Need help modifying sandals

[gem]

So a few weeks ago I posted about footwear for my WIP Valkyrie ensemble. I happened to stumble across an awesome and cheap (seriously, CHEAP, like $8.00 cheap) pair of gold gladiator sandals at Target. They look great, but the straps that go across the foot are too tight. I'm trying to figure out what I can do to alter them (taking them apart is not a problem; putting them back together may be!) so they're actually wearable.  These are the shoes (altho' this is not my photo):



...And see how the straps on the outside are cutting into the edge of her toe? Yeah, that's the problem.

The straps appear to be continuous across the foot, and they're sewn to that center studded band. Milord suggested unpicking the band, cutting the straps and spreading them apart, and then resewing the band... but I am skeptical about how workable that idea actually is. Has anyone tried anything like that?  I will probably, at the least, remove the last strap, although none of them really go over my left foot. 

Anyway, they're not currently wearable and for an $8 investment, I really have nothing to lose... but I don't want to just dive in with no real idea what I'm doing.

Anyone ever alter a pair of shoes like this?

Thanks!!

[Rani Zemirah]

Is there any reason why a simple shoe stretcher won't work?  Leave each shoe stretching for a week and it should stay like that forever.  Or take them to a professional and let them do it for $5. 

[Trillium]

Or possibly mist them with some water and wear them around to stretch them?

[Philomel]

ARe they real leather?  Leather will stretch, you can use a spray and a shoe stretcher, or just spray them and wear them around the house (your skin oils will also help soften the leather so they stretch)