Another idea I would like to add is having high heels cut lower. I’ve had a favorite pair cut down when I realized I couldn’t walk comfortably with the extreme height. They still look great!
I also use insoles from Super Feet for high heels.

I found an amazing company that makes shoes for you from scratch! It’s insanely expensive but if you have the money, why not? Here is the link: http://tupli.com/home.html. I would love it if there were more shoe makers out there that made custom shoes for your foot!

Lisa! Really? How much of your heel did you have cut off? I had no idea that this was possible. I would have thought that an alteration like that would distort the balance of a shoe. Tell me more. You must be having me on.

I dream of a pair of custom made shoes. I know the site, Jess. I can’t find the prices though. I have a male friend who went the custom made shoes route many years ago in France and it cost $2000. Exorbitant. The process took a year, because they send you trials to wear over that period of time so that the exact needs of your feet are detected and met. With the wearer trials, the shoemakers are able to analyse the week spots of your foot and compensate accordingly with the design of the shoe.

And for calves that are more “generous”, a good cobbler or leather worker can an elastic gusset or add a little more room. I also take alot of shoes to have the hard plastic on heels replaced so there is less slippage on tile or other glossy floors or surfaces – safety first!

How timely! I just picked up some shoes from the repair shop yesterday.

I am considering buying a pair of sale shoes from last year (in red) and having the leather died to another color. In this economy I am repairing my shoes instead of looking for a lot of new pairs to purchase.

Stretching is a viable option and I haven’t cut heels down, thats a great idea.

Wow, I also didn’t know that it was possible to shorten the heel.

I have found the prices on the custom-made-shoes site and they are $750 for shoes and $1450 for boots.

Angie, another thing I do, although not technically a shoe alteration, is to use of one those huge anti-blister padded band-aids on the back of my ankle when I am wearing new shoes barefoot for the first couple of times since that is the place where they will rub a lot for me. This is them, and yes, I do use them to prevent instead of protect blisters:

http://www.drugstore.com/produ.....atid=10579

Since my foot is wider in the front and narrow at the back, I like to use a high heel stretcher instead of a flat shoe stretcher in my flat shoes. The heel of the high heel stretcher is elevated so it does not distort the back of the shoe. I need to get some of those bunion plugs though. So far the stretcher hasn’t been very effective, but I think those plugs would do wonders! They also have stretchers specifically for spot-stretching around a bunion or another tender spot. I have not yet had the chance to test mine out I have used it, but it’s too cold and snowy to walk around in ballet flats so I can’t test its effectiveness).

Yes, I have a recommendation for stretching shoes in the toe area. But,
the shoes need to be 100% leather in order for it to work. I used to spend lots of money to get my shoes stretched until I learned this tip from Gretta Monahan (I love her) on an episode of the Rachel Ray Show. First, grab a pair of somewhat thick socks and put them on. Next, soak a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Then, rub the cotton ball inside the shoe (where the toe bed is) and put the shoes and leave them for about 30 minutes while doing your normal activities. Viola! instant shoe stretching. You can do this as much as you want to achieve the desired comfort level. Trust me, it works wonders.

I have done the same thing Nikki did, except went one step further.

I used cotton and wiped it on the shoe, put on an extra thick sock and then put on the too tight shoe. I also put a big sock of my husbands over the shoes, so I could walk around the house without ruining the bottoms of the shoe, just in case I ended up having to return them. It worked though and I have them on right now! I also reapplied the alcohol and then wedged a pill bottle in the shoe to stretch the toe box…left it overnight. It worked like a charm. They were a clearance pair of Steve Madden Mary Jane’s and I was bound and determined to make them fit!!!!!!!!!!!! What price beauty??

I have stretched some leather shoes with the wooden inserts and with the method Nikki suggests – it works a bit. I find that my feet have changed in last few years and do change throughout each month lately so it helps.

Another tip is to make a home care kit with polish, scuff cover, etc so you can touch up your shoes in between trips to cobbler (sure to become a lost art) and save some more money.

My mother used to stretch her leather sandals by soaking them in water and wearing them while wet. It worked.

I have had shoes stretched before and was happy with the results. I really appreciate the tips on how to do this at home–I have a couple of pairs that could use it.

One product that I like to use are toe separators because I find it uncomfortable when my toes are squeezed together in a shoe with a tapered or pointy toe. This isn’t technically a shoe alteration: it’s a plug or a pad made of a soft gel you insert in between your toes before putting the shoe on. They’re washable and reusable. I don’t know if these are available in drugstores; I get mine in dancewear stores where they sell pointe shoes.

Interesting about the custom made shoes and their prices. I wonder if subsequent pairs of shoes would be less expensive because they’ve already designed one pair for you?

I have used a cobbler to mend slightly damaged shoes in the past with good and bad results. I have found that you need to make sure they are a very good cobbler and know that you get what you pay for.

Joelle – What toe separators do you use? Do you have a website?

I find cork half-insoles (available in thicker and thinner sizes) inserted underneath the factory insole often work wonders in heels. Also, for wider calves, sometimes just stretching the boot shaft works and an insert is not required, but it helps to keep the boot stuffed to hold its shape after stretching.

To Tanya’s point about blistering I would add that all spring and summer I carry Body Glide (http://www.runningfree.com/detail.aspx?ID=12260) in my purse. As the label on mine says: works for feet, too!

What is Body Glide? I’ve never heard of it before. The link seems to be dead.

Happy feet, heel grips and moleskin works wonders. Thanks to this forum these items saved me and my feet at a special black tie event. I can hardly believe I didn’t know about these things sooner.

San: Body Glide is an anti-chafing balm. It works terribly well, especially for the feet. It and the shoe stretchers have been my secret to not having the typical female Hong Konger’s feet — full of blisters from hot, uncomfortable shoes all throughout the summer.

Ever since those adorable socklets fell (I believe that Angie covered them once here?) out of fashion, I’ve seen some horrid foot blisters. Need to bring back some similar BG balm for friends on my next trip abroad.

I have wider than average, sensitive, feet, and not nearly enough money to buy the brands that both look good and come in multiple widths. I’ve found those little heel-pads to do wonders. I usually buy my shoes so that they fit the width of my feet, then use those pads around the heel and sometimes along the toes until my shoes are comfortable enough to walk. Sadly, I’ve never had this turn a completely-uncomfortable shoe into a comfortable one, but I’ve gotten used to carrying two pairs of shoes that hurt my feet in different spots. Halfway through the day I switch from one to the other and it’s usually good enough.

I’ve also had shoes stretched. They can’t stretch them far, but sometimes it’s enough. I have stretching spray, but I’ve never seen one of those wooden stretchers. Where are people getting them?

On the subject of boot stretching for those of us on the more generous end of calf size, K Lauren and others, when you’ve had this done before, do you have an idea of how much a different in the circumference can be made on a leather boot by a cobbler stretching it? I figure half an inch might be possible, but a full inch?

I ask because Zappos very nicely includes calf measurements with most of its boots, so wondering whether I might be able to start considering those with circumferences of less than 15.5″ (circumference around the widest part of my bare calves).

Such helpful tips! Thank you, ladies.

Lisa, I hope you chime in again about those heels you had cut lower. Unbelievable.

Thanks for finding those prices Tanya and I like your blister pad idea. Good one.

Laura, I wonder. Your feet change so it might not be of any use.

Maya, I hope you’ve been inspired with the many shoe stretching techniques. Do you have a bunion plug? That sounds ideal.

Nikki, Kyla and Klauren, excellent tips.

San, my Mum used to stretched her shoes that way too. It only worked well with really soft leather.

Joelle, I have never heard of toe separators. I’m glad they work for you. As for bodyglide, I’m definitely getting some of that! It sounds brilliant Therese.

Carissa, I’m interested in hearing more about shoe dying. Do you go from light to dark and where can you get shoe dye?

SusanD, what a win!

Carrie, the toe separators I use are called Bunheads Spacers and I get them at a local dancewear store. Here is a photo on their website:

http://www.bunheads.com/gel/SpacePack.html

This is a great topic. My biggest problem is slingbacks. I have a pair that I absolutely adore, but wear so rarely since the heel keeps slipping off. Has anyone tried to mend slingbacks to prevent slippage? How did you do it?

Thanks, Joelle. Very interesting.

Danja, you’ll find footpetals that solve the slingback problem. Go to the site and you’ll see a cushioned pad used especially for slingback sandals.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Angie!!! It’s like getting a new pair of shoes. They happen to be green too.

Hey Angie,
I had my FAVORITE black patent Stuart Weitzman “Lady/Princess” pumps cut down. The shoe repair took 3′4 of an inch off and it really made a big difference. If you know that shoes… they are gorgous but too tall to walk comfortably. The idea came from the Stuart Weitzmen store in Las Vegas.

It’s a pleasure, Danja. I also like to use these with my slingbacks. I find them indispensible:

http://youlookfab.com/2008/07/.....lingbacks/

Thanks, Lisa. I can scarcely believe that having the height of a heel altered is an option at my disposal. And for Stuart Weitzman shoes at that (I’m a big fan). BRILLIANT. I’m looking into that this week.

On the calf width, it really depends on the boot. I’ve had an inch added in one case (they replaced a teeny elastic gusset with a larger, longer one) and 2 inches on my Cydwoq boots with straps in the back – replacing the straps with longer ones. On another pair, the leather repair shop added zippers from the top to about half way down the back, in the seam, and they are easier to get on and then zip! So I use both a cobbler and a leather repair (like luggage, chairs, etc). We’re lucky enough to have both within the area. They are worth their weight in gold!!

KLauren, I am in awe of your boot problem solving ability. You are hectically creative. Thanks for sharing your tip and enjoy those boots!

I go from lighter do darker and I take the shoes to Deno’s Shoe Repair. They are stellar.

And for slingbacks, just yesterday I picked up my slingbacks, they put in fresh elastic under the buckle of the strap so now they stay on. Just like new.

I admire KLauren, she is tailoring her shoes so to speak. Very valuable and not done in today’s society.

Great blog. Suggestions like these are such a good idea, especially in this economy. Dr. Scholls also has a cheap anti-rubbing balm available at drug stores that’s really good (shoes always rub on my heels and it’s a miracle worker).

nyshoespy

Thanks for chiming back in, Carissa. So you have your shoes professionally dyed?

You all are too kind If I could, I would make shoes – With Carissa, I also get shoes professionally dyed as well as paint them myself – check out sassy shoes – a great friends of mine who does lots of “art shoes” too.

[...] that is not nearly as soft as the colour options shown above. Remember that you’ll be able to stretch the toe box if it’s too snug because the leather is buttery. An expensive sandal at $90, but it’s better to [...]

ladies,
every fashionista needs her own shoe care kit that includes several shoe stretchers, liquid leather polish, suede dye, neutral leather polish, leather and suede cleaner and polish etc. I love my shoe cobbler but I make sure that I clean and polish my shoes at least one a season or year. we must protect our investments and save money.

luv

the savvy shopper

[...] Me Toos do not have arch support or come in wide widths. But you could pop in an orthotic, or have the toe box stretched to solve these challenges. Thank you Me Too for once again providing my fussy feet with a [...]

Since all of you have fabulous ideas and great links, can someone help with a stretching issue? I bought a pair of super cute Calvin Klein Sarika heels (picture link below) and the toe area is too tight. I tried to buy a set of stretchers but they don’t work on heels over 4 inches. Of course my luck provides me with 4 1/4 inch heels on these. Does anyone know of some stretcher for over 4 inch heels? Or maybe even a home remedy?

http://www.zappos.com/product/7536720/color/143187

I was wondering if the stretching of the toe box tip with dabbing alcohol on cotton ball works for sneakers? Thanks!

I don’t know it if works for sneakers, but an old trick to stretch the toe area of a leather shoe, is to stick a big ball of newspaper soaked with rubbing alcohol inside the shoe, it should fit very snuggly. Let it sit over night, or more if you want to…

I was wondering if anyone knew if I can change/alter the extreme pointy toe on my boot and shorten it a bit. I love the rest of the boot. It is extremely comfortable but the pointy toe is now bended and creased and not very attractive anymore. Can the boot be saved by changing the look? HELP!!!