Okay, so today I’m gonna share my experience with those Gucci ballet pumps. You know, the ones that are kinda everywhere right now.
First off, the hunt. I saw them online, thought they were cute, but also kinda pricey. So, I started scouring resale sites. Depop, Poshmark, The RealReal, you name it. I spent like, a week just checking these sites every day. Finally, I found a pair in my size that were gently used and within my budget. Score!
The Arrival. They came in the mail, and I was so excited! I ripped open the box and… they looked smaller than I expected. I tried them on, and they were snug. Like, really snug. I was bummed. I considered returning them, but I’d gotten such a good deal, I decided to try and stretch them out.
The Stretching Saga. This is where things got interesting. I googled “how to stretch ballet flats” and got a million different answers. Some said to wear them around the house with thick socks. Others said to use a shoe stretcher. I even saw one suggesting putting bags of water in them and freezing them (yeah, no way I was doing that!).
Method 1: The Sock Method. I tried the thick sock method first. I put on the thickest socks I could find, crammed my feet into the shoes, and walked around my apartment for a couple of hours. It helped a little, but not enough. My feet were screaming.
Method 2: The Hair Dryer. Next, I tried the hair dryer trick. I put on the socks again, squeezed into the shoes, and blasted them with hot air from my hair dryer while wiggling my toes. The idea is that the heat makes the leather more pliable. This actually worked a bit better! I did it in short bursts, being careful not to overheat the leather.
Method 3: The Shoe Stretcher. Finally, I caved and bought a shoe stretcher online. It was one of those basic wooden ones that you insert into the shoe and then crank to widen it. I left it in the shoes for a couple of days, and that seemed to do the trick! They were finally comfortable enough to wear.
The Verdict. So, were they worth all the hassle? Honestly, yes. They’re super cute and go with everything. But would I buy them new at full price? Probably not. The resale route is definitely the way to go, just be prepared for a potential stretching adventure!
A few lessons learned:
- Ballet flats can be tricky sizing-wise. Maybe go up half a size if you’re unsure.
- Don’t be afraid to try stretching methods, but be gentle!
- Resale sites are your friend.
That’s my Gucci ballet pump story! Hope it was helpful, or at least entertaining. Catch you in the next one!
