Do you think this shoe will stretch?

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Do you think this shoe will stretch?

K.M.

Veteran

OK, I know it's a hard question to answer. I know to look for what it's made of... The shoe has a tag saying:

"Real Cow Hair Fur"

"Dyed and Printed Out of Whole Skin"

But it also says "faux leather lining" (not sure if it's the sole or the whole inside of the shoe).

My left foot is happy in the shoe, but my right foot (wider with bunion) is a wee bit uncomfortable. Not in pain (from wearing at home for 30 mins.) but definitely squeezed.

I LOOOOOVE the look and have been on the hunt (pardon the pun) for leopard print booties for a long time. These are so beautiful in person and the low heel and almond toe are perfect.

Should I take a chance on the stretching?... I have never had calf hair shoes before so I don't know how much they stretch. I've had luck with leather and suede.

DSW

Enzo Angiolini Meezzy Chelsea Boot

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5 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

rachylou

Veteran

A wee bit, but I never count on shoes stretching. I don’t break shoes in either. For me they have to be comfortable right off the bat.

5 years ago

Echo

Veteran

Perhaps the bigger question is whether you will wear it enough for it to stretch. It likely will stretch, but not as fast as, say, suede, which can often be perfect after one day or wear. Perhaps you are hardier than I, but I find when shoes are uncomfortable I don't wear them enough, so 6 months later they are still too tight because I just wasn't willing to go through the discomfort to break them in.

Do you have a cobbler nearby? They can likely stretch that shoe for you, which would eliminate any break-in time at all.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I had a pair of snakeskin booties that I think were real leather lining and they didn’t stretch after a year of wearing them. So my guess would be no, but of course, I have very limited experience.

5 years ago

Joy

Veteran

What Rachylou said. If your right foot is unhappy, how much will you be likely to reach for these and wear them? I would be concerned about calf hair loss with most stretching methods. Shoes with bald spots? No.

5 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

rachylou, Echo, smittie, and Joy: thank you for the wise words. Maybe I'll see if I can try on the shoe a half size up. I didn't want to because I already have big feet for my height and sizing up in a shoe with this almondy-pointy shape makes my feet look way too long... It is SUCH a beautiful shoe though! This reminds me of an episode in Friends when Monica wears gorgeous suede boots that are so painful she has to be carried on the way back home. And even then they walk by the shoe store and she sees the boots are half off and is tempted to buy the same model in another color!

5 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

PS I guess they were patent leather, not suede

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yFVY29P6Rk

5 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

No solution except I sympathize. Same situation, R bunion foot bigger, always looking at 2 sizes, heel slips if size up in many styles. Various inserts in many of my shoes. Also hate tgat when sizing up, often I no longer like the way the shoes “ look” on my feet, so won’t buy at all. It takes the perfect shoe fit and shape and material to work! Nordstrom Returns knows this.
I have the largest suede shoe collection for this reason!
Have been lucky after taking a chance a few times when R foot was ALMOST good. But knew that it could be a bust, also.

5 years ago

kkards

Veteran

if you have time and patience, try wearing the right shoe around at home with a thich sock....then try it on again, if it feels better, than you will know that it can/will stretch, if it feels that same, return asap.

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It might stretch a tiny bit in the width.

5 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

unfrumped, I hear you! We share the same pain, literally and figuratively.

kkards, I'll give that a go, since I can't go to the store till tomorrow anyway to try the half size up.

Angie, the width is all I need! And I'll be happy wearing these with thin hosiery socks, as long as they don't hurt.

5 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

PS For those of you with narrow or regular-width feet: this shoe is a GREAT find! Amazing price for the materials (suede, calf hair); low heel that's comfy; super elegant shape. It also comes in black and in a beautiful silver that's metallic without being too shiny.

5 years ago

K.M.

Veteran

Update: I have successfully stretched the shoes using the hair dryer method (here: https://www.improvisedlife.com.....ght-shoes/).

I tried the shoe in a half-size up, and didn't like it--not only did it look too long on me, but it also slipped down my feet like a clog at every step. I didn't want to have to wear thick socks with these all the time, and insoles don't always work for me (I know because I have several shoes that are a half size up and I never wear them despite having tried all sorts of insoles).

So then, because I love these shoes so, I decided to give the hair dryer method a try. And IT WORKED!!! And it was easy and quick! I still wish the shoe could be a wee bit wider or more flexible in my right foot, but it's stretched enough that I can wear it without pain with thin socks (even a thin Smartwool sock!!!).

I realize some people have reservations about the hot air on the leather and how it could damage the shoe. My hair dryer is small and never got burning hot, if that makes a difference. My shoes didn't warp (as some seem to fear). There was no discoloration, and the calf hair didn't shed. Now how this will affect the shoes long term I don't know.

I am totally going to pull out the hair dryer next time I have a borderline tight shoe like this one.

5 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Brilliant. I should have said - I have a pair of slightly uncomfortable calf hair shoes. They have stretched a little bit over time, and I keep them because they’re cool. Strictly office shoes. Maybe I should try this too.

5 years ago

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