How Do I Know What Shoe Size I Am?
If you recall your shoe shopping days as a child, your foot was probably measured using the Brannock Device, the standard foot measuring tool for the international footwear industry. Use our size guide to assist you in figuring out the correct size to purchase. Remember, when determining what size to purchase, keep in mind US and European sizes are NOT equivalent to each other. A US size 8 would not be a 38, but rather a 38.5 or 39, depending on the style and whether they come in half sizes. Always consult with our size charts or chat with us to ensure you are ordering the correct size in each style as each style can run a bit differently. For example, shoes with narrow and lower toe boxes, like ballet flats, tend to run smaller than loafers.
To measure your feet without any devices:
- Put on stockings or socks similar to those you plan to wear with the shoes you're purchasing.
- Tape a piece of paper that is larger than your foot down to the floor.
- Sit on a chair and plant one foot firmly on the paper, with your leg bent slightly forward so that your knee is just in front of your ankle.
- Trace the outline of your foot- ideally have someone else do the tracing- by holding the pen upright and straight above the paper. Don't hold it at an angle: You'll end up tracing under your foot and will get an inaccurate measurement. Make sure the pen is aligned firmly against your foot as you trace.
- Use your pen to mark the widest and longest parts of your feet.
- Repeat for the other foot. (It is fairly common to have feet with two different lengths or widths)
- Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of your foot outline. Find the closest mark that you can on your ruler; for inches, use the closest 1/16th mark. Don't round up or down too drastically.
- Use our size guide to assist you in figuring out the correct size to purchase using the measurement of your foot tracing.
Some Shoe Sizing and Fit Suggestions
- Keep in mind that your feet expand over the course of the day. Try your shoes with this in mind.
- It is fairly common to have different length feet and therefore try to accommodate the larger foot and insert insoles or tongue pads in the shoe of the smaller foot.
- Many times, a shoe feels small, but while there actually is enough length in the shoe the toe box may be a bit shallow and press down on the toes. This is especially found on dress pumps and flats with pointy toes and ballet flats. Having the toe box stretched or lifted with a specially designed tool at a shoe maker for even a few minutes can alleviate that. To try doing it on your own, use a shoe tree on its side and expand it a bit to lift the toe box.
- Shoes come in different widths and your footprint and feet are uniquely yours. Some people have wider feet at the front, especially if they need width to accommodate bunions or callouses, but they are narrow at the heel so wider shoes will slip off their feet. In such a case, a shoe with a wider toe box, but elasticized back would work best. Chat with us for a shoe shopping experience tailored to your needs.