Shoe Stretching?

Echo

Okay, I know that most of you would recommend returning the shoes if they are tight enough to be painful. But I ADORE these shoes; I am head over heels for them. Add to that they are leather and leather lined, and I *think* (hope?) they can be stretched enough to make them wearable.

They are not too short. They are just too tight across the vamp, the part just back from the main joint on the big toe. They have monk straps, but they are tighter at the part of the shoe below the strap, so adjusting the strap won't do it.

Have you ever stretched shoes, and did it work? How did you do it? I realize that the best bet is buying shoes that are comfortable right out of the box, and I have followed that rule for years now, but these shoes just make me crazy. I HAVE to have them/keep them. Please help?

12 years ago

Shopping

5 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

carter

Veteran

I always have to stretch my right shoe. Amazon has several stretchers. The quality can vary greatly, so buy the best you can. I've found the best ones are only sold in singles. Works fine for me, and if you just have the one pair, it will probably work for you to alternate shoes.

12 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I will look into buying shoe stretchers. In the meantime, I don't think I will even be able to return them since I've started DIY ways of stretching. I put on a pair of socks and made the areas that are tight wet with rubbing alcohol (the main ingredient in shoe stretching sprays). Then I wore the shoes around until the socks dried. They are pretty clearly tight across the top (the buckle doesn't lay quite right because of it), but I can see a difference in the spots that stretched. It isn't enough to wear them comfortably yet, but it's a start.

Maybe tomorrow I'll try two pairs of socks and the blow dryer option (heat the leather and wear them until they cool again) while I wait for the stretchers to arrive.

I CAN do this! (BTW, I haven't been so determined to wear painful shoes since I was a teenager)

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Echo, you can absolutely stretch nice leather shoes. In fact, it is possible to overstretch them. Be a bit careful there. If I recall, Angie had a pair of expensive shoes stretched professionally and they ended up a bit too big, which was a bummer.

I have a pair of classy pumps with no strap that I bought a bit tight, to avoid the problem of having them slip off my heels (particularly the right foot, which is a bit shorter than the left). The first time I wore them I was hoping my feet would stretch them out, but after two hours I was in serious pain. I decided life is too short for foot agony, and took them to the shoe mender to have them stretched width-wise (across the toe box). Problem magically solved!

12 years ago

Anonymous

I have Nordstrom stretch those that I buy there. I've also successfully used a potato for a few days and wearing the shoes around the house with damp socks. These may take more than once. Good luck with them

12 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

Angie's wet foot trick works if they are leather. Douse your foot and put on the shoes and walk around.
Shannon uses the potato trick to success and that spray they sell.
Rae has used rubbing alcohol rubbed inside shoe (smellier than the wet foot trick but works a little for me)
I have a wooden shoe stretcher but haven't figured out how to operate it well. I have had Nordstrom stretch them as well. I know my shoe repair place does it as well. I think they spray something inside and put a shoe stretcher form inside.
This should give you lots of options if the shoes are willing to cooperate.

12 years ago

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