The London Lounge

My feet are... strong as my physiotherapist so gently puts it, meaning that I'm best at home in wider fitting shoes.

This poses a slight problem for me. Footwear is an area were it's possible to save a nickel or two by means of using eBay or the likes, where you can often quality shoes (Lobb, Tricker's, Church, Edward Green, C&J etc.) that are unworn or only slightly worn quite inexpensively. However, wide fits are quite rare. This brings me to my question: The practise of blocking out shoes is quite commonly employed on cheaper shoes (where I come from at least). Is this an absolute no-no when it comes to good, quality shoes? In other words, will it strain the leather too much, thus shortening the shoes' lifespan?

I'd say buying any shoes remotely, without trying them on (or worn shoes) is a no-no; anything arising from this is a non-issue. If you wish to save, don't do it with shoes, you will regret it - if not immediately, certainly in time, when your feet and spine start rebelling against inadequate footwear.

Costi is right as a principle, but slight adjustments by stretching can be made on good quality shoes as on lesser shoes. I would not count on this to change a standard fitting to a wide one, however. I have had it done successfully to relieve slight pinching at the ball of one shoe in a pair, for instance.

I have the opposite problem from yours--I have a narrow foot through the arch, but in some lasts a narrow fitting lacks adequate room through the ball and toes for me.