How to Make Loose Loafers Fit Better: 3 Tips

Рет қаралды 145,006

Жыл бұрын

Three possibilities to fix shoes that are too loose, with a specific emphasis on loafers. Featuring brown suede loafers from Scarosso
Introduction and discussion of loafers: 00:14
1. Tongue Pads - 3:15
2. Sock Solutions - 4:17
3. Heel Grips or Heel Pads - 6:05
Other thoughts on loose loafers: 8:17
I am wearing a white (really cream) "balloon" wool sport coat from Ring Jacket and a navy and white gingham plaid shirt with a one-piece collar made of Thomas Mason fabric by The Gaudery (I've got another video on their shirts in my channel). My trousers, which can't be seen, were Berg&Berg dark navy wool fresco.

Пікірлер: 99

@Budapestrentdotcom Жыл бұрын

Actual how to starts at 3:20

@Spiritualgangster11111 Жыл бұрын

Love your style and content , keep doing a great job and inspire with helpfull info 👏

@atailormade3310 9 ай бұрын

This was very useful info, helped me to fix the fit issue I was having with my new loafers. Never knew or thought of this solution.🙏🏿

@teleos12 4 ай бұрын

same with me, italian shoes always comes with surprises

@barrymurphy1337 Жыл бұрын

An invaluable video, thank you. Tongue pads ordered, liked and subscribed!

@corpuzone 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for the advice 🙏 I think I’ll try those tongue grips since the heel ones don’t seem like they would work being thin. Might also try finding a thicker no show sock on my new leather loafers.

@ZKhweziN 2 ай бұрын

The tongue pad worked perfectly. THANK YOU!!! 🎉

@gentlemenscholarsclub Ай бұрын

Great to hear!

@christianbarros1580 Жыл бұрын

I have a pair of James Tricker's loafers in calf leather that I love, but they were a little loose, and I wanted to wear them with thin summer socks I tried pretty much every tip that you have given, but nothing worked, well here is my radical tip for a better fit: 1.- Boil water ( 2 litters) and put it on your washbasin 2.- Put your shoes on the water facing down leaving the soles up and off the water 3.- Leave them for a few minutes ( depending on how much you want to shrink them) 4.- Air dry'em 5.- Condition the leather at least three times 6.- Wear them, at first they will feel a bit stiff and tight but they will adjust in a few days of wearing. I know it's radical but it was this or having to buy another pair. It worked for me, and I'm pretty happy with the results.

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

interesting. I saw a video on Instagram where Peter Zottolo (urbancomposition) used a hose on a pair of loafers to break them in while he had them on his feet. Similar principle, I think. Radical perhaps. But when there is nothing to lose...

@mikesperanza6794 8 ай бұрын

I’ve yet to find a “no show” sock that I feel comfortable in. I wear summer footwear sans socks. A bit uncomfortable at times. I got an idea to cut a pair of regular socks in half, and only wear the front half with loafers. Work great for me. I have made several pair of “half socks”, in different thicknesses. Thanks for your great videos! Always make me think!

@imaybemayh 7 ай бұрын

Does the heat damage the leather?

@MotoM0nk 3 ай бұрын

Never use water - that a huge risk to ruin the shoes. Use insoles, tongue pads, etc. Watch the podiatrist (Michigan foot doctors) speaking about this. He says 1-1.5 size up can be fixed by these tricks

@bgray5267 Ай бұрын

Thank you! The tongue pads along with the thicker no-show socks worked in getting my loose Bass loafers to finally fit. Going down a half size wasn't an option, and as you mentioned the heel grips were wholly inadequate.

@nanissar1 4 ай бұрын

Wow this was very informative and I like how you compared each type. I will try the tongue pad

@gentlemenscholarsclub 4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@abrahamawatwy2609 Жыл бұрын

Really like this

@AriVovp 4 ай бұрын

Oh, man . I like your shirt with the white blazer. Looking solid

@gentlemenscholarsclub 4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@onionhead4090 7 ай бұрын

I literally have a pair of brown and patent leather loafer with this issue. Just ordered bombas low cut no shoe socks. They’re usually much thicker so I think with tights I might be ok. I do love these loafers and normally I wear a 9 in this brand. Alas, a final purchase but I’m a sucker for Donald Pliner. 🙏🏿 thank you for the good tips. I’ve tried the sock thing and it worked well on another pair of loafers.

@gentlemenscholarsclub 7 ай бұрын

Great!

@bouncingBrain Жыл бұрын

For loafers, I size down by half a size. Sometimes they are a bit tight. I got a pair of shoe expanders for one pair that was to tight. I heard that hair dryer would work. You heat them up and then wear thick socks for a few hours with them. It just happens to be winter, so I used my heater that has a fan instead, I turned it on low in my bedroom overnight. With the loafers propped up, shoe expanders inside, in front of the heater, the loafers now fit well after a couple of days.

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Sounds good. I've thought ot a half size down too, but I probably prefer looser than the risk of too tight.

@EOTA564 11 ай бұрын

Provided you can actually fit your feet into them when they are brand new, this usually pays off.

@Barreddario 5 ай бұрын

Great video

@gentlemenscholarsclub 5 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@anthonyharty1732 11 ай бұрын

Very good advice by Gentlemen Scholars Club. 😁

@markallen557 4 ай бұрын

Nice Job! Subscribed.

@oswith971 2 ай бұрын

Tongue pads worked out pretty good, with heel grips my issue was that they were indeed very grippy so that just slid down my no-show socks after 2 steps

@angie9430 Жыл бұрын

Thank you !

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

@ABC-rh7zc 2 ай бұрын

Heel pads have worked perfectly for me. Even years later they haven't come undone. Those tongue pads wouldn't work for me as I have a high instep already. I need that vertical space.

@carlos1730 Жыл бұрын

I recently bought a pair of leather loafers. I noticed my right foot is causing the back of the shoe to crease. The does fit snug around the side of my foot

@LPNlady71 Жыл бұрын

Thank you I think I will try the tongue pad.. my right shoe is a littleloose

@Lassehansen3 Жыл бұрын

I'd recommend shoe leather inserts. At least wear I live they are fairly inexpensive and if you wear them on top of the shoes original insert, they could accommodate for half a size easily :)

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Ah yes! Good idea.

@joeschmoe6306 Жыл бұрын

"where" I live, not wear.

@MotoM0nk 3 ай бұрын

Beautiful shoe, I just got myself exact same model. P.s. we need a video about good manicure for men:)

@talking_tree_0451 Жыл бұрын

I just follow what my dads words “you’ll grow into it”

@Handsomenuts 2 ай бұрын

real

@Timmers01 Жыл бұрын

Hey, do you have any brand suggestions for thicker no-show socks? I have two Goodyear welted loafers that fit well with thicker socks but would be impossible to wear without socks at all. Never worn no-show socks before either. Cheers!

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

I haven't tried any yet, actually, but take a look at Tabio and Falke as possible brands. The Modest Man has a review of the best no-show socks, which should have something along those lines. Like I said in the video, the key is to make sure the front of the sock doesn't really show around the tongue of the loafer.

@eyeheartsushi2212 Жыл бұрын

Maybe wear two no-show socks on each foot if you can’t find thicker socks. I’m not sure if that will be comfortable, though.

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

I've tried that (only for a short time though) and it wasn't terrible

@marinko1862 Жыл бұрын

I also got dark brown suede tassel loafers but from Suitsupply. I literally got blisters from them first few wears,they felt like they were such a nice fit. And now they slip out. How stupid

@toobalkain Жыл бұрын

I like Scarosso's suede shoes and boots a lot too, very nice lasts. I didn't find their leather to be as good as their suede, though and eventually settled for Septieme Largeur but I still think Scarosso's lasts are more elegant without being super pointy, or at least they're more in line with my shoe aesthetic. Btw, I noticed you're not putting metal toe plates on your leather soles, which is perfectly fine for suede loafers but you don't seem to have them on your Oxfords, either, any particular reason?

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Metal toe plates are a good idea. I tend not to wear my shoes hard as I don't live in a city where I am walking a lot, so I haven't put them on. Also, maybe I don't trust the cobblers in my area to do them right. I'd probably want to have it done in London or something. The one pair of higher end shoes that I have are Crockett and Jones Lowndes monkstraps and those have their rubber "City" sole, so no toe plates needed.

@toobalkain Жыл бұрын

@@gentlemenscholarsclub you can order them plated, Meccariello does it, the Spanish makers, also Septieme Largeur, and if asked nicely, SL will let you swap sizes free if you happen to miss. Excellent content, btw, and excellent taste, you've inspired me to not only start looking for the perfect collar for my face but I'm now sold on this whole one-piece button-down no tie look, it's very zeitgeisty. A suggestion for content, if I may, pleats on high rise pants, yes or no, one or two, forward or reverse. If done right they seem to work on some guys, usually of taller, slimmer build, it'd be interesting to learn how different variations of pleats work on you or perhaps even compare that to flat front high-rise pants of the same or similar material.

@MsMik100 9 ай бұрын

an extra inner sole always works for me

@VictorNg90 9 ай бұрын

I put a little piece of cloth inside the tip of the loafer

@Mz-vc6zc Жыл бұрын

Hello, i want to buy a pair of leather penny loafers, my foot length is 25cm The brand that i want to buy them from have size 39 that is 25.1 cm and size 40 that is 25.8 cm Which one should i choose, if ill wear them with socks too??? ( never had loafers before) thanks

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Tricky to answer, so I can't guarantee, but .1 cm difference strikes me as too small, especially with socks. Usually the advice is 3/8" clearance for shoes in general, which would be .95 cm. I feel like .8 would be safer--smaller than .95 too, which would be good as a loafer needs to conform more tightly. One can't be sure until actually wearing them though, so if mail ordering there would always be a chance you have to return it.

@MotoM0nk 3 ай бұрын

Another alternative are insoles (full or 3/4)

@toobalkain Жыл бұрын

Skolyx has suede tongue pads, probably better than those you showed.

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

I am familiar with Skolyx but didn't think of looking there. Thanks for the tip! I will check them out.

@michaelmurphy579 11 ай бұрын

I was thinking of using heels grips but using strong flexible glue to adhere it and maybe putting a sponge at the toe of the shoe

@gentlemenscholarsclub 11 ай бұрын

Worth a try. Usually, the more that needs to be done, the more likely the need for a new shoe.

@steampunkvampyre 11 ай бұрын

Suede tongue pads a the perfect solution

@johnnylira3312 11 ай бұрын

What can I use for loose wrestling shoes?

@gentlemenscholarsclub 11 ай бұрын

I don't think I have advice on this, but from Googling, they seem sort of like high-top sneakers so shouldn't be as bad as loose loafers. However, I have no knowledge of them, unfortunately.

@jacknjill3000 5 ай бұрын

Yeah, I find the loafers to not fit my slender feet and in the old days, I would wear with no socks. Now I put insoles or that tongue pad .

@johnnyng8527 Жыл бұрын

Recommending Vans no show socks, very thick

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@priyaranjandash4076 3 ай бұрын

😊Where can I buy those foams

@gentlemenscholarsclub 3 ай бұрын

Amazon, local supermarkets in the US

@robo2606 Жыл бұрын

Tip: Meermin has very dark brown suede loafers 😎

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Good to know. I used to buy Meermin but found the leather to be too stiff and hard to break in. Carmina was better.

@robo2606 Жыл бұрын

@@gentlemenscholarsclub My unlined loafers are not stiff at all.

@Sshooter444 Жыл бұрын

@@robo2606 same here

@Spiritualgangster11111 Жыл бұрын

What are you wearing today ? Always nice to know

@gentlemenscholarsclub Жыл бұрын

Agreed! This is a white (really cream) "balloon" wool sport coat from Ring Jacket and a navy and white gingham plaid shirt with a one-piece collar made of Thomas Mason fabric by The Gaudery (I've got another video on their shirts in my channel). My trousers, which can't be seen, were Berg&Berg dark navy wool fresco,

@Shellvedge Жыл бұрын

Definitely use a shoe horn, don’t jam your feet into the heel counter of the shoe. But generally speaking, the amount of space shown in the heel is rather significant and can cause foot issues over prolonged use. The best way to fix it is to just wait for the right size. It’s annoying and painful to wait, believe I get it. I’m as impatient as anyone, but honestly wearing shoes that are too big is the easiest way to make a nice shoe look terrible (not to mention the health issues that can develop from improper footwear)

@jrandom2995 Жыл бұрын

Sometimes wearing a loafer and breaking it in, will reduce heel slip. The curve of the leather sole will naturally tighten up the shoe. It’s counterintuitive, but give it a try.

@alexsherel3344 10 ай бұрын

This sounds like it

@foggyfrogy 4 ай бұрын

Sir, i had problems with my loafers for months and now it works. Thanks ( ༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ )

@gentlemenscholarsclub 4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful

@EOTA564 10 ай бұрын

6:00 wear two pairs of no show socks, one over the other? 🤷🏻‍♂️

@gentlemenscholarsclub 10 ай бұрын

Desperate measures!

@grandthemes5972 Жыл бұрын

Add 2 oder eaters, simple fix

@angel_machariel 2 ай бұрын

The heel grip proves to be ineffective. I've just tested it out. My shoe fits perfectly around except for a millimeter in the heel-area. These are dress shoes meant to be worn with a suit. The main issue with the heel grip is that it eliminates the hollow space in the heel area. This space is designed to accommodate the spherical shape of your heel. By filling this space with the grip, (the version which includes a soft cushion in the center), the heel does not secure properly as it should. This results in increased discomfort and doesn't address the lack of grip. Ideally, the only grip should come from the leather enclosing above the heel, utilizing its hollow design. It would be beneficial to find a shoe repair shop capable of affixing a more permanent solution in the heel area that does not compromise its designed hollow space. I've given my shoes to a shop and hopefully they can think of a solution.

@frankschmitz3341 9 ай бұрын

Meine lasse ich einfach schlappen, sehr gemütlich 😂

@Eayala17 5 ай бұрын

I've been wearing double socks to make my loafer fit 😅

@danielfrancis3660 22 күн бұрын

Go a half size down

@user-gy8li7qs1n 4 ай бұрын

Video starts at 3:18

@gentlemenscholarsclub 4 ай бұрын

There's a full breakdown of the time stamps for each part of the video in the description.

@georgeorwell7850 Ай бұрын

Bro, tips for future video, just get on with giving the audience what they clicked on. Only after 3 minutes did you get to the point, have a short intro and get on with it

@Nicosdayinthelife Ай бұрын

I thought I click on a wrong video 😅

@luckyyou777 26 күн бұрын

😂😂😂

@Will67267 8 ай бұрын

Return it and get your actual size. That’s the best advice. If there is no return policy, don’t buy it. Simple.

@rayfi790k 11 ай бұрын

buy a new one, aye

@i.o.3563 9 ай бұрын

Made it to the middle and gave up... Come on, gents, don't do this! There is no compromise when it comes to fit. If a pair fits poorly, nothing else matters. And there is nothing you can do about it. Just send them back and find another one.

@jaycuellin3869 2 ай бұрын

😂

@charlesjohnson9482 6 ай бұрын

So dam aggravating all the extra information 🤦‍♂️

@gentlemenscholarsclub 6 ай бұрын

My channel is for folks interested in classic menswear from an academic perspective. For those who want quick info, there's a full listing of the time stamps in the video description, so you can jump to what you want.

@charlesjohnson9482 6 ай бұрын

Why did he go all the way around the world to tell us how to get across the street! Man get to the point!

@gentlemenscholarsclub 6 ай бұрын

Feel free to skip to the main points using the index of time stamps. Some like more context and classic menswear information.