Comments on: Reader winner: regrettable credit card purchases

By: Diane

Diane — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:55:37 +0000

Lynda, do you agree with Maggie’s comment that a shoe repair place should be able to stretch out (presumably, any) shoes at least 1/2 size?

And, Maggie, I assume you meant you bought shoes 1+ size(s) too small. If so, why? (Just curious)

By: Maggie

Maggie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:05:26 +0000

Any shoe repair place should be able to stretch out shoes at least a 1/2 size, and it’s usually pretty cheap. I bought shoes that were 1+ size(s) too big and even stretching didn’t make them fit well…but, 1/2 size should work, so check out shoe repair places in your area!

If you’re in LA around the westside, Buster’s Shoe Repair is my guy. He works magic with my shoes, whether replacing worn soles or stretching or even cleaning satin or similar material ballet flats. He used to be at Wilshire & 14th, but he has moved to Main Street Santa Monica, a few blocks south of Pico!

By: Lynda

Lynda — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:50:49 +0000

Couple of suggestions: (I used to have a shoe repair shop).
1. A heel pad (1/4″) will draw your foot back that amount and give an additional 1/4″ room at the toe…(this is something a good repair shop can easily do, or you can shop around for a Scholls pair which will work as well).
If the quarter inch isn’t enough, add a little more…
2. To give yourself more room in the width…take ordinary rubbing alcohol (the basis of most professional stretching compounds) and spray on the leather where it’s tight.
IF the shoe is not leather, then you’ll need to use heat…put the shoes on with heavier socks and use a hair dryer to ‘relax’ the plastic/artifical material. You’ll need to leave them on for sometime so the material doesn’t immediately shrink back.
Something to consider is if the heel is too high–if it is, it will throw all the weight forward onto the ball of the foot and toes which will always make the shoe feel too tight.
Put the shoe on a flat surface. If the heel is held flat and the fall of the foot (widest part) does NOT rest on the flat surface also then the heel is too high.
Likewise, if the heel is too low, the weight will be carried on the arch which causes all sorts of other pain.
The weight should be carried equally by the heel and ball of foot..this is something that should be checked out when buying shoes…
Take a shoe you already have that’s comfortable, look at its balance and you’ll have a better idea of what I’m talking about.
Also: If you have leather shoes and there’s a place that’s hurts, dab the area with alcohol and use the handle of a kitchen spoon (wood or hard plastic) and push repeatedly on the area until it stretches a little.
If shoes seem just a little tight, use a small amount of baby/bath powder in the shoe and it will slip on and off more easily.
Hope these suggestions help a little…

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:42:38 +0000

My ego helps me! I won’t buy shoes that are bigger than my usual size and fit too loosely. As for too small, pain is a good impulse controller.

By: Pao

Pao — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:35:55 +0000

I have done this, (more than once, regretfully!) and I use some good old foot juice to get them in and the lubrication eases the pain. If I go up a size i just get a thick insole and they fit fine.