Two years ago I fell in love with and bought these Stuart Weitzman "Alaska" boots: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2988170

They were $500. A month after I bought them I was struck with plantar fasciitis in both feet, (note passive voice--nothing to do with dancing at a wedding in jeweled but cheap flip flops) so when cold weather came I couldn't wear the boots. I should have returned them, but I was optimistic. Last year I thought about selling them. Well, here it is two years later. I still have the boots.

I could wear them this year except for one thing: The right boot folds in a bit right at the zipper at my anklebone--a tender spot for me. I tried putting moleskin on various ankle spots but it doesn't help much. I don't think stretching the boot could help much--they are already roomy around the ankle. It is just the way they bend inward.

I tried pulling and pushing to change the fold--not really a fold--a bend--but the boot returns to it's first shape.

Then I imagined writing this post and asking for advice, which gave me an inspiration to scrunch the boots down a bit. I don't know if these are supposed to be scrunched but it helped a lot, thanks to YLF.

Now I am wearing the boots around the house and I think they are going to work. Eventually the suede should soften up, right?

Is there anything else I could do to soften this area? A spray? Massage the leather? Could a shoemaker help?