• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • No Man Walks Alone one of our oldest sponsors owned and operated by one of the most discerning buyers I know, is right now offering up to 50% off on their winter sale. Browse their extensive selection of mesnwear, shoes and accessories, and get something truly special, like this special collaboration Western style shirt by G. Inglese in a rich, thick, and luxe brown cotton moleskin, with subtly contasting yellow snaps

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Stretching JM Weston loafers -- HELP

JohnnyCrockett

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
859
Reaction score
7
I have a pair of JM Weston Signature 180 loafers which are just a bit too tight in the toe box. My foot expands and contracts naturally, depending on day of the week/activity, etc. On days when my foot is smallest, the shoes are not comfortable, and on days when my days are a bit larger, the shoes are nearly unwearable.

Can I stretch these shoes (lengthwise and widthwise in the toe box)? Will stretching the toe box ruin them because of the stitched apron? I want to be sure that the toe box stretching won't just split apart the stitched apron.

Do these stretch much after wearing them a bit? I've had these for several months, but I just haven't been able to wear them enough (because they're so uncomfortable) to break them in fully.

While the toe box is tight in width and almost feels short, the area around my instep and heel is nearly too wide, and my heel slips a bit.

Ouch just thinking about wearing these beauties.
 

JayJay

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
24,297
Reaction score
439
A cobbler can try to stretch them, but it sounds as though it won't be enough to be comfortable.
 

bengal-stripe

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Mar 23, 2002
Messages
4,660
Reaction score
1,416
You really can't stretch shoes in length. Some stretchers are supposed to increase the length, but all they do, is to push the heel out.

It sounds to me the shoes are too short and also too wide. That your toes get squeezed, has something to do with the length. Think, if the shoes were longer, the toes would be further out, so the narrow part would be equally further out. (The toe section is shaped like a funnel.)

It sounds to me, the shoes are at least half a size too short and one width too wide.
 

JohnnyCrockett

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2008
Messages
859
Reaction score
7
Hmm-- I think you might be right, and that's no good!
Is there any way to salvage the fit? Resale value on these on the sales forum (given that they've been worn 5-10 times, albeit for short periods of time) is going to be a fraction of what I paid...and I really do love the shoes.
 

aquarius

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2008
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello Johnny,
I might be interested in buying your Weston loafers, being a great fan of them !
Could you let me see some pictures of them, and provide any further details ?
My e-mail is [email protected]
Best wishes,
Brian.
 

ohm

Distinguished Member
Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
1,340
Reaction score
4
Originally Posted by JohnnyCrockett
Hmm-- I think you might be right, and that's no good!
Is there any way to salvage the fit? Resale value on these on the sales forum (given that they've been worn 5-10 times, albeit for short periods of time) is going to be a fraction of what I paid...and I really do love the shoes.


I'd try buying a pair of "professional" shoe stretchers and then liberally applying leather conditioner to the area you're stretching. Leave the stretchers in for a few weeks and reapply the conditioner every few days and I would think you'd be fine.
 

mikeber

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
228
Reaction score
1
How did the shoes feel when you first tried them on? Did they seem comfortable then and only later you found that its not the case?
 

Teatree

New Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2024
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hang in there! I bought mine two years ago and had the exact same problem. I therefore did not wear them too much, but intensified wearing them recently. And a couple of weeks ago I thought - wow, now they feel pretty good!
 

Markintosh

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2008
Messages
511
Reaction score
1,010
I’m in the exact same situation. I just got a pair of 9.5 E - they’re fine in the length, although they are the shortest shoes that I own when I measure the outside from the sole to the tip of the toolbox. They’re just a tiny bit tight in width - where my issue is is the instep.

I probably need a 10 F and I’d slide right into those. They might be a tiny bit big which is fine. But the problem is these are a special pair - they’re blue with a rubber sole and I really like them and they don’t come in a 10 F and the other blue 180 loafer just went out of stock in 10 F.

I’m wondering how much they stretch if I should even do that? With shoe trees I’m $1000 into this. When I measure the bottom of my Aldens, which fits so well, they’re 12 1/2 inches long and 4 1/2 inches wide. These are 12 1/4 and 4 1/4 wide. I took them out of the box and they looked a tiny bit small.

I can still return for a refund. I just emailed JMW two days ago. I have not heard back.

Frustrating!
 

Featured Sponsor

Who are your favorite fabric producers for MTM/Bespoke shirts? Choose up to 3

  • Albini

  • Canclini

  • Thomas Mason

  • Grandi & Rubinelli

  • Monti

  • Bonfanti

  • Söktas

  • David & John Anderson

  • Leggiuno

  • Testa

  • S.I.C. Tess

  • Alumo

  • Getzner


Results are only viewable after voting.

Forum statistics

Threads
523,609
Messages
10,749,929
Members
229,822
Latest member
jbs390
Top