6 incredibly useful hacks for breaking in your new shoes

I dare you to find a pain more soul-destroying than a tight, rubbing shoe.

Okay, smart ass, there are worse pains. BUT, any that we voluntarily bring on ourselves?

Regardless of the pure agony with every step when wearing a badly-fitting shoe, we solemnly swear we will never stop wearing ridiculous kicks.

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By Charlie Teather

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So what tricks of the trade actually work when it comes to breaking them in?

Here's our pick of the very best:

1. LITTLE AND OFTEN

It's a good idea to buy shoes well in advance of the event they're specifically for. That way you can break them in gradually, slipping them on when you're at home in the evenings for quick dashes to the loo or to the kitchen for a second pudding. You could even bring them to work and pop them on for your hour stroll at lunch time before slipping your hooves back into your comfy office flats.

2. SANDPAPER YOUR SOLES

...the soles of your shoes, that is. Not your skin. New kicks can be very slippy - especially high heels - and trying to keep yourself from going flying on their debut outing can mean your feet are doing a lot more work than they need to. To avoid getting blisters from ever-scrunched toes, buff some sandpaper on the sole of your shoes to equip them with a bit more grip.

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3. CRANK UP THE HEAT

Using heat on new shoes is a great way to soften and stretch the material. Put on some thick socks, slip on your shoes and gently add heat via a hair dryer. Make sure the heat is evenly distributed by moving the shoe around to avoid melting the material and then walk around in the shoes. The heat will loosen the fabric, while the socks will stretch it out.