The good part about canvas shoes is that they go with a variety of outfits. The not-so-good part is that they may take some time to break in. The insides of the shoes can rub against your feet, causing blisters or sores, even if the shoes are the right size and fit you well. To help prevent damage to your feet, break in your new canvas shoes before wearing them.

Pick up each shoe, and slowly and gently bend it back and forth, then side to side. Don’t bend them too fast or you may create creases in the shoe. Bending them slowly will help to relax the material.

Put on a pair of socks, then put on the shoes. Stand in place and lean forward, then backward, to bend the soles and loosen the material. Stand on your toes, then back onto your heels several times to further break in the shoes.

Wear the shoes around the house for a few days before wearing them outside. This will help to break the shoes in while still giving you the option of taking them off if they start to hurt your feet. Once you can wear them around the house with no problems, it’s safe to wear them out of the house.

Stretch the material using jars if the canvas shoes still seem too snug. Place a jar in each shoe. Use whatever type and size of jar you have on hand that will fit snugly inside the shoe. Leave the jars in overnight. This will stretch out the material if the shoes are a bit too tight.