Stretching ankle boots? - YouLookFab Forum

Apparently, i have ginormous calves, as I've never been able to buy boots that fit over my ankles/calves, save the pair I bought in Amsterdam. I just purchased the BEST ankle boots from Jeffrey Campbell. They are a nice, soft leather and they fit my foot perfectly. The heel doesn't feel too high (surprising since my tolerance is low for heels). However, they will not zip up all the way. There's simply no way.

I know almost all the ways to stretch the foot of a shoe, and if a boot zips, it will likely loosen over time. But is there anything a person can do when they won't zip? I suppose I could take them to a cobbler, but we live in the boon docks, and there isn't anything nearby, so I'd have to drive about an hour each way.

I thought if I could zip them over something tightly they would stretch, but I cannot think of anything that's not too big or too small! And while this isn't a real solution at all, the boots are awesome enough that I will likely keep them and wear them with pants, even if I can never zip them all the way up. Indeed, I have a pair of red booties like this. Not ideal, but if it's a matter of wearing them only with pants or not wearing them at all, I'll wear them with pants.

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5 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

A cobbler might be able to put a gusset in with some elastic. What a frustrating problem to have!

You might try boot trees (for tall boots), expanding them a bit. But honestly, I'd say they just plain don't fit, if they won't zip. It may be that the curve of your calf begins a bit lower than it does for some people. That can create fit issues in tall boots also. I have experienced it with tall boots, but not with booties -- so far! I tend to have the opposite issue with booties (flower pot effect) although a taller sock type bootie like this one can be snug for me at the top while loose below it.

Echo

Hmm, I was searching online for solutions and ran across these:
https://www.bootband.com/

It is a great idea for tall boots, but they don't seem to make them short enough for the issue I have. I figured I'd post it anyway, as some others might have a similar issue with taller boots.

SuzyQ2

Active Member

I’ve read, but never tried, water in a zip lock bag, put the bag filled with water into the shoe/ boot, then put in a freezer. As the water freezes it expands and stretches the shoe.
Maybe two bags just in case of leakage.

Jenn

I’m going to say that these just don’t fit and you should return if you can. It’s sad when they seem perfect in other ways, but there will be other boots.

Well, I DID get them zipped. They were tight to be sure, but not cutting-off-circulation tight. I wore them for an hour or so while I read before taking them off. I thought they might magically fit this morning, but alas, no.

I am going to do the same thing each evening for a week and see where it gets me.

To those of you saying they just don't fit, you're right. I'm not trying to kid myself. However, when a person adores footwear and this happens all. The. Time. A person has to take drastic measures at times or I'd have no boots whatsoever.

Janet

I think they can be stretched! I had a cobbler stretch the shafts of my old Ugg Cortona boots because one was just too tight (yes, my left leg is apparently larger than my right, LOL). I've heard you can use alcohol to help stretch shoes and boots, but I've never done it myself. I have, however, put on really thick socks and stuffed my feet into slightly snug shoes and worn them for a while to help stretch them a bit. If they're leather, they can stretch, it's just a question of how to do that for this particular fit problem. Those boots are totally cool, and if they fit otherwise and you love them, I would say it's worth a cobbler visit, even if it is a bit of a haul.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I've found Angie's wet-foot trick works wonders for stretching out shoes that are slightly too tight over my high instep. Now that you can actually zip the boots, maybe you could try a wet-ankle trick. Put the booties on with your ankles wet, and keep the boots on for a while. Keep doing it until the leather develops enough give.

Well, if you can zip them, then there's hope.

Try the suggestions here, I would say!

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