How a shoe should fit. Held at the back, free at the front.

The heel holds the shoe on the foot. Walk a few steps: the heel should lift with you, with only a slight movement inside, never a slip.

A new leather heel counter is stiff. It feels firm for the first wears and then shapes to the heel. Firm is right; rubbing that breaks the skin is not.

On a laced pair, the instep is where you set the fit each morning. Laced, the two edges of the lacing should sit a little apart, not touching. That gap leaves room to draw the pair tighter as the leather gives.

On a Chelsea or a boot without laces, the instep does the holding alone.

The joint is the widest part of the foot, from the big toe joint to the little toe joint: measurement A. It should feel snug, with no pinch. The leather here gives most with wear and creases where your foot bends.

Your toes should move freely and not touch the end of the shoe.

Fit has a personal part. Before cutting, the bench asks how you like them to fit: heel, instep and toes, each snug, true or roomy. Tell it with your measurements, or it will ask.

Then it sends Your fit, confirmed: one page with your measurements, on WhatsApp.

1. 01

   Try them indoors

   In the afternoon, in the socks you will wear.

2. 02

   Lace and walk

   Lace them as you would to go out, and walk a few steps on a clean floor.

3. 03

   Check the fit

   The heel held, the instep closed with the lacing edges apart, the toes free.

4. 04

   Tell the bench

   If the fit isn’t what was confirmed, tell the bench within ten business days of delivery, before wearing them outside. It looks at each pair and puts right what can be put right; where it can’t, it agrees a remake with you.