How to Break in Dress Shoes
Shoes are often the finishing touch to any outfit. Dress shoes can be fun, sexy, flirty and oftentimes uncomfortable. The key to being able to wear dress shoes for an event and stay comfortable is to break them in well in advance of the big day or night.
Items Needed:
- Appropriate socks or panty hose
- Shoe pads
- Shoe cushions
- Shoe grips
- Wear them around the house. If you are planning to wear the shoes with panty hose, slip on a pair of thin socks or knee-highs that will mimick the thickness of panty hose. Slide your shoes on and walk around the house in them a few times a day for a week leading up to the formal occasion. Wearing them around the house will let you know if you need pads or cushions in order to provide your feet with more support while wearing the dress shoes.
- Practice walking. The floors at formal events are often tile or wood, so it is important that you practice walking on un-carpeted surfaces. If you find that the soles of the shoes or slippery, visit a shoe store and purchase shoe grips. These are inexpensive adhesives that stick to the bottom of your shoe. They have a sandpaper-like texture and will instantly add traction to even the smoothest shoe bottoms.
- Dance in the dress shoes. It may feel a bit silly, but dancing in your new dress shoes is a great way to break them in and practice your balance and movement.
- Stretch the shoes out. While wearing them and practicing your walk, wiggle your toes and arch your feet. This will help the shoes to quickly stretch and accommodate the natural movement of your feet while walking and sitting.