This is an ancient trick that every girl in my country gets taught by her mom. We all do it with out new heels. Works like magic every time.

Posted by: arelya | August 15, 2007 11:10 AM

I thought everyone did this when they got new heels?

Posted by: SelinaC | August 15, 2007 11:28 AM

Arelya and SelinaC -

Clearly I've been missing out here, although at least what you've both said confirms that it does do something to help!

Personally I've always worn new shoes around the house to stretch them out a bit and make them more comfortable, but I've never tried it with a pair of thick socks. Future high heel comfort here I come!!

Lucy

Posted by: Lucy Hulme | August 15, 2007 11:46 AM

I wear new shoes around the house but not with socks, I would have thought that this would stretch them a little too much if you're going to wear them tights or on their own out of the house. Maybe that's just me??

Mrs B sure is a wise one though ;O)

Posted by: Caroline | August 15, 2007 1:06 PM

My feet are so tiny I am afraid of the time when my shoes stretch, so that'd be nightmarish for me. I'm a UK 3 but very slim fit so there's only certain shoe makes that fit. My favourite pair are stretching out not to fit now and I am entirely devastated! Maybe I'll wear them if I ever get swollen pregnant feet... or maybe 4 plus inch heels aren't suitable.

Posted by: Orla | August 15, 2007 1:30 PM

Hey, maybe this is the answer to my "All flats are too tight" problem?

Never tried socks with stilettos, but I'm game if it means I get to wear the pretty shoes for longer.

Posted by: Amber | August 15, 2007 2:10 PM

Lucy, I've always done it with socks as my feet are a little deformed from years of switching between heels, flats and trainers! Heels always pinch across the base of my toes (I think I have bunions forming) and always rub on my heel unless I 'break' them a bit like this as I find some leathers very tough on my skin. I blithely assumed everyone had the same problem!

I tend to wear 2 pairs of thin socks though rather than one pair of thick socks - that says mountain boot to me!

Posted by: SelinaC | August 15, 2007 2:31 PM

i raise my hand also..! didn't do it many times but it's something my mom taught me also.

here are a couple more tricks if you're interested:
- for leather shoes: you could also take some newspaper sheets and smash and shape them inside the shoe (it works with flats/closed toe/or opened but with a wide coverage surface). the final shape must be tight inside the shoe. then pour alcohol (the one you buy from the chemist, not the one you drink ;)) all around the paper until it's wet outside and quickly put it inside the shoe again. it makes wonders on leather to stretch!! it even worked on patent leather flats i have.
- i read somewhere you could put leather shoes in the microwave oven inside a plastic bag for a few seconds, but i wouldn't recommend this as many of them contain metallic parts (ie. nails on heels) that are not visible and one could hardly check if exist, so that could ruin the microwave!
- rubbing shoes? use a nailfile in that place of the shoe until it's soft.
Compeed realized of it and put this product in the market: http://www.fit2rundirect.com/product.php?id=480
- slightly large shoes? sometimes happens that we don't have the chance to change them, or were the only size available still are a "liiiiittle" bit bigger than our feet... if those are closed toe, there's a solution: tear some hydrophile cotton and put it at the tip of the shoe. try the shoe on until it fits (add or remove cotton depending on that).

with the use of one or more methods, i think no shoes should be a problem anymore! :) (as long as they fit, obviously!).

Posted by: jimena | August 15, 2007 3:04 PM

btw, i forgot.. in the first method (newspaper+alcohol) you have to leave the paper inside for 3 or more days. push the paper once a while to assure it's still tight inside. this is a good method if you don't want to ruin your nice parquet :) or just don't want to walk on them to stretch.

oh and excuse me for my English language, i do the best i can! :)

Posted by: jimena | August 15, 2007 4:55 PM

Also if the leather is too tough, you can staff the shoe with newspaper or socks very tightly, then cover the shoe with some fabric and hammer it. It softens the leather and they stop pinching. I used it a few times on winter boots that were too tough and wouldn't wear in even with socks.
To add to Jimena's post if you pour some alcohol in and wear the shoes with thick socks it works even better (no need to leave them for 3 days).

Posted by: arelya | August 15, 2007 5:32 PM

great tips arelya, will keep in mind for next time!!!
would be great to read a comprehensive article here about shoe tips to make them comfortable & feet care so it's always available for us readers to check :)

Posted by: jimena | August 15, 2007 5:57 PM

Wow, what wise shoe-lovers you all are! I'm hugely impressed with the great tips - thank you to all of you for your ideas.

Jimena - I agree; a comprehensive shoe tip guide would be great - I'll get on to it ASAP.

Lucy

Posted by: Lucy Hulme | August 16, 2007 11:29 AM