Softening leather ballerinas in specific spots

[drspouse]

I have a pair of lovely Camper shoes. They are this style (and they are Twins, but an older pattern, kind of a patchwork pattern with different colours on each shoe).
They pinch/rub on the top of my foot (front of my foot where the kind of U shape is) and also at my heel. I am used to shoes doing this, my feet are just a funny shape and I have very sensitive heels.
Is there anything I can do to stop this? I will be putting felt inside the heels but I feel like this would push my feet forwards so my arches would rub even more on the front bit. Can I soften them (they are very soft leather anyway), reshape them somehow, do something at the back for my heels?

I sit with new leather shoes on my lap whilst watching TV and massage the areas that rub or pinch to soften the leather. My dear DF spent hours doing it with my new shoes when I was a child and it works!

What an excellent idea! I will give it a go.

Have you tried regular application of dubbin?

I have not, nobody in the family has leather walking boots so we don't have any in but I'll have a look out. Would that help if the insides are stiff?

I find my shoes rub on top of my foot as you’ve described quite often. I bought some shoe trees from Amazon for some stiff loafers not expecting much but after about a week they’ve really loosened up.

https://amzn.eu/d/06trRfOi

My grandmother swore by her way of doing it: you put boiling water in them. Once they are softened (and cooled down) you wear them. The leather will set around the shape of your foot and be comfortable ever after.

She generally gave very good housekeeping advice, so I would trust her, but I don't have leather shoes so I never tried it.

Apply Compeed blister plasters where they rub and wear them around the house.

Eeek! not sure the soft leather of these shoes will like boiling water.

I wear thick socks with ballet flats around the house which helps to stretch them.

I wouldn't recommend putting dubbin on them.

You can get leather stretching spray. You spray the inside of the shoe and wear them until dry. It works very well as the shoes mould to your feet exactly.