bambam Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 I finally found the perfect pair of caramel pumps I have always been looking for, and I ordered a size 11 as usual. I have other Steve Madden pumps in 11, so, I figured there wouldn't be a problem. I was wrong, the Vala pump is just a tad too small. I can get my feet into them, and they aren't any less comfortable than any other pump, but I know I need to stretch them, as failure isn't an option here. I have a pair of high heel shoe stretchers, but they are at their limit for my big man-feet sized shoe. Any advice on stretching a pump like this without ruining them? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre1961 Posted January 27, 2022 Share Posted January 27, 2022 You can wear them with wet socks. Until you can feel some pain. Then again the day after. And again.... A couple of sessions should give you the expected result. I never got good results with a shoe stretcher. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 I have got a pair of SM Daisie pumps, which are not a heck of a lot different from the Vala. The main differences I can see are that the heel is a little bit different shape, narrowing down from the seat quite a bit more quickly on the Vala, and perhaps the vamp on the Vala is just a bit rounder, but basically I think they're the same shoe. These shoes are quite narrow at the ball of the foot, and perhaps that is your (and my) problem. I also can barely get my feet into them, but after having worn them for a couple of hours, they seem to be stretching out a bit. They may work out for me. The problem is that they are not leather, so they're only going to stretch so much. Shoe stretchers may work for you, but in any case, go slow. Be patient, or you WILL ruin them. Pierre's suggestion of wearing socks could work, too. That may be the way to go at first, as your chance of ruining the shoes is zero using that method. I would guess it would have to be pretty thin socks, given my experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 (edited) Anybody had any luck with water in sandwich bags, then put the bags in the shoe, and the shoe in the freezer? I have a black and white pair of the Daisie, which is why I thought this would be much simpler than it has been.. Edited January 28, 2022 by bambam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 10 hours ago, bambam said: Anybody had any luck with water in sandwich bags, then put the bags in the shoe, and the shoe in the freezer? I have a black and white pair of the Daisie, which is why I thought this would be much simpler than it has been.. I have not had a great deal of luck using the expanding ice method, but once again, chances of damage are approaching zero, so why not? As to your second statement about already owning Daisies, I guess I got nothin'. You already know everything I have to say. And I haven't even worn mine outside yet. Well, not outside the driveway, anyhow. 15 hours ago, Pierre1961 said: I never got good results with a shoe stretcher. Perhaps the reason for this is that I doubt they make a specific high heel shoe stretcher in your size, do they? I've had ok luck with a stretcher, but it's certainly not a miracle cure for everything that ails us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre1961 Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 I got one shoe stretcher that fit my shoe size. As the width is more often the problem rather than the length,this tool isn’t really efficient. It tends to modify ( in an ugly way) the shape of the shoe before it gets wider . Again the best way for me is to wear thin ,then ( humid )thicker socks. At first a few minutes. And a little longer everyday. And one day the shoes fit! That’s true if the shoe have to stretch a little. 2 sizes too small: no way. It will never work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 I'll have to try the sock thing. I can't bring myself to get rid of a few pair that are really a little bit too small, but I can fit into them. It all comes of believing a size conversion chart that claims size 39 = U.S. Women's 9. It just isn't usually so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesterx Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 I have not had any luck stretching modern shoes. I suspect the materials they use these days just doesn't respond well. Years & years ago I had a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt pumps that were a size too small. Back then heels in my size were not available so I had to make do. These GV heels were made of the most supple leather I have owned in a pair of shoes, & they responded nicely to stretching, to the point I could wear them for more that a few minutes at a time. I lost them when a water pipe leaked in the place I was hiding them & fungus ate them up before I noticed it. Also, Patent leather like the ones in your photo are probably going to be quite difficult to stretch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vector Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 If they are matte leather, there are is a shoe stretch fluid you might consider getting. I haven't used it, but an ex-girlfriend did years ago and it worked for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumped Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 Leather will stretch, man made materials can be hard to stretch. I have had a bit of luck warming the offending shoe in front of a heater to get it warm, put a heavy stocking on my foot and jam it in and wear it for a few minutes. I might do it 2 - 3 times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 You can also warm it with a hair dryer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 2 hours ago, Cali said: You can also warm it with a hair dryer. with foot or before foot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 I don't know because I don't have a hair drier due to lack of hair follicles. But I have used it before on my ski boots but not with the foot inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 Unfortunately, I have not had great success with stretching shoes. Please advise... sf "Why should girls have all the fun!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 And, there's the @Steve63130 method: Take a shower with your shoes on, and then leave them on until they dry out completely. I have had some success with this in the past, but I do not think it will help the OP, as I believe it would work on neither patent leather nor non-leather. But it might work in another situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SF Posted January 31, 2022 Share Posted January 31, 2022 I thought Herr Dryer was some famous German dude??? sf 1 "Why should girls have all the fun!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam Posted February 2, 2022 Author Share Posted February 2, 2022 just got out of the shower, heels stayed on. lets see what happens! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isolathor Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 10 hours ago, bambam said: just got out of the shower, heels stayed on. lets see what happens! Good luck! 🍀 ❤️ my wife in heels (and without ...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 It seems to have worked.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebblesf Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 2/3/2022 at 1:28 PM, bambam said: It seems to have worked.... Cool! I stretched out my Zara boots quite a bit by getting them wet and wearing them that way so they dried on my feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted February 5, 2022 Share Posted February 5, 2022 On 2/3/2022 at 12:28 PM, bambam said: It seems to have worked.... Yay! Maybe we have actually done some good in this world! Now, as long as nothing comes apart in the future, we're good. Just curious, how tall are the Vala heels in your size? I'm still trying to figure out whether there is a difference in heel height between the Daisie and the Vala, or whether it's just the heel shape that is different. In my size 9, the Daisies measure just a tad over 4 5/8", which is slightly taller than I had anticipated. If the Valas are ever-so-slightly shorter, I might consider them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam Posted September 16, 2022 Author Share Posted September 16, 2022 I don't see any significant difference in heel height, the Vala may be a hair shorter, but the daisies are SOOO much more comfortable, I really think the Vala is trying to be a Loubatin, so, not comfortable for a human at all... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlroseplant Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 12 hours ago, bambam said: I don't see any significant difference in heel height, the Vala may be a hair shorter, but the daisies are SOOO much more comfortable, I really think the Vala is trying to be a Loubatin, so, not comfortable for a human at all... It's amazing how the time has flown. I never bought, and am no longer considering the Vala. I found the Klory instead, which is much better looking, and seems to wear and walk about like the Daisie, even though it is actually a little bit higher (not much, less than 1/8"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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