I am sure we all have had the experience of buying shoes which feel fine in the shop but then when we come to wear them somehow seem rather different.

In a general way would you say new shoes loosen, get tighter or stay the same? Do different brands or types of leather behave differently?

Which of these possibilities do bespoke shoemakers take into account?

Trimmer

Shoes losoen with wear, especially loafers. Shell cordovan stays tighter than calf. Bespoke shoemakers take all aspects in account. Even some RTW makers do - for example: EG balmorals will have a more pronounced "lacing V" that will close in time.

 

I am sure we all have had the experience of buying shoes which feel fine in the shop but then when we come to wear them somehow seem rather different.

In a general way would you say new shoes loosen, get tighter or stay the same? Do different brands or types of leather behave differently?

Which of these possibilities do bespoke shoemakers take into account?

Trimmer

Shoes do loosen with wear. I have always heard to try on shoes in the evening, as that is when your feet are at their largest from swelling during the day. When I bought my BB loafers, they were a bit tight, but after putting in some shoe stretchers and wearing them around the house, they fit just perfect.

 

Shoes loosen of time so be sure to keep shoetrees in them and put shoe lotion and polish on them before wearing.

 

shoes loosen with wear, the foot swells during the day.

if you bought your shoes in the morning, they'll feel tighter in the evening.

 

What happens if . . .

shoes loosen with wear, the foot swells during the day.

if you bought your shoes in the morning, they'll feel tighter in the evening.

What happens if I bought them on Ebay?

Trimmer

 

What happens if I bought them on Ebay?

Trimmer

Buying shoes or clothing sight unseen and without trying the items on can always become a bit of a crapshoot. However, the savings to be had can make it worth the risk. Minimize theat risk by reading the e-bay listing as closely as possible and don't be shy about asking the lister additional questions, as you see necessary.

 

If you are going to start buying stuff "long-distance" then go out and buy one item retail where you can get the sizing right. For example, if you want to start buying Aldens and BBs on eBay, then go buy a pair in person, in a store, and get the size right. Then, when you are happy that they fit fine, start buying on eBay the same size, since now you know what size you need and aren't taking a risk.

 

Thank you for your comments but, of course, I wasn't really asking about getting the right size on Ebay I was thinking more about whether all shoes tend to slacken or tighten with wear. One would expect them to get looser. But is that also true of bespoke shoes, for example, and top of the range rtws? If so one should presumably expect the former to be tight when new, and should buy the latter 'in the afternoon'. Or is it only cheaper leather that stretches?

Trimmer

 

Sorry. It is totally dependent on the shoe material, shoe construction, and manufacturer. Plus your feet and their relationship with the shoe last in question. Maybe you could start listing some brands and/or styles in which you are interested?

I think you will find that cheap leather doesn't stretch at all, but rather the (possibly inferior) stitching will stretch instead. On really good shoes the stitching is probably more secure, but the leather is finer quality and more flexible. Again, it's so dependent on individual cases...