New Shoes

I believe Victoria Beckham is said to “break “ her shoes in by wearing them around the house with socks to stretch them.

Victoria must have picked up that tip from me! I used to do that years ago but alas, have to wear wide clumpy shoes now.

When a seam on one of a pair of shoes rubbed my delicate foot, I flattened it and softened it with the coarse side of an emery board. I couldn't find any sandpaper in my tool box, so the emery board had to suffice. It worked.

I have recently bought a pair of Hotter canvas pumps in the sale. They felt fine in the shop but when I got them home they felt tight. Maybe my feet were hot.

Anyway, a friend said wet the shoes whilst you are wearing them and let them dry on your feet. This is supposed to soften them and help them mould to your feet. I haven't tried it yet.

Not sure whether it would be suitable for anything other than canvas shoes though.

Also, I have always struggled with shoes rubbing my heels. When I was young my dad used to rub my shoes with a knife handle to smooth/flatten them. It seemed to work.

Hotter pride themselves on comfort and quality so if shoes rub/catch/nip etc I'd simply return them and tell them the problem. they'll never know if we don't tell them and life's far too precious to put up within comfy feet! Sometimes you just have to search a bit more or change style to be comfortable , I used to get my 14 year old son to wear my court shoes to size them! But always used the sports-socks-around-the-house method, since the 70s !!!

Dd swears by wearing a thick sock and using the hair dryer on the back of the heel for as long as you can bear it.

Lucca, Fitflop do some stretchy knitted shoes.

MawBe

I believe Victoria Beckham is said to “break “ her shoes in by wearing them around the house with socks to stretch them.
The Queen gets her dresser Angela Kelly to break hers in!

Have you seen VB's feet?
They are really really bad...

Talking of Hotter. Our local store has closed. I saw a lady wearing some pale blue open-ish sandals and complimented her on them, she said they were Hotter but I can find them on their website! They looked like they were made of some kind of elasticised fabric rather than leather. Any ideas?

All my life I've had problems with new shoes I always end up with blister not just on heels either. I'm now diabetic so am very careful and stick to the same shoes as long as possible. Just had to replace my slippers bought the exact same pair as previously but ended up with terrible blisters on my heels. I would love to find a solution to prevent this from happening!

My mum used to tell us to rub a piece of raw potato around the inside heel of new shoes to help soften them and prevent blisters. Same idea as the spray-on shoe stretch stuff that Fleur20 mentions?

Most shoe shops sell a spray-on shoe stretch.. you spray inside the shoe where the problem is immediately before putting your foot in... its a bit yeuch(?!).. as its cold and wet.. but stretches the spot just enough to take the pressure away.. you have to do it every wear.. but it lasts for the occasion..

I believe Victoria Beckham is said to “break “ her shoes in by wearing them around the house with socks to stretch them.
The Queen gets her dresser Angela Kelly to break hers in!

Just out of interest I tried on two pairs of shoes in the Cotton Traders sale. I am a 4.5 and the 4 was very good in both pairs. Bought just the sandals as it is summer. Hope that is useful for someone.

May help to vaseline the area of your foot for the first dozen wears. Sure the shoe will soften up and meld to your foot. Wear them in the house a few times

Can you wind sheep's wool around your toe Calandergirl? I used to have a very painful corn and my chiropodist used to make me a sheep's wool sock for it to stop contact with my shoes, I could hardly feel I had it on the toe.

I recently bought some Groundies shoes. Fabulous for wide-toed, narrow-heeled, shallow-footed, ground-loving feet like mine. Check them out if you're looking for foot freedom.

Liz46

I used to buy Hotter shoes but no longer find them comfortable. There's nothing wrong with my feet (unlike the rest of me!) so I'm pretty sure that Hotter have changed.

yes they have! their wide fit used to be fine for me but now is not and they do very few styles in extra wide. My old hotters are still fine so i am sure its not my feet. I did contact them and was told my comment would be "passed on" but nothing was done...and yes seams rub, also I find the they rub round the heel too. My sister finds the same.

If I were in your position I would return the deck shoes. I have learned from past experience the if the shoes are not comfortable then no amount of stretching or padding feet will help. Good luck though , if you keep them and they soften then lucky you - well done !!

Calendargirl I inadvertently ordered two tubes of shoe cream when the Hotter website played up recently. They phoned me to check that I only wanted one, like you say very impressive in these automated days.
I've treated myself to three pairs in the current sale. I "inherited" several pairs from my Mum's wardrobe and realised I like the thick soles on their shoes. I find I can wear them all day without thinking about my feet.
Uncomfortable shoes show on your face!

What about trying a silicone toe protector ? They are very soft and comfortable and you hardly know you're wearing it. Amazon have the best options.

I’ve had a shoe tree and stuffing in the shoe, hoping that would help. They are a canvas material, so can’t use a leather softener.

They were a real bargain, £30 off original price. But not cheap if I can’t wear them.

Yes, I’m sure plasters etc. will help.

My other sandals aren’t Hotter. I have other boots from them, so comfy.

Should say also I messed up the ordering for these shoes. The site crashed when I was paying, and I ordered them twice. It was a Sunday, I resolved to phone next day when they were open to try and sort it, but no need. They picked up on my double order, e mailed me to ask if I wanted both pairs, and sorted it without any hassle.

I was impressed.

I find wearing a plaster on my foot rather than in the shoe works for me, just an ordinary fabric one.

Many years ago my Dad used to use something called 'moleskin' . It was self adhesive and very slightly padded but not as thick as a corn plaster. It could be cut to size and placed over the area inside Dad's shoes wherever needed. I'm sure I've seen this still available now.

Try a compeed plaster . They are cushioned and stick like glue and shouldn’t rub off .

www.compeed.co.uk/product/compeed-blister-plasters-mixed/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI24C8zNq08QIVye7tCh2LIQJJEAAYASAAEgKAr_D_BwE

I used to buy Hotter shoes but no longer find them comfortable. There's nothing wrong with my feet (unlike the rest of me!) so I'm pretty sure that Hotter have changed.