How to Break in Leather Shoes

The aches and pains associated with a new pair of shoes can be brutal. This is why I want to teach you how to break in leather shoes. No matter what they say, pain is never fashionable!

If you’re anything like me, you love getting a pair of new leather shoes. And usually, you can’t wait to slip them on your feet and let the world see their splendor.

Read on to find out how to break in leather shoes here. I'll also touch upon just how long it takes to break in shoes, so be sure to read until the end!

[{"selector":"#anim-0c4a48ed-b2f8-460f-b3cc-6fee317dfdf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Wear them gradually, for short periods at a time. Start at home.

[{"selector":"#anim-036675fd-73cc-45a8-a9ba-da794cf935be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe58dd32-3f3b-4f8f-8579-be4d3f4fc434","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -640.69927%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79489e10-3adc-4713-b214-751e7b28d7d5","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-3df10b86-930d-4cb6-8b44-36630e22e692","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb9dbdda-04b9-4fe3-b1a2-0b95320c004b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] Learn more

Wear thick socks! And use extra padding on sensitive areas.

[{"selector":"#anim-c222d0ab-5e86-42f9-aa0e-03b6308483e3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-43fd0450-9ab6-4b0b-9299-8469aef95b31","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-a89b6ff0-42c6-4723-b843-e4fb0a7f7c32","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-73ce2e2a-311c-4306-a60a-5b260ea1d0fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51d8afec-c467-4792-8ee4-118e495ac1b4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -641.82292%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Try stretching them out with a cedar shoe tree.

[{"selector":"#anim-dce309d0-fac1-4ac6-b70c-6f902f41f709","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-584c0d53-0619-4c40-9eab-f0b1d8c76eb3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-92f8f2bf-8fa3-4a1b-b128-223a94c9ba2f","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ec0a445-b2d7-4cb8-bbfc-b1e564c008e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-174e4f66-2395-4822-854a-8fb45b1f3009","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -890.52829%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

The Potato Method. Yes, Use a Potato! Shape it to the toe bed of your shoe, pat it dry with paper towels, and then stuff it inside.

[{"selector":"#anim-215de353-4721-491e-9f78-eaacba1390ea","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-7afad30d-1c85-428e-93c5-3c07979bc062","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-26376b6c-cd1f-4d7c-8eab-2b41ae9190e8","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3c574c5-cf19-403f-9f82-0860fc3746d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-624aeb29-3793-4b80-a6e0-ebfaaf336206","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -364.62853%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more