The First Two Weeks With a New Pair

The Oxford last we use runs slightly small and narrow by design — it's built for a close, tailored fit rather than a roomy one, which means the first week of wear is where most of the break-in happens.

Wear new Oxfords or Derbies for shorter stretches for the first few days — a half-day in the office rather than a full one — and keep a blister plaster on the heel until the leather has softened at the flex points.

The loafer and boot lasts we use are cut wider and break in faster, usually within a week of normal wear. If a pair still pinches after two full weeks of regular wear, that's a fit issue worth an exchange, not something to push through.