2000]

If they are in a good condition as you stated then could you not sell them and then use that money to pay for new shoes? That way they are still getting used, your younger dd has the correct shoes and you’re not having to waste your time painting and repainting shoes

[Paleblueleotard]

Probably can't really sell them on as they are reasonably used, but not worn out if that makes sense. Probably just wishful thinking on my part though as it's a hassle to buy new ones and better for the planet to reuse the ones we have.

[Pups_mum]

You can get leather dyes (I"ve used it to touch up my leather sofa) but I think it would be hard to change from a darker colour to white whatever you use. And  you would probably spend nearly as much on products to change the colour as you would on a new pair, plus the chemicals will still have an environmental impact. To be honest, i would just buy some new ones, and recycle your old ones, either by giving them away at the dance school or put them in a clothing bank/charity shop.

Edited September 25, 2019 by Pups_mum
Typos

[Paleblueleotard]

Thanks, yes, I think you are right.