SHEfinds | Justine Ingersoll Schwartz
Ahh, we love fall and the smell of new boots and shoes that comes with it. Can you smell the cardboard and tissue paper in the air? It’s scrumptious. The only problem is that brand-new shoes come with a side of blisters and foot pain. They’re just an inevitable side effect of wearing stiff new shoes straight out of the box and can’t really be avoided (unless you want to hire a shoe double in your exact size to break your shoes in for you… #goals).
If you’re wearing new shoes for the first time, you have to be prepared for these inevitable issues. You should keep your purse stocked with these two items that basically solve any shoe problem that might arise – from blisters to soreness in your toes, heels, or the balls of your feet. What are they?
1. Medical tape. Tape is the ultimate MacGyver tool. You can use it to tape your third and fourth toes together to make heels more comfortable. You can use it to cover a blister or like a Band-Aid on your heels. You can use it inside the shoe to cover a spot that’s uncomfortable (like a piece that’s jutting out and piercing your skin). You can use it on the bottom of the shoe to prevent slippage (tape two pieces in an X on the sole). You can even use it like a lint roller to remove white fluffs from suede or other fabric shoes. Any shoe issue you’re having, you can fix with medical tape.
2. Footpads. You’ll need a padded insert of some kind for the ball of your foot. For heels, this will help take some pressure off the ball. There are several brands that make these inserts. You can get them at the drugstore, and you can find them in every width, texture, and size imaginable. (For six-inch Louboutins, I suggest bringing out the big guns and getting a gel insert from a medi brand like Dr Scholl’s.) I also really like the Foot Petals ones (they also help backless shoes stay in place!).
So, there you have it: the only two products you need with you when breaking in new shoes.
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