Determining shoe size may depend on width, heel, type and designer.
With more consumers making online purchases than ever before, know accurate clothing and shoe sizes is beneficial. This may seem like a "no-brainer," but determining shoe size can be trickier than you may anticipate. Dress shoes, in particular, often run a size smaller than other shoe styles. A few factors to consider are: brand, where the shoe is manufactured, designer and to what sizing the shoe conforms (European, United States, United Kingdom, for example).
Aesthetics
Dress shoes for men as well as women tend to function with aesthetics, not comfort, as a main concern. Basketball and running shoes are designed to support the foot's arch, whereas a pair of heels or brogues is designed to make the foot appear elegant and slim. Shoes are, by most standards, measured according to length, not width. Therefore, when considering dress shoe size, most women have to purchase shoes that are one size up from their usual size.
Features
Women's dress shoes often have heels exceeding 1 inch. The higher the heel, the more the foot slides to the front of the shoe. With flat shoes, a body's weight is distributed throughout the foot: at the heel, the arch, the ball and the toes. Most high-heel dress shoes measure about 3 to 4 inches at the heel. Wearing high heels can make feet feel pinched at the metatarsus, the part of the foot where it is widest, making high-heeled shoes fit a size smaller in width.
Considerations
European sizes do not conform to U.S. standards. For example, a U.S. women's size 8 translates to a European size 38½. For dress shoes, when taking in consideration of heel height and shoe style, women who normally wear U.S. size 8 shoes have to purchase a European size 39. Actual sizing may vary from country to country; for example, an Italian size 39 may be larger than a French size 39. It all depends on the shoe manufacturer.
Misconceptions
United Kingdom (U.K.) sizes differ from U.S. and European sizes. A U.S. size 8 translates to U.K. size 7. When purchasing U.K. dress shoes in particular, women's sizes run smaller. Buyers should refer to the manufacturer or designer's size chart when it is available. Asking for width, heel height and the measurements of the shoe in terms of length is helpful. U.K. dress shoe size generally runs one size smaller than U.S. size. Shoe sizing systems vary in almost all countries.
Types
Most designer shoes use special lasts, or foot molds, to construct dress shoes. These foot molds are slimmer than other types of lasts. Aesthetics plays the biggest role in designing dress shoes, where form trumps function. This makes dress shoes fit more tightly at the metatarsus when a real foot wears the shoe. The type of dress shoe also factors into how it will fit women's feet. Sandals, pumps, platforms and wedges may all vary in fit.
Identification
Another reason why women's dress shoe sizes run smaller is due to pure vanity. Dress shoes are worn for the purpose of making the foot look better, sleeker. Wearing a smaller shoe size in many societies is seen as more feminine or classy. Designers appeal to women's vanity by sizing dress shoes smaller, which may result in inaccurate shoe sizing. Determining shoe size can be more complicated than anticipated, especially when it comes to psychological factors.
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