How To Stretch Your Dress Shoes
[0:00:00] So, I own this beautiful pair of black cap
toe Oxfords. It's hard to get more classic than this. But despite how much I love them,
I almost never wear them. Why? Because whenever I do, my feet feel like this [Screaming].
Unfortunately, they're just a little bit too tight and are uncomfortable to wear for long
periods of time. So, do I need to pitch them? What can you do if you have a pair of leather
dress shoes that are too tight? Thomas with Real Men Real Style here. And in today’s
video, I'm going to show you how to successfully stretch your shoes. Before we get started,
let me give you a word of warning. You can only stretch a pair of shoes so far. These
methods are only helpful if they're just slightly too tight. Don't go and buy a pair of shoes
that are two sizes too small because they're on sale and you think you can stretch them
later. [Not a great plan]. Step #1: Conditioning. We're gonna put the leather under strain and
pressure to make it stretch. So, we need to take steps to make sure we don't damage the
leather. A good leather conditioner will help in two ways. First, it will moisturize the
leather, which will protect it from cracking. The second benefit is conditioning the leather
will help to soften it, making it easier to stretch. Using a soft cloth, apply your conditioner
of choice across the upper of your shoe. Wipe off any excess conditioner, then let the shoes
sit for 10 minutes. Time to start stretching. Step #2: Thick socks. This is for if you have
a pair of shoes that are just barely too tight. Typically, you're gonna be wearing your shoes
with thin dress socks. So, to stretch them, put on a pair of nice thick socks and slide
on your dress shoes. Now, walking around for 5 minutes in these socks isn't gonna do much.
You need to wear them for at least 2 to 4 hours to give the leather time to stretch
and set. Once you’re done, put on your dress socks and see if the fit is improved. You
may need multiple sessions of this to see the best results. Step #3: Shoe trees. Although
shoe trees are made to help your leather shoes keep their shape over time, if you have a
pair that are just slightly too large for your shoes, you can use them to help stretch
the leather. Simply put in the shoe trees and let them sit for 24 to 48 hours. Once
that's done, slide on those dress socks and test the fit again. If they need to stretch
a bit more, then simply repeat the process for another 24 hours. Step #4: The shoe stretcher.
So, if the first two methods didn't do the job, then it's time to take things up a notch.
This device may look a lot like shoe trees. But while shoe trees are designed to help
your shoes maintain their shape, this device is specifically made for stretching. Now,
the shoe stretcher has two main advantages over the other methods. First, you can get
the stretch dialed in exactly. The hand crank gives you a lot more precision. Second, you
can specifically target pain points. The shoe stretcher comes with little knobs that can
attach at multiple points, so you can focus in on the areas that need it most. So, to
get started, figure out what part of the shoes are giving you the most problems, then attach
some knobs to address those areas. Insert the shoe stretcher into your shoes, then crank
the handle until it is good and firm. Don't go crazy here. Successfully stretching is
a slow process. Push the leather too hard and it will crack. Leave the stretcher in
for 24 hours, then test and see how they fit. If they need to stretch a bit more, then repeat
the process for another 24 hours. Step #5: Apply heat. This is an extra step that can
be added to any of the previous methods. Using heat will further soften the leather and make
it stretch easier, but you have to be careful doing this. Using too much heat can dry out
and crack your leather. But since we've already conditioned the shoes, we've given them an
extra layer of protection. Grab your hair dryer and run it over the area you want to
stretch. Keep it 4 to 6 inches away. Closer than that and you risk damaging the leather.
You should slowly maneuver the hair dryer to prevent any one spot from getting too much
heat. Use the hair dryer for up to 1 minute per shoe, then allow the shoes to cool. Now,
your tight shoes fit perfectly. But did you know that there are seven things you must
do whenever you get a pair of new shoes? Check out this video, gents, where I'm gonna show
you the secrets to properly breaking in a new pair of shoes.
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