Consult with your course syllabus or ballet instructor to determine which color shoes are required for the ballet program in which you are enrolled. All ballet programs come with their own set of shoe guidelines. The Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, for example, each apply their own set of standards for uniforms.
Purchase shoes that have enough room for you to wriggle your toes somewhat, but not so much that your toes move around excessively while walking or dancing. Start by trying on a ballet shoe in the same size as your everyday shoe size. On a hard floor, stand in the first position by touching your heels together and turning your feet outward to form as straight a line as possible. A properly fitting shoe should allow you to stand with all of your toes flat on the floor in this position. Do not purchase shoes in a bigger size, hoping that they will last longer as your feet grow. The shoes must fit comfortably at the time of purchase.
Practice walking back and forth to check that the elastic is neither so tight that it cuts off your circulation, nor so loose that the shoes are falling off your feet. Stand in the first position and rise onto the tips of your toes in the relevé position. As you make your transition, the heel of the shoe should not slip off your feet. Neither the string nor the elastic should feel as though it is interfering with your circulation.
Choose a one-sole or split-sole shoe, based on personal preference. Beginners should start with a one-sole shoe, and then try a split-sole shoe as they become more advanced ballerinas. You will discover with time whether one-sole or split-sole shoes work best for you.