White organ shoes

[Max Walker]

Hi folks. This is for those gentlemen who may be playing chapel organ in LDS temples and wish to have white organ shoes. Apologies if the audience is a bit narrow for this forum. The same info can be applied to any color organ shoe, however. Many, many colors are available as noted below. Similar options exist for the women's style shoes, in case you ladies are having trouble finding white (colored) shoes. I haven't shopped for you, so I don't know all of your options. 

Set aside any arguments for or against organ shoes in this situation, and whether the organ shoe should be a "clothing" or "tool," just work on the assumption that the reader wants to wear organ shoes while playing in the temple instead of winging it in stocking feet, and that he desires those shoes to be white. Done. :) 

Organmasters, the go-to source for many organists, doesn't sell the men's Oxford shoe in white and doesn't make it to order. 

My new friend, Bill Hesterman, pointed me to TicTacToes.com. They sell dance shoes, and have a category of organ shoes. They are the factory, so they will make a shoe in white even if it is not offered on the web site in white; one simply needs to call to ask for what one needs. 

There are two shoes at TicTactoes that would be attractive you gentlemen in that case: 

1. "Applause." This is like Organmaster's Oxford. It is listed only in black on the web site, but can be made in white (or any of the many colors they offer). Note that the heel will be black regardless. If one finds that unsuitable, but wants that style, one can paint that heel or have the cobbler do it. The toe is slightly more pointed than the Oxford, but not unnaturally so. It's just a nice looking shoe. The heel is the same as the Organmaster Oxford: 1.25".
2. "Cameron." The Cameron is listed under Specialty Organ Shoes. Its heel is made to match, wrapped in the same color leather. This shoe has no shank. Its advantage is the white heel. It looks normal enough viewed straight on. I have a pair on order, but haven't received it yet, so I cannot comment yet on the shankless fit. The Cameron comes with a taller heel than the Applause: a 1.75" "Latin" heel. It can be ordered with a 1.25" heel if you prefer that; simply specify upon ordering. 

A couple more things to note: 

• TicTacToes' shoes run true to US sizing. If you're accustomed to Organmaster shoes, do not trust that sizing will match; it will not. Organmasters run short to size, and are more snug.
• The white shoe is made to order and cannot be returned. If you are skittish about sizing, TTT suggests that you order the shoe in black, which is returnable, confirm sizing, then return the black and order the confirmed size in white. Obviously, you will confirm all of that when you order and won't rely on my account of their policies. 
• Pay attention to heel length. These vary. You can specify what you are accustomed to.
• Finally, these are not kept in stock and are usually made to order. Plan on extra time to receive your shoes; they suggest 4-6 weeks, but my first pair came at about 3 weeks.

Happy Organing!