How to Break in Your Sandals

Before you spend a day in a new pair of casual leather sandals, strap them on, quickly step into and out of a bucket of water (or spritz them with a spray bottle), and wear them damp. This will help the shoes to soften up and conform to the shape of your feet, says Los Angeles fashion stylist John Murphy. He recommends first wetting a tiny test patch in a hidden location (say, on the strap between the toes) to make sure there is no discoloration, then toweling off the excess water after the sandals take the plunge (they should be slightly damp, not waterlogged). If the sandals are delicate or expensive, forgo the baptism and stick with a traditional leather moisturizer.