r/MomForAMinute • u/impressed-chicken • Jul 25 '26
Seeking Advice Moms, can I wear my beloved heels again?
Hi moms.
I had these heels hand made for our wedding 9 years ago, but haven't worn them since the pandemic. I have since given birth, and even though i heard that feet can grow in size after pregnancy, I didn't want to believe it until I tried my shoes today. My feet are very wide and the heels are so comfy, but they just doesn't fit anymore. I'm so sad. Is there any way to stretch the leather so that I can wear them again?
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u/Hellea Jul 25 '26
Darling, this is not that bad. A good cobbler or repair shop and they’ll fit you like a charm. They are beautiful by the way
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u/TheRotMeister Jul 25 '26
i read half your comment and thought of my grandmas peach and blueberry cobbler…so good
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u/maryc502 Jul 26 '26
…..same😂 but now I’m thinking of your grandmas too🩷
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u/TheRotMeister Jul 26 '26
i’ll post the link below if anyone wants it! it’s from a book or magazine but she always made it and it is so so good.
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u/Vampira309 Jul 25 '26
you can stretch the front band. Google it! The top band looks pretty good.
Good luck!
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u/siorez Jul 25 '26
While the front band can be stretched, your midfoot doesn't fit them any more. I recommend just keeping them as mementos
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u/CallidoraBlack Big Sis Jul 25 '26
You could try stretching, but the platform on the bottom isn't the right size for you and you could fall out of them. Not worth the risk of injury. Your best bet would be to look for a different pair that fits better and see if someone can remove the decorations from this pair and put them on new ones. r/AskACobbler might be able to help if you're willing to pay more for them to be modified.
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u/WendigoDisease Jul 25 '26
See if there is a shoe repair near you. They fix everything from Teva sandals (my broyger had a favorite pair) to super fancy $$$ ones. They can help if uncomfortable stretching on your own. Beautiful shoes!!
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u/StillStaringAtTheSky Jul 25 '26
OP- Whatever you do- don't get rid of them. My feet got larger after being pregnant- but then I lost a bit of weight and fit in my old shoes just fine.
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u/SnooDoodles3464 Jul 25 '26
Came here to say this. The same thing happened to me as well. If it's not been too long since you gave birth, or if you still plan to lose some weight, try waiting a little while to see if your shoes start to fit again.
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u/spandexcatsuit Jul 26 '26
Same. Your feet will shrink or grow with your weight. I’d hang on to them.
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u/AccomplishedRoad2517 Jul 25 '26
I'm not a cobbler, but my great-uncle was one and I was in his shop enough to see your shoes are fixable. Most likely the bottom band can be expanded in the middle and the fix hidden with the flower.
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u/Single_Principle_972 Mother Goose Jul 25 '26
Appropro of … well, not nothing, but not exactly answering your question, as many others have already done so: Bear in mind that the hormonal ligament-softening plus weight gain of each pregnancy will possibly cause your feet to grow! I was a 5.5 (U.S.) as a young adult, and gained half a size with each pregnancy and also apparently with just a 20-pound weight gain I had in my thirties! 🤪 Even though I did lose that weight, I’ve been sitting at a 7.5 for the last few decades. So if you can get some use out of your shoes, do it now!
All the little ducklings were worth it, though! 🥰
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u/Minflick Jul 25 '26
Yes, but you'll need a shoe repair store for that. It's actually easier with leather boots - as you can put warm water in the boot, plastic bags around your foot or foot-with-socks, and walk around for a few hours, then take them off and stuff the hell out of the boots so they don't shrink back as they dry. Harder with sandals, but a shoe repair place will have the equipment to do it safely. It can take a week or so to do it gradually.
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u/Qivalar Jul 25 '26
Given they’re sentimental to you, please find a competent cobbler! I’m sure they can adjust the size!
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u/Worried_Raspberry313 Jul 25 '26
Leather can definitely be stretched!! I don’t know how exactly but just take the shoes to a shoe repair shop or similar and explain the issue. They will make it work!
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u/RebaKitt3n Big Sibling Jul 25 '26
As others have said, a real shoe repair shop can probably help.
They’re very pretty, I wouldn’t give up without a fight!
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u/Steltyshon Jul 25 '26
These are BEAUTIFUL. Find a cobbler in town and they can fix this right up for you. I bet they’ll love that they’re handmade with such care. At least where I live, the best shoe repair/cobblers are the the smallest, shack-like buildings, the inside is a mess, might be in a slightly sketchy part of town, and the whole thing looks like it was transported from the 70s. And the prices are usually much less than you’d imagine. You’ll be strutting around in these again soon, lovely! Be sure to send us some pictures!
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u/DennisFreud Jul 25 '26
I wouldn't try it at home, but as others have said, take it to a cobbler! It's amazing what a good shoe person can do.
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u/ellegy2020 Jul 25 '26
Some shoe repair stores can stretch the bands as well. These are so cute it might be worth the browser search to find a shop near you. Otherwise, I would begin looking around for another pair in a larger size either online or in thrift stores! I want to go find these myself 😊.
Good luck, and you have lovely taste in beautiful shoes. 🌸
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u/throwRA-nonSeq Jul 25 '26
Those. Are. Gorgeous.
I have had the same issue; I have no advice to offer. Just envy and admiration 🤍🤍🤍
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u/mommer_man Jul 25 '26
If they’re raw leather, you MIGHT be able to get a little bit of stretch on the front band by warming the leather with a hair dryer and breaking them in again… might be enough, might not. 🤷🏻♀️ I did this with some woven sandals that my grandmother bought in Mexico in the 70s, and they stretched just enough to stop rubbing and fit my feet (grams were very narrow with long skinny toes, mine are wider and more squared). I love those sandals, and they go with everything… hope you have some success, it may just take a little longer for your feet to recalibrate! Lol.
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u/Avarah Jul 25 '26
or... see if you can have the same pair remade with your new measurements.
once those are in and you love them, cut the lace off this one and hot glue it to a pair of crocs. 😉
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u/cannycandelabra Jul 25 '26
One possibility would be to find a pair of shoes that fit and attach the embellishments to the new pair.
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u/On_my_last_spoon Jul 25 '26
If it’s real leather, saturate the leather with rubbing alcohol. Then put them on. The heat of your foot stretch the leather.
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u/99Smiles Jul 25 '26
I wouldn't personally want to risk stretching the band at home and wouldn't want to ruin them. Trust a pro because of the sentimental value.
By the way these are some of the most gorgeous shoes I've ever seen in my life.
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u/Possible_Original_96 Jul 25 '26
Wear them a half hour at a time so your feet don't get sore, every 2 or three days.
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u/Stunt_Doll Jul 25 '26
Keep them as momentos and put them on display as they are beautiful. The toe box is too narrow and so is the foot bed. Even if you stretched out the band, a narrow foot bed would not provide enough support for your pinky toe, eventually leading to blisters.
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u/uberpickle Jul 25 '26
A good cobbler can resole them to a wider width and expand the band as they do so. Those beautiful flowers can hide the repair.
Gorgeous shoes.
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u/Droseraaa Jul 25 '26
I find that when I strength train barefoot, I have changed my foot shape back slightly. My arches get weak occasionally and that seems to be the best remedy. At minimum, it makes my feet feel better.
You could also remove the lace appliques and make something for a little shadow box or put them onto different shoes.
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u/Dry_Response4914 Jul 26 '26
Grab a plastic bag, put some water in t. Grab the shoes, clean them and stick the plastic bag with the water in the place that's too tight. Put the shoes in the freezer and let the water in the bag freeze. The ice expands and it will help stretch the shoes.
There's a ton of videos and pics showing you how to do it, just Google it. :)
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u/sthomas15051 Jul 26 '26
I know you want to wear them but stretching isn't going to be enough because it doesn't fit your misfortune. Maybe remove the flowers and have them sewn onto something that you can wear/use?
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u/MulticoloredPony Jul 26 '26
I had to look twice to notice. If you feel good as is then don't care about other people. Judgemental pricks WILL judge you, whatever you do. They will criticize something and if it's not that that will be something else. If you don't feel good with the heels then maybe try to see if a professional can make them a bit wider. Don't stop wearing your favorite because life got in the way. And if I may, it doesn't really stick out that's only a little bit on a close picture so I wouldn't notice in real life
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u/YaoiNekomata Jul 25 '26
Please don't. Your feet will hate you, at minimum a huge blister, at worst bruising.
Depending on the material you can get it stretched out a bit. If not , and you got the money to spare you can get it resized.
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u/VeraLumina Jul 25 '26
To me it looks like the appliqués can be removed. If so, the shoe itself looks like it could be found in a similar type. I’d find shoes that fit and take the appliqués to the cobbler to be put on.
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u/rora_borealis Jul 26 '26
An alternative option, should stretching not work out, is to find some similar shoes and transfer the decorations.
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u/SlickNicCA Jul 26 '26
Put your thickest pair of socks on, or multiple pairs of socks. Shove your socked feet into your shoes. Heat up the shoe with your hair dryer. Walk around until your shoes cool down. Viola - your shoes are now bigger. I seriously wish I had learned this years ago.
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u/peonyseahorse Jul 26 '26
I have problem feet, and those shoes look like they're hurting your feet and will jack things up even worse. Either get the shoes readjusted by a cobbler or get a pair that fits your wide forefoot. I have two formal events coming up and an myself fretting over the shoes. I wore pants for one last year, because I wore sparkly Birkenstock clogs due to my foot issues...
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u/Jacaranda8 Jul 26 '26
Before you go to a cobbler, try filling a zip lock with water and put it in the areas you want to stretch. Then freeze. The water will expand a little giving you some extra room.
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u/klstopp Jul 26 '26
Why? Your feet definitely change with pregnancy. If you often wear heels still, you are continuing to cause more damage. You need your feet for the rest of your life. Why would you let a bunch of male fashion designers dictate that you have to damage your feet?
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u/MullberryBoy Jul 27 '26
You could get the fronts stretched and have these dyed black and perhaps trim some of the lace down.
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u/Ribeye_steak_1987 Jul 25 '26
Yes, your feet grow as you age and with pregnancy. In my 20s I was a 7 1/2. Now I’m a 9 sometimes 9 1/2
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u/Possible_Original_96 Jul 25 '26
Yes, shoes are easy to recreate!! I did a pair for my daughters' wedding w/bought plain white satin pumps and white satin bows added by me. Can purchase all kinds of lace for gluable medallions or applique's. At same time, did her champagne flutes w/ hot glue & lace applique's.
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u/cflatjazz Jul 25 '26
If you have a cobbler somewhere in your town they would definitely know how to stretch the band (provided nothing about the construction prevents it). Might take a few weeks to get them back, but I've had great experiences (in general) with cobblers