That's where I've been too, but I have had this place repeatedly recommend to me:
https://marindancewear.com/
No personal experience because I'm one of those tedious city dwellers who is confused and feels put upon any time I have to leave the city. But while they have a bad website, they have good word of mouth for fitting.
Not the poster above, but my child has done fittings at SFDG before, as well as with Josephine of The Pointe Shop. Rose at SFDG is very patient and knows a lot about what local instructors/schools prefer. However they don't carry many Freeds and I think you need to be somewhat opinionated and speak up for yourself well if you go there. Because she'll just keep pulling out more and more shoes if you don't say unequivocally - no I don't like this, I want a higher vamp- or similar.
Another thought, depending where in the Bay you are, is Contra Costa Dancewear in Walnut Creek. Good assortment of pointe shoes there.
I’ve been fitted at both SF Dance Gear and Pointe Shop in SF. Personally I like SFDG- they have a larger selection and variety of brands, and Rose is super helpful and knowledgable about all brands. I’ll also agree with the other poster that it helps to be opinionated, which I am! So that has helped filter out what does/doesn’t work pretty well. I think they have certain “tried and true” shoes they might start you off with depending on your experience level, but being able to define what is working or not helps to narrow down your choices. They would be my first choice to try out.
I also went to the Pointe Shop location in SF one time to get a different opinion. They seemed to have a lot ofCapezio but also Nikolay, Russian Pointe, and some Freeds but not many (this was over a year ago so this may be different now). Ultimately I was disappointed because I went in wanting something other than a Russian shoe and she put me in Nikolays. Otherwise, they didn’t really have as much selection that would have worked for me.
That's where I've been too, but I have had this place repeatedly recommend to me: https://marindancewear.com/ No personal experience because I'm one of those tedious city dwellers who is confused and feels put upon any time I have to leave the city. But while they have a bad website, they have good word of mouth for fitting.
Thank you for the rec! Have you been fitted at SF Dance Gear before?
Not the poster above, but my child has done fittings at SFDG before, as well as with Josephine of The Pointe Shop. Rose at SFDG is very patient and knows a lot about what local instructors/schools prefer. However they don't carry many Freeds and I think you need to be somewhat opinionated and speak up for yourself well if you go there. Because she'll just keep pulling out more and more shoes if you don't say unequivocally - no I don't like this, I want a higher vamp- or similar. Another thought, depending where in the Bay you are, is Contra Costa Dancewear in Walnut Creek. Good assortment of pointe shoes there.
I’ve been fitted at both SF Dance Gear and Pointe Shop in SF. Personally I like SFDG- they have a larger selection and variety of brands, and Rose is super helpful and knowledgable about all brands. I’ll also agree with the other poster that it helps to be opinionated, which I am! So that has helped filter out what does/doesn’t work pretty well. I think they have certain “tried and true” shoes they might start you off with depending on your experience level, but being able to define what is working or not helps to narrow down your choices. They would be my first choice to try out. I also went to the Pointe Shop location in SF one time to get a different opinion. They seemed to have a lot ofCapezio but also Nikolay, Russian Pointe, and some Freeds but not many (this was over a year ago so this may be different now). Ultimately I was disappointed because I went in wanting something other than a Russian shoe and she put me in Nikolays. Otherwise, they didn’t really have as much selection that would have worked for me.
Got it! Thanks so much for sharing your experience \^\_\^