Heel slippage on monks/loafers? [shoe noob question]

In RTW shoes, heel slippage is more likely to occur in laceless shoes since the fit can't be as precise and the maker has to make sure the shoe will fit a number of different ankles.

In my experience, significant heel slippage has always been a deal-breaker. When your foot moves around so much in the shoe as you walk, it becomes incredibly uncomfortable, and causes significant creasing and wrinkling.

That being said, my understanding is that a slight bit of heel slippage is to be expected at first, and it will subside as the leather of the heel softens and conforms more to your foot.

It's not just the leather of the heel. Until the sole is broken in, it is much more rigid, so it is fighting to stay flat as your heel lifts when you walk. As the shoes break in and the sole begins to soften where it naturally folds, the resistance lessens and the heel of the shoe will come up with the heel of your foot.

This is a problem I've had to deal with because of a narrow foot--less so with monks, where some tightening is possible (and you might think about having another hole added to the strap) than with loafers, where it has been a real problem. Mafoofan is right about new shoes, and I always make it a practice to take new shoes firmly in hand and flex them a lot before wearing them. I try to get as much bend in the sole as possible and repeat this a number of times. The other place where flexing helps is the heel, where, without actually breaking it down, I flex it a number of times too, since once it becomes more malleable, it will flex more with your foot and rub less. Then wearing them, where flexing will occur naturally, will help some.

Sometimes, however, it is necessary to go a little beyond this. Two remedies that have been suggested are: (a) heel grips (thin textured pads that attach to the inside of the heel) and (b) tongue pads that stick to the tongue, and which, at least in theory, help to push your foot back into the heel, thus reducing slippage. In my own case, I haven't had much luck with tongue pads (which have produced a little discomfort to the top of my feet), but the heel grips have helped a little. Wearing thicker socks with shoes that slip should help a little too.

I've heard that shoes can be "tightened" a little by a skilled cobbler, although I haven't had this done. Perhaps another forumer can comment on this. In the end, however, if none of these remedies solves the problem, you are right and truly screwed, and the shoes will likely just end up unworn.

Expect the heel slippage at first due to the short break-in period. Be aware of the distinction between slippage - where your heel moves slightly up and down in the heel cup - and a shoe that is too big where the heel actually slips high enough to come out of the heel cup, i.e. the most curved part of the heel. If your heel is raising above that (although it's still inside the shoe, but barely), your shoes are too big. But it appears that isn't the case with you. enjoy them!

I realise no one has posted on this in a LONG time but with the new extreme popularity of smoking slippers I thought I would try and see if I can get a response....So I took the plundge and ordered a pair of Stubbs and Wootton's...and actually at the same time got a pair of the Rugby smoking slippers off Ebay for a heck of a deal. Right now there is a lot of slippage and it's really annoying. They shoes fit there is practically no room between my toe and the toe of the shoe....is this a problem with velvet slippers?

I think I may have finally found the answer to slipping heels. I went shopping for smoking slippers (studded) and couldn't believe how loose they all were in the heel. But come to think of it, I have had that problem with almost all shoes, including dress pumps. I bought a pair online hoping the brand name would make a difference; but not so. What I think has happened is that shoes manufacturers are getting lazy and forgetting about true fit. I recall that in the past I was able to buy shoes that were a B at the front and an A in the heel. This is called a combination last. As far as I can tell, this construction is hardly available any more, at least in designer type shoes. Trying to get these new shoes to fit, I bought some heel grips with little effect. I bought pads for the ball of the foot, and although they pushed the foot back, the heels were too just too wide. That was the key: the heel is just too wide. So I started installing the heel grips on the side of the heel (on the inside of course). This made the heel narrower for a much better fit. I can now wear my smoking loafers without the heels flopping all over the place as I walk, and I'm going to try this fix for dress shoes as well.

By the way, what are monks, anyhow?