Practical advice from Leavys Shoes
Your usual size is a useful starting point, but how a shoe feels on your foot matters more than the number on the box. A good fit gives your toes room, holds your foot comfortably and feels right before a full day of wear.
Whether you are choosing trainers for everyday wear, boots for work or shoes for an occasion, use this checklist when trying them on at home.
The quick answer: look for room at the front, a comfortable fit across your foot and a heel that feels secure. Pinching, toes hitting the end or having to grip with your toes to keep a shoe on are signs to reconsider the fit.
Try both shoes with socks or tights you plan to wear. If your feet tend to swell, check the fit later in the day too. Keep your try-on indoors on a clean carpet while deciding, and read our returns information before wearing shoes outside.
Stand with your weight on both feet. As a general guide, allow about 1 cm (10 mm) beyond your longest toe, which may be your second toe. Your toes should not touch the front.
You should be able to move your toes without squeezing them together. Check for pressure across the widest part of your foot and over the tops of your toes.
Loosen laces before putting shoes on, then adjust them evenly. A strap or lace should hold your foot comfortably without digging into your instep.
Your heel should feel held in place. Notice repeated slipping, rubbing or the feeling that you need to curl your toes to keep the shoe on.
One foot may need more room. Check each shoe standing, then take a few gentle steps indoors to assess the fit. This brief check is separate from the gradual wearing-in routine below.
The toe-space guidance above follows Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS advice on choosing shoes.
Try a longer size, then check width and heel fit again. Do not count on wearing-in to create extra length.
Compare a wider fitting or a different toe shape. Going up a size can leave too much length without solving the pressure.
Adjust laces or straps first. If slipping continues, try another size or shape rather than tightening until the front feels cramped.
Check the instep and fastening. A style with more depth or adjustment may suit better. Do not force a zip closed.
Our brands do not all use the same size labels. Jana styles are mainly listed in EU sizes, while some Caprice styles on our website use UK sizes and half sizes. Read the size selector on the individual product instead of assuming every number uses the same system.
For Jana, our H-fit and sizing guide includes UK, EU and approximate foot-length comparisons in centimetres and millimetres. A conversion is a starting point: width, toe shape and the room inside each style still matter.
H fit is a width fitting, not a length size. The Jana trainer below is an H wide-fit style; the featured Caprice boot is a G fitting. Check each product’s details, as one brand name does not guarantee the same fit in every shoe.
These examples from our collection show what to look for in different designs. Choose a style for how it fits your foot and where you plan to wear it.
Jana · H wide fit · EU sizes
The rounded toe, H fitting and adjustable laces make this a useful style to compare if you need more room across your foot. It has a textile and synthetic upper, Memory Foam cushioning and a functional side zip.
Check the fit: adjust the laces first, even if you normally use the zip. Extra width should still come with a secure heel.
View Jana trainers
Caprice · G fitting · UK sizes
A leather upper, inside zip and 62 mm block heel give these ankle boots a smart finish. UK half sizes offer another option when a full-size jump feels too large.
Check the fit: try them with your intended socks and notice pressure across the instep. The outside buckle is decorative; it does not adjust the fit.
View Caprice boots
Tamaris · Standard fit · EU sizes
These occasion shoes have a patent-look synthetic upper, adjustable instep strap, platform and 8 cm heel. Their bold shape makes them a dressier option.
Check the fit: fasten the strap comfortably and check that your foot does not slide forward into the toe. Allow time to assess the heel height before an event.
View Tamaris Mary Janes
Marco Tozzi · Standard fit · EU sizes
A 35 mm block heel and MT FEEL ME cushioning sit beneath a dark red patent-effect synthetic upper. This slip-on style has no laces or adjustable strap.
Check the fit: pay attention to heel hold and room across the front. A loafer should stay on without you gripping with your toes.
View Marco Tozzi loafersThese styles were available when this guide was refreshed in September 2026. Sizes and availability can change; check each product page for current options.
Do not leave your first proper wear until a wedding, holiday or full day at work. At Leavys, we recommend giving suitable new shoes time to settle around your feet before that day arrives.
Our starting routine: put them on while sitting at home for about an hour, then take them off for the rest of the day. Start without walking around. Natural foot warmth and gentle wear can help suitable leather or materials settle to your foot shape.
Repeat on following days and gradually build up the time. Once sitting in them feels comfortable, introduce short periods of gentle indoor walking. Take them off sooner if they pinch or cause discomfort.
Around 24 hours of wear in total is our rough shop guide to wearing-in, not a fixed rule or a requirement to do one hour a day for 24 days. Materials and styles vary, and wearing-in will not correct a shoe that is too short, too narrow or painful.
Read our full guide to breaking in new shoes by starting seated at home.
No single rule suits every style. Compare both sizes if possible, and check width and heel hold as well as length. A half size or a different shape may work better than a full size up.
It may change the space inside, but it should not be the first answer to an unsuitable fit. If you normally wear prescribed insoles, try shoes with them in place and check that there is still enough depth.
Cushioning and fit are different things. A soft footbed cannot make up for crowded toes, a slipping heel or pressure from the upper. Check the whole shoe.
For persistent foot pain, diabetes, reduced sensation or a specific foot condition, ask a qualified podiatrist for individual fitting advice. South Tees NHS footwear advice also explains why adequate room and checking for pressure matter.
Easy ways to wear ankle boots with jeans, tailored trousers, dresses and skirts. Explore autumn outfit ideas and current Jana, Caprice, Tamaris and Marco Tozzi styles at Leavys Shoes.
A practical guide to caring for leather, suede, patent-effect and synthetic shoes, with examples from our current Jana, Caprice, Tamaris and Marco Tozzi collections.
Check toe room, width and heel fit with our practical try-on guide, featuring current styles from Jana, Caprice, Tamaris and Marco Tozzi.
