(any Chorus Line fans out there???)
Ballet flats are basically the perfect shoe.
They….
look good with just about anything
are dressier than sandals, but more comfortable than heels
come in tons of styles and colors and prints
The only thing that drives me nuts is having to break them in. Please tell me that I am not the only one with this issue!!! Every shoe differs, but it typically takes about three long wears, fourteen blisters, and two boxes of Band-Aids to break them in.
However, once you have the suffering behind you…. ballet flats become your best friend!
I currently have three pairs that are in a permanent rotation. Each took a little bit of time and energy to get them to fit just right, but now they fit perfectly!
In no particular order:
(ps these pictures are from my Tumblr outfit of the day posts)
JR sent me the pair after the giveaway (hint, another on the way soon!) and they are so fun. I love being able to wear Jack Rogers right into Autumn. It took about four wears for my feet to fit perfectly. The sole of the flat, unlike others, is super comfortable and soft. The part where my baby toes are was a little hurtful, but now they’re golden.
Steve Madden flats
Omg, I’ve had these for-absolutely-ever. I love them. It will be a SAD day when I have to retire them. The heels are definitely beginning to show wear & tear… boo. I went to the Steve Madden store and won an 85% off coupon, so basically I had to buy a pair of shoes. No way was I letting that awesome coupon go to waste! I picked these out since they were the only ones that fit my style. And, boy oh boy, did the KILL my feet. I’m talking about weeks of torturous pain and bleeding heels. At some point, they became super soft and now I wear these flats everywhere; it’s like walking barefoot.
(available in print and a variety of colors)
These shoes were a bit atypical. I have been searching for the perfect black flat, and debating jumping on the Tory Burch Reva bandwagon… and then I tried on these! I had to order a half-size up. I’m typically a “true 7,” but I definitely needed a 7.5. These shoes felt great for the thirty seconds that I tried them on in the store. They also felt great for the first five minutes of the first “out of store” wear. And then the pain set in. They killed killed killed my toes. I swear, I wanted to amputate my toes that’s how bad they hurt. I wore them twice more, and now they are BUTTERY soft and comfortable. It’s like a whole new shoe!
Does anyone else experience (severe) pain with ballet flats the first couple of wears and then discovers that they suddenly don’t hurt when they’re fully broken in? Any tips for breaking in ballet flats?
xoxox
I have had some horrible experiences with ballet flats and usually just give up! I am in my last semester of interning in an elementary school classroom, so I'm on my feet ALL DAY LONG. I ended up resorting to Dansko clogs because I couldn't take the pain of breaking in new flats. However, Lindsay Phillips flats have been the MOST comfortable shoes EVER… and they have snaps to switch out (Which I love!) If you haven't tried these before, you should definitely check them out!
everydayaem.blogspot.com
I have the same problem! I love the look of flats but avoid them because they always cause me so much pain! I made the mistake of wearing fairly new ones to my high school graduation a couple of years ago and I was in so much pain. But now those same shoes fit fine. It took a lot of band aids to get there!
I just got new flats from Ann Taylor and my feet are torn up! HATE breaking in flats!! Yours are super cute though.. I guess beauty is pain 😉
travelbroad.blogspot.com
My favorite pair of ballet flats are the Tory Burch Revas. There is no breaking in necessary with the stretchy kind. I love them!
xoxo.
I completely understand your ballet flat pain. I always get nice quality shoes because they last longer, and because you can break them in! Case in point: I bought a pair of black leather flip flops from the J.Crew Factory store near my house. I wore them for an hour and had horrible blisters. Something in me then told me to wear them the first few weeks of college in DC. Let's just say walking the National Mall gave me some fancy battle scars. But now I wear them everywhere, never get blisters and absolutely love them. Sometimes you have to suffer before you can enjoy!
Usually my feet hurt a lot while I'm breaking ballet flats in, but I finally found some that do not hurt at all! Bloch makes the most comfortable flats I've ever worn, I love love love them.
The best way I have found to wear in flats is to wear them around the house a couple of times before taking them out for a real drive. That way, you wear them in. Yes, they kill your feet as you walk about your home. But that way, you are not stuck in misery ALL day long, but rather just an hour and then you can take them off. Do that a couple times and the first real time shouldn't be so bad!
Band Aid Blister Block stick. Best.thing.ever.
Crocs actually has some very nice ballet flats (Adrina and Carlie are the style names). They are THE most comfortable flats I've ever worn in my life. I lived in mine while I was in Korea last summer… rain or shine, they were my go to shoes.
Tory Burch are the absolute worst. I love them once they're broken in, but they're quite unpleasant until then…
Flats are awful, I just bought a cute pair of red BCBG ones and it's definitely taken at least 3 wears to break them in. I even wore them on a plane so I could break them in without having to walk but I am so excited for once I can really wear them out.
~Blair
I love born shoes. I have their flats, sandals, and some heels and they are awesome! I have horrible feet and get blisters from just about any shoe, but not these! My favorite pair of flats are super soft, with some cushion in the sole, and took 0 wears to break in. I was literally going nonstop for 9 hours before I even knew I was a) wearing new shoes and b) they did not hurt at all. Unlike my revas, that I couldn't even wear for 3 hours the first time.
I have the WORST time trying to break in ballet flats. I have a few new pairs I'm trying to break in now, and I end up wearing them in rotation so my feet don't hurt in the same place for multiple days in a row. But I just got a pair of Jessica Simpson black ballet flats at a Belk sample sale, and those haven't hurt at all!
adventuresofatype-a.blogspot.com
The newest flats I purchased from Lands End Canvas KIIIIILLED my sweet little feet, but after perservering they are now my go to pair!! The pain is absolutely worth a great pair of flats.
I ALWAYS have that problem too – blisters, bleeding, you name it! So with it when they're finally broken in though!
SHF
thechroniclesofs.blogspot.com
breaking in flats is the worst. Bandaid has this blister block thing (it's in the bandaid section at target) that is amazing for breaking in shoes! I don't know what I did without it!
Love the J.Crew pair. I'm having a horrible time breaking in my loafers and AGLs!
xx Emily @ laughliveandshop.blogspot.com
I get so many blisters all the time. Try to find the band aid blister stick its amazing. Agl's and jcrew are the only ones I've never needed to break in.
This sounds a little silly but when I'm trying to break in my flats I put socks on with them and wear them around the house. It stops me from getting blisters and it helps stretch them out a little bit faster. Hope it helps!
-Megan
love all the outfits!!!
I hated cute shoes that give blisters, until I discovered this :
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sxuW4F8TL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
it's amazing stuff! you just put it on like lip balm to whatever area is uncomfortable in your shoe and no blister! ((:
Ballet flats are my go-to's, but I totally hear you about breaking them in! I put bandaids on my heels in anticipation of the blisters there, but they also always cut me right at the top where the shoes curve. I'm so excited about TOMS ballet flats coming out next year though– I'm going to guess that they are super comfy and require no breaking in!
Ballet flats are really hit or miss… I've had a few expensive pairs that just hurt so bad I had to give them away. I've actually had great luck with the cheap ballet flats from H & M… they're only around $10 and so comfy! I even wore them walking all around Paris this summer.
Bisous,
Rachel
Use moleskin to line the "pressure points" in the flat — i.e. the heel. Add insoles. Have the shoe repair stretch out specific areas if you have odd foot problems (spurs, wide toes vs. narrow heels). If all else fails, use blister block or just wear band-aids in the spots you usually wind up with blisters. Or just wear thick socks and the shoes in the house. Keep in mind that leather will stretch and allow your skin to breathe (lessening blisters), whereas synthetics will not. Breaking in shoes shouldn't be this bad, people.
I sometimes have this problem with flats-I have some black American Eagle flats from Payless ad it did hurt a little bit on my feet but then I just got used to it and now it don't bother me anymore
Oh I adore ballet flats, but have a really hard time breaking them in as well. Usually I try to walk around my house a little before wearing them out!
Love-love-love ballet flats, and would almost be ashamed to admit how many pair I own, but I know this is an understanding crowd! Yours are cute as can be, my faves have to be a pair of Donald J. Pliner, they are ancient but I refuse to give them up.
Sending you a smile,
tp.
Definitely. I think it's because you wear them sans socks and they're have to be snug on your fit in fear of slipping off. Good to know that I'm not the only one who thinks it's hard to break 'em in.
Baby Powder softens them up a little bit
Ballet flats are always a staple for me! I've never had a terrible time breaking any in; I can't even think of a recent time where I got a blister.
theyre not called ballet flats for nothing… breaking in new ballet (pointe) shoes is worse! haha. but yeah, love them. and moccassins on lazy days… 🙂
I have a horrrrible time breaking in flats. Just last week I (seriously) contemplated taking my flats off on campus and walking around barefoot because my heels were bleeding and my eyes were slowly filling with tears! Beauty is pain I suppose! I have found a few pair that are comfy. Target has some that resemble the Eddie Flats by TB and for just $14. I usually wear thick socks and my flats around the house for a few days to get them a little stretched!
I have two pairs of the Steve Madden flats, and they were the absolute worst to break in! I had to wear a band aid on the back of my foot for like two weeks!
xx
treschiccs.blogspot.com
I couldn't have written this post better msyelf… I have no joke gone through a box of the old school cloth bandaids (they are the best and stay on the best) in the past week. I can't wear the same pair two days in a row to give my feet some rest from that particular shoe. I am so glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks flats are killer at the beginning!
Bloch ballet flats are the best! I bought a pair a few weeks ago and they have not left my feet… No break-in period necessary.
I agree! I have a hard time finding comfortable shoes..there always seems to be some problem.
My suggestions are to buy them your normal size (usually a bit snug in the store) and stretch them out by putting them in the freezer with zip-lock baggies filled with water. When the water freezes it will stretch your shoes out just enough. Also, if they are dark leather wearing them on humid or misty rain days. The moisture will help your feet stretch the leather faster.
When breaking in new shoes never wear the same pair two days in a row. I even sometime bring a back-up pair so I can change right when the new ones start to hurt.
i have best pairs of flat shoes.
i like this leather ballet shoes thanks for share ……
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