FASHION TIPS

breaking in new shoes

cleaning costume jewellery

how to measure yourself

European sizes guide

how to make a handbag

dry cleaning tips

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Right out of the box - shoes can not only be painful but can also damage your feet.

To minimise the pain of pinching shoes do the following if you are not too anxious to rush out in them!

1. Buy a tube of liquid rubber from your local diy shop and smear a little on the heel and sole to add grip.

2. If the shoe is particularly tight or stiff, grab it by the heel and gently knead it back and forth to loosen the sole, being very careful not to break the sole.

3. If the shoes are leather, waterproof the outside of the shoes as a protective measure against bad weather.

4. Wear the shoes around the house or in your office for a few days, with a pair of thick white cotton socks.

5. Get a pair of heel liners from your  local drugstore, and place them on the inside heel of the shoe. The liners will also keep your heels from slipping and rubbing.

6. Use a shoe stretcher to continue the process overnight.

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4. tongue

5. vamp

6. toebox

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11.

12.

13. midsole

14. counter

17. shank

18.

19. heel

20. toplift

mocassin

d'orsay

oxford

brogue

Here are some tips on how to get the most from your shoes :-

General Advice
On the first few occasions wear your new shoes in dry conditions.
Thereafter, try to avoid wearing the same shoes on successive days. It prolongs their life and helps to keep them smart and comfortable. Keep them on shoe-trees whenever you can and always use a shoe horn.

Wet Shoes
Never dry wet shoes near fires, radiators or hot pipes. Slow natural drying at normal room temperature is best. The moisture absorbed by the leather during wear needs at least 24 hours to evaporate naturally. Stuffing with newspaper will help to absorb the moisture and reframe the shoe.

Cleaning
Good calf, grain and kid leathers deserve good treatment. Always clean regularly with a brush or damp cloth to remove all traces of dirt before applying a good quality shoe cream or polish of the correct colour.

Suede Shoes
Dry shoes before  removing all dirt, brush up the nap using a rubber or stiff bristled suede brush. Stains may be carefully removed with a proprietary solvent cleaner. Bald patches can be restored with fine sand paper.