They seemed to fit well when you tried them on, but they feel too loose as soon as you step outside. Way too loose. You can be a trooper and wear them anyway, but please be aware of what you do to your feet. Did you know that wearing shoes that are too big can have unpleasant consequences? They’re uncomfortable to wear, plus you risk callus, corn, and trickled feet! Did you buy your shoes too big? No worries, you won’t have to throw them in the bin immediately; with these 5 tips, you can wear your big shoes without looking silly.
#1 Wear socks to fill-up your big shoes
The easiest way to make your loose pair of shoes fit better is by wearing a pair of socks. Or two. You can bulk up your feet with layers of socks until your shoe fits. With socks, you can run your shoes about half a size down and still be comfortable. This trick works perfect for boots and trainers, but won’t work on high heels or ballerinas that are too big.
#2 Fill your big shoes with cotton wool
When your shoes are too big, you can easily fill them up in the front. You can use any material for filling, but cotton wool is the most gentle on your feet. The soft cotton wool is comfortable for your toes and forms to your foot. Just fill your shoes in the front; nobody will notice.
#3 Shoes too big? Use insoles!
Insoles make every shoe run a half to one size down with the flick of a wrist. Also, a pair of soles in your shoes will give you an extra comfortable feeling. Insoles are available in various shapes and sizes. There are insoles for extra support, forefoot soles, heel stiffeners, and special soles for open shoes like pumps and ballerinas. The kind of insole you choose depends on what type of shoe you’d like to size down and which parts you’d like to adjust. In general, we recommend a whole insole if you want to size down shoes that are too big. You’re better off with a heel cushion if you want to avoid sliding.
#4 DIY to size down your shoes
Be creative and make a pair of DIY-insoles. It’s so easy, anyone can do it! Buy a couple of flat foundation sponges and double-sided tape. Then attach the sponges to the insides of your shoes using your double-sided tape. Tape as many sponges as needed until your shoes fit.
Another favourite DIY to make your shoes fit and prevent sliding is the use of pantyliners. Seriously, with this lifehack, you’ll never slide in your shoes again. Pantyliners don’t come in handy only for a pair of giant shoes, they also work on sweaty feet since they reduce perspiration.
#5 Take your big shoes to the shoemaker
Are your shoes too big and you can’t manage to solve this problem? Take your shoes to the shoemaker. These professionals can be a great help. Putting some heel lining in your shoe for a better fit can be an option. When they are expanded or too wide, moistening your shoes is a possibility. Moisture causes your shoes to shrink, but please don’t try this at home. You’ll ruin your shoes if you don’t moisture them correctly.
How to avoid buying your shoes too big
Buying your shoes too big happens to anyone. Maybe you were being allured by a great offer or perhaps you tried on the shoes at the wrong moment. To avoid a bad buy in the future, just keep the following instructions in mind.
- Have your feet measured in the shoe shop. This will prevent you from buying your shoes too large or too big.
- Measure your feet. Place your foot on a piece of paper and mark the big toe and the heel. Then measure the inches between the marks and convert this to the correct size.
- Check the sizing of the brand. Every brand has its own sizing. It happens that you wear a different size of Nike’s compared to, for example, Adidas.
- Try on shoes at the end of the day. Your feet are swollen by late afternoon. Are the shoes too big when you try them on? Perhaps you may want to go down a size. At the end of the afternoon, shoes are supposed to have quite a tight fit.
- Keep max half an inch of space. More space in your shoes means that they’re too big.
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