The Brutal Truth About Breaking In New Shoes
For a fashion lover, unboxing a brand-new pair of shoes can be an exciting experience – The initial smell of fresh leather, the flawless stitching, and your mind racing with new outfit ideas. However, new shoes can often be extremely painful until they are broken in. In my latest article, I will share tips on how to navigate this initial tough period! Carry on reading for more.
Even though a brand-new pair of shoes can totally level up your style, it can be an awful experience for your feet (especially if you are standing all day long).
You will undoubtedly have a love/hate relationship as your footwear will elevate your style choices (from smart-suited looks to casual ensembles with jeans and a jumper) – but then the blisters start to appear, the stiff soles and worse, the wounded soldier walk of shame (rather than a striking catwalk model).
Once upon a time breaking in your shoes seemed to be a minor inconvenience, but now it can feel like a full-blown challenge that requires strategy and patience to reach the end goal. In the following points, I will share how you can win the war of attrition without sacrificing your feet (or your dignity).
Why Do Modern Shoes Hurt?
Shoes are undoubtedly designed to look amazing from the moment they hit the shelf to when you lift them out of their box—super polished and built to turn heads. However, this structure often makes them incredibly stiff with very little give.
Current brands naturally want to ensure that their footwear stays looking new for as long as possible, but this comes at a huge cost—your comfort. Rather than soft and flexible materials that bend with your feet as you walk, we are forced to endure treated leathers, synthetic linings and hard soles.
Another aspect to consider is that modern everyday fashions have made our feet soft—many of us live in cushioned sneakers, slides, and slippers, so feet do not get a full-fledged workout (which hardens them) from structured shoes.
When you finally have to slip on those proper boots or dress shoes, your feet go into ‘panic’ mode, and chaos inevitably follows.
Do Not Rely On The Shoe Size
Breaking in shoes is much harder when they do not fit correctly from the start, and this factor is made more difficult when brands’ sizing is terribly inconsistent. For instance, a size 10 from one company may be extra roomy, whereas another may be super tight! (Some designer brands are notorious for actually recommending a size up/down, even on their own website listings.)
To combat these issues, you need to incorporate smart shopping into your way of thinking. Try on multiple pairs of the same style in different sizes and practice walking around (in a store, this is reasonably easy), but at home, you need to order the additional sizes (which can be a hit on your bank balance until the refunds come in).
Fortunately, there are a number of retailers (such as Batemans Footwear) who are unique in that they have a team of staff onboard who can help you find the correct fit for your foot shape and lifestyle habits (which helps you with the smart shopping approach). To find the correct shoe size, you must consider various elements (not just the length), including width, arch support, and toe space—the overall complete package.
When the fit of your brand-new purchase is on point, breaking your shoes in doesn’t have to feel like a survival challenge.
Materials Matter
The material choice of your new shoes can be critical to their comfortability and how well they break in. For example, if you splash the cash on premium full-grain leather, you will encounter a tough start, but with wear, it will become buttery smooth, moulding to your foot like it was made just for you. On the other hand, cheap leather or synthetic materials will generally stay stiff, rub the wrong way and be an uncomfortable wear throughout their life.
Suede, often considered a luxury fabric (at least on designer shoes), is generally softer but can dig into your heels or toes if poorly made. Likewise, synthetic suede may share its genuine counterparts’ good looks, but it does not breathe well, leading to increased sweat, discomfort, and blisters.
In short, it is essential to invest in high-quality materials, and your feet will thank you in the long run.
The Importance Of The Fine Details
It is not just the outer section of shoes that causes problems during wear; it is also the interior. Poor-quality internal fabrics can play a huge role in how brutal (or not) the break-in process feels. A softer lining can prevent unwanted rubbing, while a cushioned sole can help to protect your heel during movement (especially in the early wears).
Furthermore, the overall construction matters too – here are two examples.
- Glued soles (which appear ok initially) won’t mould correctly to your feet as they age.
- Stitching and welts are of higher quality yet take far longer to soften (but offer long-term comfort and durability).
The Break-In Battle Plan
Pretty much everyone will slip on those new pairs of shoes, wear them all day and hope for the best. Unfortunately, more often than not, this ends badly (and once home, you will toss them to the back of your wardrobe, to be forgotten).
Instead, start slowly—wear your new footwear around the house, take a short walk around the block, and eventually go to the local store and back. Let your shoes get used to your feet (and vice versa). You can even wear thick socks during the early wears, helping to stretch out the material without sacrificing your skin.
Additionally, you can employ extra help in the form of stretching sprays or leather conditioners, which can help speed up the process. However, be mindful of this practice (it does work but can be risky), as too much can risk warping the shoes or ruining the finish.
Another alternative is to invest in shoe inserts to expand them or even visit the local cobblers for advice or to see if they can work their magic on the shape and build.
Pain Is Not A Badge Of Honour
You may want to just power through the pain to finally break your shoes in for a comfortable wear. However, this process doesn’t make you tough; it just means your shoes are winning. Once they start to hurt, take them off immediately and give your feet a well-earned rest. Consider rotating them with comfy, worn-in shoes and taking it one step (pun intended) at a time.
Once you have this plan in place, you will start to see results and be focused on incorporating this routine for every new pair of shoes (and also limiting the likelihood of repeating the bad process).
Thanks for reading my latest fashion and style article, please remember to check back for frequent updates.
