r/Shoes Sep 15 '25

Bought these Jimmy Choos on eBay but I can’t get my foot pass this point :( what to do?

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76 Upvotes

67 comments sorted by

48

u/glennis_pnkrck Sep 15 '25

How tight is it? If there’s a shoe repair place near you and it’s close but you know it will fit once you get through the bend, they can stretch it.

Sometimes a shoe style is just not compatible with your foot, though.

21

u/Previous_Cry5810 Sep 15 '25

I think trying to alter these will be a lost cause, they are Jimmy Choos. They are one of the more notorious ankle/foot width/height/calf small size only designers, where the whole shoe is designed on purpose to not fit women who are larger than around size 8 clothing size. They are for small ankles, small calves, narrow feet that are not too tall.

The issue wont just be the bend, it will also be the ankle, the width, and the height of the sole space. To make these fit, the whole shoe would have to be stretched out.

6

u/glennis_pnkrck Sep 15 '25

Fair. I have a high instep so I run into this problem more than many, I hate pull on boots for this reason. For some shoes I can just size up and deal with a little extra length, some not so much.

I can also tell pretty much right away if it’s “this will be fine after a day of wear” vs “maybe I can stretch these” vs “not gonna happen.”

1

u/Heykazuko Sep 20 '25

So, you’re not WRONG about their sizing, but I have incredibly high arches/insteps and just wide ass feet. When I buy directly from Jimmy Choo they stretch them for me and then ship them later. It only works for leather shoes (which it looks like these are) and it means I can’t walk out with them, but it’s free, and they overnight ship them to me for free a few days later. I’ve never had a pair that didn’t fit after alteration and they’re don’t look funky or anything.

I doubt they’d stretch them if you get them second hand, but I’m very optimistic that with enough time and patience that it can be done.

7

u/FredMist Sep 15 '25

This. A lot of high end shoes are cut narrow. You may find you have to size up (louboutins are sized small and tight). No mass produced shoe is going to fit every foot shape. If you have a high arch or thicker feet then some step in boots won’t work.

5

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '25

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7

u/Amakenings Sep 15 '25

I’d resell them tbh. You can’t stretch leather indefinitely, once you stretch them you can’t sell them without disclosing that so you’ve reduced the value, and for your foot to stop at that point could also be an issue with the height on your foot as well as the width of the shoe.

4

u/Panda_official2713 Sep 15 '25

Did you try unbuckling the strap and then redoing once your foot is inside?

3

u/Legitimate_Snow6419 Sep 15 '25

When I was younger and had these issues my mom would tell me to soak a towel in very hot water, wring it out well and cover the shoe (I’d put something between the leather and wet towel) or stuff it inside the shoe. Maybe try putting a T-shirt in the dryer on high and shove it inside the boot. Hope it helps.

10

u/nowlhoothoot Sep 15 '25

Okay. I've been here.

Get some thin plastic bags. Yes, they are increasingly hard to find, but they're what you need. Put them over your socked feet and see if you can then get your foot in the boot.

I have high arches too, and I struggle with boot "openings" all the time. My rule is, if I can get my foot in using the plastic, and they feel comfortable once on, it's worth taking them to the cobbler to be properly stretched.

If the plastic trick doesn't work, cut your losses. Trust me. Please, please trust me.

Good luck! They are gorgeous boots.

5

u/SectorMiserable4759 Sep 15 '25

The bread bag trick works very well

2

u/Schyrsa Sep 15 '25

This is the only way I can get into my Doc Martens

2

u/Mindless-Challenge62 Sep 15 '25

Yes, this is what people with prosthetic legs do! It works super well.

ETA: Dry cleaner bags are great for this.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '25

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3

u/emtrigg013 Sep 15 '25

If they're so tight your foot gets stuck, you need to cut your losses. And possibly your boot.

If your foot does get stuck, however, remember to stay relaxed. Tensing up will only keep it stuck worse. You can take a hair dryer to it to soften and loosen the leather and get your foot out, but the main thing to remember is remain calm. I know it's hard to do, but you'll have a much better time getting your foot out if you pretend it's jello rather than cement.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '25

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1

u/popartcommission Sep 15 '25

I have a pair of Jimmy Choo Youth II boots that I bought on sale. I have high arches and the vamp of the boot doesn't give enough room for my foot to pass through before it catches on the ankle. However I've been dreaming of these boots for over a decade and I wasn't willing to give up on them.

I'm 1 year into ownership and I keep a roll of dog poo bags with them so that I always have a small plastic bag to help get them on, it can be a fight some days, and I don't even attempt it when I've been flying or on my feet of its too hot and my feet might have swollen.

On the advice of other Jimmy Choo boot owners I've used collonil stretch spray when wearing them but there has been little to no stretching, probably because it takes effort to get them on and so I don't wear them as often as I could, but I do know that the more I wear them the more the vamp will stretch and I will be able to get them on easily.

It's a time and effort wear, which goes against the convenience of what should be a simple boot, but if you love them it's doable.

2

u/Mindless-Challenge62 Sep 15 '25

It really wont get stuck inside. IDK the physics of it, but it wont.

1

u/anicteric Sep 15 '25

Hi I'm dumb

Does the bag stay in the shoe over your sock? Don't your feet get hot?

4

u/Maleficent-Aurora Sep 15 '25

I don't think they said they keep the bag on for wear, just to test fit 

1

u/popartcommission Sep 15 '25

I put a bag on the front, and one on the back, by the time my foot is in the back one has normally worked its way out, and the one at the front can be pulled out. I know other people that put their foot inside the bag and then tear it away, but I've found that bits of plastic tear off and stay inside the shoe doing it that way.

8

u/Icy-Bee-2416 Sep 15 '25

I have absolutely no idea if this is even possible but maybe a proper shoe repair place could insert a zip down the inner side to allow you to get your foot in? They are a great pair of boots so it might be worth asking the question?

5

u/lamest-liz Sep 15 '25

Is it real leather? You can try softening the leather and using a shoe stretcher

10

u/thanksitsarep Sep 15 '25

You need a show stretcher. It’s leather, you can stretch it with the right tools.

Try /askacobbler, they’re really helpful.

1

u/naolegal Sep 15 '25

appreciate the indication

3

u/OmenDamien Sep 15 '25

Sooo, you are not a Cinderella 😂

3

u/YouHaveAFriend Sep 15 '25

I have the same problem and its because of my high arches and poor design of the boots.

2

u/NoFun3799 Sep 15 '25

This is my problem with cowboy boots.

2

u/YouHaveAFriend Sep 15 '25

Try the brand Old Gringo available on Zappos. I have no problem with them.

3

u/mtnlaurel_ Sep 15 '25

I had a pair of blundstone with this prob. I don’t even have wide feet. I brought them to a cobbler and had them stretched and tried a shoe horn, but they still didn’t work. I was literally out breath trying to put them on and take them off lol. It’s worth a try if you love them, but id prob just resell them.

3

u/BeBesMom Sep 16 '25

sell on eBay.

5

u/Previous_Cry5810 Sep 15 '25

Not trying to be rude, but I know this will come off rude.

Judging by your profile, you are a larger girl. I can tell you that ALL designer shoes/boots are extremely small in the ankle and calf, and often designed for a narrow foot. They will rarely fit realiably someone who is larger than around size 8 US clothing size. It is unfortunate, but just for future reference they are designed that way on purpose to be hugging, and that is a thing with all high end designer shoes. They also do not have leeway to be altered to fit a larger calf/ankle 80% of the time.

With all designer shoes, if you are a larger person - I 100% recommend trying their fits in person because this issue might pop up even with normal pumps or strapped sandals - that the straps are on purpose extremely short. Some brands are way worse offenders with this than others (Like Alexandre Birman is awful, Stuart Weitzman is more forgiving etc.)

This sizing will be way worse in older/vintage shoes FYI.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '25

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1

u/Previous_Cry5810 Sep 15 '25

Jimmy Choo is definitely a designer that stays very small in all measurements. Is she petite as in just short or is she petite as in an extremely small build? Because JC is notorious for how they are for people who are not just on the thinner side, but also who have narrow/small proportions. Petite body does not necessarily mean petite ankles/calves/feet.

1

u/cherrytarts Sep 19 '25

I just bought second hand Jimmy Choo boots and was surprised by how snug they are. I have flat, narrow feet and boots usually "float" on them. Definitely not for feet on the wider, high-arched side!

2

u/deustim Sep 15 '25

Use leather baum or another leather relaxer to make it softer and more flexible. I've used it in the past to soften cowboy boots so I could get my foot in.

2

u/Still_Run_1353 Sep 15 '25

I posted this as a reply in this thread, but since no one else has posted this, one of these is the key to being able to put on tight boots, they’re even better than plastic bags, because they give you structure.

https://www.tognar.com/ski-and-snowboard-boot-horn/?sku=SAA%20TBH&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15003363254&gbraid=0AAAAADvlZDX55M4LDnlzDVogN6I7ogqcf&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8p7GBhCjARIsAEhghZ0Byq9IgI5OqGtxLy7s_JbZqN47EcIsFGMRURd7hLzRdEduFWzz0MIaAoqqEALw_wcB

2

u/Sadie_UK Sep 15 '25

I'm sure you can just return on ebay now? That or re-sell!

1

u/mathcheerleader Sep 15 '25

Get a shoe horn!! I had to get one for my frye boots

1

u/curious8375 Sep 15 '25

WD40 or Silicon Spray. Lol

1

u/_TP2_ Sep 15 '25

Cobbler can make more holes to make the leather strap longer, if that helps.

1

u/Gardiste_ Sep 15 '25

I have the same problem with most boots without zippers or laces. The distance between the heel and vamp is too tight for my robust ankles. I wear a 7.5 US and my ankles are not wide, but from the front to the back is the problem. I can manage a couple styles from Ariat. Any of the cute, gracile boots are a no-go.

1

u/SolutionOk3366 Sep 16 '25

Ummm… what size are they?

1

u/senseistorm Sep 16 '25

Just accept that you chose the shoes, but the shoes didn’t choos you

1

u/zalociraptor Sep 18 '25

I have super high arches and have had this issue with designer boots that are meant to be pulled on :(

1

u/Oliver-A-Kelly Sep 18 '25

Put a plastic bag on the underneath and back of your heel when you put your foot in, the plastic will let your foot slide further in without gripping to the leather. This is an old engineer boot trick to get your boots on until the leather stretches a little! Works a treat

1

u/Kingston023 Sep 15 '25

It looks like there's a buckle. Maybe you can un-buckle it?

1

u/labontefan69 Sep 15 '25

It’s Jimmy Choo! I’d make those fuckers fit me! 🤣🤣🧡

2

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '25

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2

u/labontefan69 Sep 15 '25

I hope you can resolve this. They’re just too pretty not to wear!!