Is there an easier way to break in some leather flats?

[FelixFelix]

I've bought some nice brown leather flat pumps recently (which I'm rather excited about as I've not been able to buy myself anything for AGES) but they rub the absolute crap out of the back of my heels

I know they are leather and will stretch/become more flexible with wear but I can't even bear to wear them at the moment.

Are there any tricks I'm missing with how to break them in a bit? They fit nicely but they come up quite high at the back which I think is the cause of the rubbing.

I rub mine with Vaseline, put then in a zip lock bag overnight in the freezer. Helps a lot, but only seems to work if it's real leather.

Whenever I've had this problem I put on a pair of thick socks and wear them in the house for a few hours. It protects your feet but creates a bit of stretch.

Poppy what does the freezer do?! They are real leather.

Thick socks would work I think. It's really irritating as I just want to wear them

After the first wear when they cut my feet to shreds, I usually put blister-plasters on (& around the surrounding area) and keep wearing.

I get chiropodist felt and cut to size and pop in the back. Costs about £1 for a pack and is lovely and soft :+)

Thank you for all the suggestions. Will give them all a try

Best way is to alternate wearing them with another pair for a few weeks. Use Compeed plasters.

Turn a chair on its side so a leg is sticking up. put the heel of the shoe over the end of the chair leg, cover it with something, say, a teatowel and then bash the shit out of it with a rolling pin.
Then push the heel leather around in your warm hands, maybe when you are watching tv or something for an evening. Do it until it is nice and movable.

Then do the wearing in with socks thing afterwards. This works for me.

at this thread!

Have you tried pouring hot candle wax into the shoes and leaving out under a full moon? Does the trick for me.

Rubbing candle wax around the heel is meant to help.

You can buy shoe stretcher type thingies or even take them to a cobbler who will stretch them for you. If you want to do it the hard way I would recommend you buy a pack of Compede as they are much better than a regular plaster on the back of a heel.

Otherwise wear them in the house with thick socks as someone else suggested.

Coasting

I will try anything to be honest! Will work my way down the list.

Thick socks and heat them with a hair dryer and then wear until they cool.

I once took a too-tight pair of shoes to a cobbler. He kept them on a shoe stretcher for day or two, he might also have used additional ye olde methods. I can't be sure.