Near mate shoes describes when the left or right shoe is a half size bigger or smaller than the other shoe in a pair. Here are 2 examples:
The description says the shoes are a women's size 8 with the Note: Near Mate Pair, right shoe 1/2 size larger. This means that the right shoe is a size 8.5 and the left shoe is a size 8.
The description says the shoes are a women's size 6.5 with the Note: Near Mate Pair, left shoe is 1/2 size smaller. This means that the right shoe is a 6.5 and the left shoe is a size 6.
Stretching
You probably won't be able to stretch a shoe 2 or 3 sizes bigger, but a half size is usually doable. But you will first want to consider the material the shoes are made from. Leather will stretch, but vegan leather or faux leather usually will not. Some fabric shoes will stretch too, but you do run the risk of tearing or separating the top of the shoe from the sole, so stretch fabric shoes with caution. Shoes with fur, shearling or faux fur lining may or may not stretch but the interior lining will compress after wear making it feel as though the shoes have stretched slightly.There are 2 common ways to stretch shoes: you can either take them to a cobbler (shoe repair store) and have them professionally stretched, or you can use the ice method. I highly recommend taking a look at YouTube blogger MichellePhan's tutorial on stretching with ice for detailed step by step instructions.
Stuffing
If one shoe in the near mate pair is too big, you may be able to stuff them. This method only works with closed toe shoes because the stuffing stays in the shoes while you wear them, it is not removed. You can stuff the toe of the bigger shoe with any material you want but, for example, a soft fabric will certainly be more comfy than newspaper. I don't recommend using cotton balls or small pieces of anything as these will shift during wear and almost certainly not feel good. Many people recommend using tissue paper since it will compress into any shape you want and can mold around your toes - just don't use colored tissue paper as the color will come off on your feet. When you've found your stuffing material, simple pack it into the toes of your shoes, try the shoes on, and then add more or less stuffing to adjust the fit. Wearing a half sock (one that just covers your toes) might help make the stuffing feel a little less obvious.Adjusting
Adjusting is adding something to a pair of shoes to fix the fit. If you've got a shoe that is too large, for example you can try wearing thick socks or layer one sock over another, however this, of course, works better for boots or sneakers than it does for dressy pumps or sandals. Another possible adjustment is using a pad that sticks to the insole of the shoe (like these Foot Petals) which helps prevent your foot from sliding forward in a shoe that's too big. Personally I think Foot Petals are better for shoes that are just squishing your toes but otherwise fit fine, but other people swear by them - since they are relatively inexpensive (even drug stores have their own versions), it's probably worth a shot! Similarly you could add a pad to the heel of the shoe which moves your entire foot forward (layer extra pads or use different thicknesses as needed). The con to this option is that it can be a bit more noticeable than other fixes.I hope these options help you enjoy the shoes you love for years to come. And definitely comment below if you've had experience using any of these fixes or if I missed anything.
