A toe engaging apparatus or shoe insert includes one or more layers. Each layer is removably held to a neighboring planar layer. Each of the layers have a thickness, a longitudinal length, and a height; the height being such that the layers fits against a front wall of a target shoe. The layers are sized and shaped such that when affixed to the front wall area of the target shoe, the layers reduce the internal length of the target shoe, thereby effectively decreasing the size of the target shoe. The toe engaging apparatus optionally includes a mechanism for holding the plurality of layers against the front wall of the target shoe.