Tight-fitting shoes

Angela Harris33 said:It really is. I could only track down a 38.5 in Dr. Martens.

Look, Guliver carries pretty much all the footwear and they actually stock half sizes. I haven't seen that kind of variety anywhere else.

Has anyone ever actually gone to a cobbler to have shoes "stretched to shape"? I’ve got these white leather ballet flats that are driving me insane. They’re technically my size, but they bite into my heels like crazy. I’ve tried everything—thick socks, even using moisturizer to soften them up—but nothing works. They just won't break in. I took them down to a shop near a little alleyway just off the main plaza in downtown Chicago (I think it was near a place called Americanino or maybe Amadeus, I can't quite remember)—basically right where you start walking away from the center—and the woman there just told me straight up that she couldn't stretch them. She didn't even bother explaining why, which was pretty frustrating. I am dying to wear them, though. 😢

maybe try using a softener

meh
Guliver, I've heard that one before...
Why not just buy some sneakers you actually like that won't fall apart in a week (like Vans or Dr. Martens), grab a size up, and just stuff some cotton or something in the toe to make them fit???

Tyler Vaughn51 said:meh
Guliver, I've heard that one before...
Why not just buy some sneakers you actually like that won't fall apart in a week (like Vans or Dr. Martens), grab a size up, and just stuff some cotton or something in the toe to make them fit???

Go ahead and try if you’re really that desperate😁 but you'll quickly realize it doesn't work.

As for those sneakers—especially the ones you mentioned—they are going to stretch out and mold to your foot shape eventually, so there is honestly zero point in torturing your feet by wearing shoes that are way too big. Besides, if you're planning on cramming cotton in there just to make them feel "right," don't you think that cotton is just going to rub against your toes and cause more pain? It's common sense, really.

Trust me, I have seven or eight pairs of Vans in my closet.😉

I once took my boots to a local cobbler to have them stretched on a professional last. They sat there for two days—or at least, that’s what he claimed—yet when I got them back, they still felt just as snug; I honestly couldn't detect any meaningful difference whatsoever. They didn't lose their shape, nor did they crack or anything of the sort, but the whole stretching endeavor was essentially a wash... my issue is specifically with the right boot, and as time goes on, I've come to realize that what I actually need is a custom orthotic rather than a stretch, but that's a whole different saga altogether...

Mark Perez2 said:Look, Guliver carries pretty much all the footwear and they actually stock half sizes. I haven't seen that kind of variety anywhere else.

It’s honestly such a headache that so many brands stick to these "half-sizes," especially when you're shopping for sneakers. You see it everywhere—both Nike and Reebok do it constantly.

Tyler Vaughn51Look, you’ll probably lean toward boots like Dr. Martens and jeans, but maybe that doesn't matter to everyone else. Anyway, having worn all kinds of Docs for ten years now, I’m telling you: buying a larger size is honestly NOT worth it. I have no idea where you even got that idea. Trying to wear cotton balls in your shoes is pure torture. They constantly get in the way of your toes, and your heel still ends up slipping out of the boot anyway. It just makes zero sense. Just find your actual size, break them in for a week or two, and then you'll be good to go.
I remember back when Martens were first blowing up, there was this one article—one of many, really—in the New York Times about them. It basically said they always struggle during that first month. Honestly, reading that was such a relief. I had been feeling so discouraged because my own first pair (and then my second, and my third...) totally failed me. I was actually ready to beat myself up over how much I spent on those $200s.

I typically buy size 6 in heels, but I go with a 7 for flats, sneakers, and boots. When I wear high heels for the first time—though I usually just test them out around the house first—they tend to pinch a bit. But then they stretch out just enough, and suddenly? They fit me perfectly.

Man, they’re going to tear themselves apart sooner or later...
Supposedly that first hellish month of wearing them means your foot skin gets thicker and tougher... is that actually true????
p.s. I'll wear just about anything, but Lacoste shoes are definitely NOT for my feet!

Tyler Vaughn51 said:Man, they’re going to tear themselves apart sooner or later...
Supposedly that first hellish month of wearing them means your foot skin gets thicker and tougher... is that actually true????
p.s. I'll wear just about anything, but Lacoste shoes are definitely NOT for my feet!

That’s just not how it works—you aren't going to see that happen in two weeks. And even if it does—just head straight to a pedicurist, or honestly, just scrub your heels yourself after a bath and slather on some foot cream.🙂

Tyler Vaughn51 said:Man, they’re going to tear themselves apart sooner or later...
Supposedly that first hellish month of wearing them means your foot skin gets thicker and tougher... is that actually true????
p.s. I'll wear just about anything, but Lacoste shoes are definitely NOT for my feet!

Just buy your actual size... trust me...
p.s. You really think your foot won't fit in Lacoste?🙂

Yeah, right. It’s just different packaging, big deal.

So, here’s the deal... about a week ago, I picked up some new shoes and everything seemed perfect. I tried them on, they felt amazing, zero pinching, so obviously, I grabbed them. But then, just a couple of days ago, I went to put them on and it’s like they shrunk overnight! They’re so tight now I can barely take two steps without them digging in. Does anyone know a trick to soften them up? I’ve already tried using Nivea and soaking some gauze in milk, but nothing is working. I even went up a size from my usual, so maybe my feet are just swollen, because I haven't been able to wear them for a few days now....🙂
thanks

Can I ask something too? My shoes aren't actually too small—quite the opposite... I bought a pair in what I thought was a good size, but after wearing them just once, they started slipping right off my feet because they're too wide. Is there anything I can "stuff" in there to stop them from sliding around??
(I heard those insoles are supposed to be good and might help shrink the fit a little)...

Buying shoes that are way too small is ALWAYS a terrible move!

Now, if you end up with a pair that’s a bit too big—don't panic. You can actually head over to Walgreens or Kozma and grab those little heel cushions to prevent blisters. Honestly, they can make a shoe feel about half a size smaller. I’ve also used those other tiny gel inserts—you know, the adhesive kind—on different spots inside my shoes where they were rubbing me raw. Now everything fits perfectly!

Lawrence Reed5 said:So, I went ahead and grabbed a pair of shoes in a size 7 even though I’m usually a size 7.5 or even an 8 if I’m being honest 😬 😬 😬
The whole thing is because they were literally the last ones left in stock, and oh my gosh, I was just so obsessed with them! Plus, considering how nice the quality feels, the price was such a steal, I couldn't pass them up 😬

I’ve heard all sorts of weird DIY hacks floating around online, like soaking them in milk, stuffing them with newspaper and tossing them in the freezer, or maybe some crazy combo of both, you know how it goes 😁

Does anyone out there have any actual advice on how to STRETCH shoes? Because honestly, I think the length might actually be fine if I can just somehow manage to cram my foot into them in the first place 😳 Just to give you some context, they’re basically like ballet flats—totally flat soles—but instead of having that rounded toe, they have a pointed toe 😳

Oh my goodness! 😲 It’s the exact same story for me! I did the same thing just a few days ago with a pair of boots (they are perfect!!!! I grabbed a size 6 when I’m normally a 7, sometimes an 8). They were also the very last ones available, and I simply couldn't bear the thought of letting someone else walk away with them...

Look:


Now I'm stuck wondering how to stretch them out. I suppose I'll have to read through all your suggestions... I managed to force my foot into the right one (I only tried the right one), and while the length seems fine, the width and the area around the ankle are terribly tight (even though I somehow, barely, managed to zip them up, but now I'm worried the zipper might snap... They are made of leather, very soft leather.

That same day, I just couldn't resist these other little shoes (though these are a size 7) even though they have a small heel, and I actually wore them to one... event... (my gait was a little "unsteady" on the way there, but thankfully, the "important" people only saw me standing around or pacing in a small circle, chatting... 🙂).

Those shoes look incredibly dainty,
hehe, you actually remind me of myself. About two years ago, I went ahead and bought some boots in a size 7.5 when I actually wear a size 9—it was such a mistake, really. I guess I’m still wearing them now, though. They aren't exactly comfortable, so they haven't stretched out much at all, but I suppose I'm always a little worried the zipper might just give out on me eventually.

Honestly, I’ve been through the exact same thing with a pair of art boots that were absolute killers. In the store, they looked incredible—just stunning—but after wearing them even once, God help me, the pain was unbearable. It was just a struggle to get them off my feet. My mom was so insistent at the time, constantly telling me, "Buy them, they look amazing on you!" Well, she bought them for me about two years ago, and since then, they’ve basically just been gathering dust in the closet. They’re a size 9,

hiddennomad10 said:Honestly, I’ve been through the exact same thing with a pair of art boots that were absolute killers. In the store, they looked incredible—just stunning—but after wearing them even once, God help me, the pain was unbearable. It was just a struggle to get them off my feet. My mom was so insistent at the time, constantly telling me, "Buy them, they look amazing on you!" Well, she bought them for me about two years ago, and since then, they’ve basically just been gathering dust in the closet. They’re a size 9,

You should just list them for sale online. 🙂

So, I went out yesterday and grabbed these gorgeous boots in a size 7 🎉 and they’re just a tiny bit snug

But honestly? Today I threw on two pairs of thick socks and they’re pinching me like crazy while I walk, but whatever—I'll just let them stretch out a bit. Mostly just hitting my big toe and, of course, the heel

A size 8 would have been way too huge. I was terrified they’d just be sliding all over my feet after wearing them a few times, who knows? Everything is such a mess lately. I’m usually a standard US women's 7 or 8, but honestly, I don't even know what my size is anymore