will leather sandals really stretch?

[wannagetbackstage]

I've fallen in love with some sandals (not sure how to link a picture but they are ASH Rush sandals in rose gold). But I can't get them in my size. End of season, out of stock etc. I've found them in a 38 and I'm usually a 39. The sole is the right size but the straps across my foot/toes are tight :(
The sales assistants are telling me that they are leather so they will stretch.

Will they? Are they just trying to make a sale?
Can a cobbler stretch them?
I really love them but I do need them to stretch.

Keep or return?

I had a pair of Dune leather sandals last summer. They stretched so much I couldn’t wear them. So might be worth a try.

Yes, but maybe not a full size. I bought some Clarks sandals 4 weeks ago in a 6 that JUST fitted, a 6.5 would have been perfect. They now fit very comfortably, whereas the 6.5 may have been too big.

Wet newspaper will stretch them, but probably not a whole size, as PPs have said.

I wore them pretty much constantly through the pain for the first 2 weeks to stretch them though, like yours it was across the top they felt too tight. It hurt, and rubbed the skin but it's worked.

I wear them around the house wearing a pair of sports socks. Not a good look, but does the job.

Mine stretched - I wore them around the house with thin socks to begin with, then thick socks for about a week. Totally did the job and are now comfiest sandals I own!

Thank you all! I'm going to wear them around the house, thin socks, thick socks, wet newspaper! I think half a size will probably do it :)

You can get shoe stretchers so you can forgo the wet newspapers. Good for width issues rather than length.

Wet newspaper will not stretch them and isn't a method I'd ever recommend or even heard of except on here.

My very excellent shoe repair guy taught me the only way to stretch leather shoes is using the steam from a kettle and your hand (or a broom handle) to manipulate the leather. (Position the part of the shoe over the spout. Do this several times over the period of a few days and the leather will give)

The length will not stretch in anyway at all, so if that fits you/is the right length, then that's fine.