While I’m not sure about you, I know for a fact that I am a sucker for a pair of cute pair of shoes. However, as I leave the store, already contemplating how to style them, I remember I have to once again repeat my least-favorite task: breaking in shoes.

Now, I have plenty of new shoe-related horror stories (which I’ll share below) and memories of blisters all over my feet, but I have also learned the “tricks of the trade,” so to speak. I no longer have to struggle (well, not as much, anyways) to break in my shoes.

Here, I’ll share three methods I’ve used to break in new shoes, as well as my missteps along the way:

Table of Contents

1. Using Thick Socks

Product Information: Left to Right – Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Sperry Top-Sider

Growing up, I always shopped with my mom. She had a rule: any time I wanted to buy a pair of flats, she would check the back for stiffness. If they were very stiff, she would insist I leave them behind for the sake of my feet.

Unfortunately, as I aged, I slowly strayed away from shopping with my mom. With this new freedom, I was granted access to any shoes I wanted. I remember trying on the cutest pair of flats from Steve Madden and leaving with them minutes later. As soon as I returned home, I realized my mistake: due to the all-over studded design, the pair of flats were completely stiff and inflexible. I was determined to break them in, for the sake of proving my mother wrong.

For the rest of the day, I stomped around the house in those flats and the thickest pair of socks I could find. The next day, I deemed the shoes comfortable enough for a day’s wear… I lasted an hour (looking back I’m very surprised I even made it that long!) at school. The socks had helped, but Mom, you won this battle.