Fitting our footwear!!

[Wenda]

Okay girls, I am sorry for my advancing Altzheimer's. I forgot that I knew how to use heat to shape manmade footwear to fit our feet. I was involved in a fundraiser a couple of years ago, Human Foosball! we were velcroed to poles going through an inflated game board. We got a little over-competetive, and I broke my big toe, and tore the muscles from my inner right thigh. We taped the broken toe to another toe, soaked it in ice and beer, and played two more games. Now, the joint on my big toe, right foot, is enlarged. It doesn't bother me in my drab footing, but, most of my femme footwear has problems with this tender joint.
Two nights ago, I remembered getting some skates fitted, using a heat gun! Duuuhh! What a positive experience! I used my Black and Decker heat gun on 4 pairs of shoes and boots. As long as the material is man-made, a heatgun can be effective. Steps:
1. put a sock (preferably cotton) on the foot requiring shoe enlargement
2. place the shoe or boot 'almost' on the foot, ie, install up to the point where it gets tight
3. set the heat gun at low, and begin heating over the tight area, beginning at the sole on the tightest side, and heating the area over to the opposite side.
4. avoid over-heating, watch for bubbles or a change in the appearance of the surface of the footwear;
5. when the tight area of the footwear is pliable, continue to place the footwear on your foot. wear the footwear, walking and stretching it while it cools.

I have modified 4 pairs of footwear with marvellous results. I bought a great pair of shoes for $10, which had tags beneath the sale tag for $25, $50, $100 and $125. The shoes were great, except a bit tight over the joint of the broken toe. Last night, I put an athletic sock on that foot, heated the tight area, sole-to-sole, and put the shoe on my foot. It was uncomfortably warm, but I wore it, and later, put on the shoe with stockings. It now fits perfectly! I have done the same with my vinyl thigh-high boots and my 'leather' boots. Just be cautious with the heat gun. go slowly and repeatedly try the footwear on for fit. wenda.

[Sharon]

There are also shoe stretchers on the market that have little "lumps" that you can apply to various areas of the foot. Women with callouses and bunions use them.

[Vallari]

This sounds like an interesting thing to try! Would a hair-dryer on its hottest setting close to the shoe material work as well as a heatgun? Sorry if this sounds like a goofy question but i don't have access to a heat-gun. :o

[StephanieCD]

I sold shoes at Nine West for a year or so. On occasion I'd stretch shoes for ladies with a bunyon or broken toe or something. I also worked in a leather shop and did the same thing to other products once in a while.

For leather - get a water based leather conditioner and rub the HELL out of the area to be stretched, pushing outward in the area to stretch. More conditioner. Repeat. Pain in the ass but it can be done. Then, wear the shoe while the material cools and forms to the shape. Overly processed leathers - faux finishes and shiny ones like patent don't work as well. There are also shoe stretcher devices used in the business for those materials. But $5 for some lotion and a little time will customize most pairs of of shoes for you. :)

[Tristen Cox]

So that's how ya do it! Cool! Thanks Wenda and Stephanie ;)

[Katiegirl]

Hi

I've only recently stared wearing high heel shoes, when I ordered them I used my normal size for drab shoes but when they came I could hardly get my feet in them. I tried for several days but things did not improve, then by accident I left them on top of the radiator and when I tried them on it felt easier. Over the next week i left them on the radiator before putting them on and by the end of that week they fitted me like a glove so now I wear them all the time when I am home. I am breaking in another pair the same way.

This may not be of help to our american friends as they have blow air heating.

:)

[Wendy me]

old family thing my mom is in that stage were she is passing down family things i got a box of things that were my grand mouthers things in the box was a old shoe stricher (i know spelling) seams get it in tight little heat let it set a day or so heels that were killers now comfy

[Wenda]

I used to have a pair of shoe stretchers, but sold them at a garage sale...d'oohh!! Yes waco, a hair drier on high will achieve the same results as a B&D heat gun on low, just keep moving it slowly over the entire area until it is soft, probably a bit uncomfortable to touch. A key point is to heat the entire lateral area, sole to sole, not just the localized tight area. The objective is to get the material soft and pliable.
Stephanie is right on the real leather... get a moisturizer and work it in... I had a pair of ostrich boots that were tight over the instep....I had oil and just rubbed it into the boots every time I was on the phone. In less than two weeks, they fit like gloves. 4 years later, I wore them today and stood on concrete for 5 hours. Now I am at home in my vinyl thigh highs. luv, wenda.

[StephanieCD]

A warning - use of heat to stretch real leather works to loosen up the hide but isn't recommended because is also drying. In our case it's not a bad idea (especially with shoes) but I advise to condition the leather with a water based leather conditioner. I recommend these products (http://www.applepolishes.com/applepolishes/prodinfo.htm) - they're very good.

Vinyl and stuff like that - I don't know anywhere near as much. But a good pair of leather shoes could get ruined by heating and shrinking afterward :( :(