So boots are like the story of the Three Bears. Y'all know, too hot or too big, too cold because they are cutting the circulation off in your feet because they are too tight, and then there is jusssst right. We always want to be in the just right zone but if it is not there naturally, most of the time we can get there with a dab of finagling. Remember, it is easier to fix if the boots are a tad too big instead of a touch too small!
Y'all keep in mind that leather boots are leather not just because it is tough but because it will and is meant to mold to fit you and your unique foot! This may take time and is always something to keep in mind when buying preloved boots.
Too Big...
Well, I must say Boot Babes, boots are like our britches and some days we need our fat boots. Throughout our lives as women our feet size can vary and swelling of the feet can ruin even the most perfect fitting boots. This right here is why I have to say go big or go home y'all. You do not want to cram your footsies into a boot that puts your toes in permanent yoga poses, nope. That ain't pretty y'all and it surely will never be comfortable!
So, you went big and need to get to just right, here is how. Ariat. The Boot Babe says Ariat because no other brand has the squish or the varieties. Ariat insoles are the best for fixing boots that are too big by a touch and the best thing is that they come in various toe shapes and all whole and half sizes. Look at your toe type and pick the matching Ariat toe. They come in square (for a snip toe), wide square, and round. If you have a 0 toe, you can get the square that looks like a snip toe and trim the edges into the point so they fit into the boot better. Next is the size, if the boot is a tiny bit too big, go 1/2 size DOWN from the size of the boot you are placing it in. If the boot fits you like a floppy clown shoe, you can you the same size as the boot it is going into but you have to work a little harder to press the back, sides, and toe into the boot. Shoe sizes go up about 1/4 of an inch per 1/2 size so it ain't much but it sure does feel like it.
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| WIDE SQUARE TOE |
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| SQUARE TOE |
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| ROUND TOE |
If you need a cushy feel, like tennis shoes in your boots, this trick will work for you too. This can fix comfort issues where the ball of your foot hurts with wear your boots because the sole is too hard. Remember this when buying your boots because to get the comfort you may need to go up 1/2 a size. This is great for higher heeled boots that push the toes forward! If y'all do this for high heeled boots, go up 1/2 to a whole size but I promise it will help you wear them all day long with more comfort than you imagined!
The floppy calf issue. Y'all, don't laugh, it is a real thing! Babes, not all is lost if you are blessed or cursed with small legs. Maybe you will not like wearing them on your bare legs, but here is how to get past the issue just a bit so you can still wear the boots you love that are perfect in every other way. Wear the wide calf boots with jeans or thicker fleece leggings. The velvet and cable knit leggings are also much thicker! If that does not help, add a pair of leg warmers, boot cuffs, or tall boot socks over the pants. These will take up space and make you feel so much more confident about your legs in your boots!
Too small...
Boots can be too small in so many places Boot Babes. Where they rub you the wrong way will determine how to get them back in line. Again, if your toes are crunched and screaming at you, call it a day. Forfeit. Put down the pretty boots and walk away slowly. Remember if it is bad now, after 12 hours, 2 margaritas, and some tortilla chips, you will want to cut off your own feet like you just got possessed by Oñate!!!
Ok ya'll, if the foot is just the tiniest bit too tight, you can work with that. Instep tightness is another problem that can be fixed this way. One, you can wear your boots in a monsoon, stick them in the trough, or to go wade through the creek so they get good and soaked. What? that does not sound appealing? Ok, two. You can wet just the inside of the boot preferably in the summer or inside the house. or you can soak the thickest socks you have in HOT water and then spray the socks with rubbing alcohol. Then, yeah you put the boots on your wet socks and wear all. day. long! 10-12 hours is best to get the socks dry and the maximum stretch possible. It is not super appealing but if it gets the boot to fit comfortably, I guarantee it will be worth it in the end!
If getting the boot on is the issue, stock up on grocery bags or produce bags! Slip your foot in, wiggle it around and rotate your ankle until the boot pops on, and then pull the top of the bag so it rips off your foot. No, contrary to popular belief, y'all don't need to wear the bag on your foot all day. It is just a helper to get it on over a tight spot. Most of the time, with wear this gets easier as the boots stretch and mold to fit you.
If the calves of your boots make your legs feel like they are roped and tied, there is hope there too for an at home fix! Patience is the key here and there are a variety of ways to get your whole legs settled in. For the next to impossible to get on, it is scary but will work. Here, soaking the boots in the trough or bathtub ain't such a bad idea. Don't use the hot water you used on the sock and go colder for embroidery or boots with a lot of color. The bathtub water will be colored. DON'T you worry. You have not ruined anything! This is the best fix for tall boots with a tight fit like the Old Gringo Mayra. Next, while they are wet, slather on your favorite boot conditioner on the inside of the boot. Then slide it up your leg as far as it will go. Throughout the day, pull them up more and more and more until they are on all the way and there is no more ankle bunching. Walk, squat. FLEX your calves as much as possible. Again, this is a full day commitment. If you have trouble pulling the wet boot on, think like your Granny and ass a little more grease. Ok, lotion, coconut oil, whatever you use on your legs as moisturizer will work to aid in the slip. You can do it a second day too for stubborn boots. When you are done and the boots are dry, condition the leather to protect it.
So the calves are just a touch too tight but not constricting, just wear them around the house and move around a lot in them. To expedite this, dampen the inside with a water and alcohol mixture! (Y'all don't you be wasting the 1800 on this, use isopropyl or if it is liquor use the cheap stuff!) If you have a small problem spot in the calf, wine bottles and bottles wrapped in a wet dishtowel or placed in a thick wet sock will work too, just much slower and they will still need to be worn a bit to mold to your legs.
Zipper problems? If you have zip up boots that are pretending to be your skinny jeans, it is ok. This is another boot hack that takes some guts and some patience and shaved legs. First, zip as far as you can go. Then every few minutes zip a little farther up your leg. Walk, move. Suck in your calves. Zip a little more until they zip all of the way. Even with a 1 inch or so gap, this will work but it may take a couple of hours to get them zipped all of the way. Again, a little dampness is your friend. Once, you got them on, KEEP MOVIN'! Wear them all day and with each wear they will stretch to fit you a little better.
If you are super fancy there are metal boot stretchers that run about $180 that are magical. They work on the calf and instep but unless you buy a pair of them for more than the cost of a great pair of boots, you have to do one at a time! Don't skimp and get the plastic or wood ones. They are a waste of your money y'all! You can still wet the inside with this way cool make my boots fit tool to help them retain the stretch, to expedite the process, and well yeah, to protect the leather. Stretching the leather when it is wet helps it stretch easier and it minimizes the risk of damage.
Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your
socks!
The Boot Babe
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