Anyone else struggle to find size 42 shoes?

[stringbean]

I used to be a size 41 but since having my kids I increasingly need to take a size 42. And it's getting to be a real struggle. The final insult was being told today in my local Hobbs store that size 42s are not supplied to stores outside London (or only 'selected' stores, and obv my local one isn't one). My local John Lewis laughs at me if I request a 41 (I haven't dared ask for a 42, think they'd die on the spot!). I am always being told that I can look online BUT when I do, the 42s are sold out. So, what to do? I am hard on my shoes, so cheap shoes are out. Stores which previously catered for 42s just don't seem to carry the stock anymore.

Shoe shopping should be FUN - being able to try on several pairs and spend time deliberating over which ones to choose. Well, it isn't fun. It's a pain in the arse. And the final insult?? 'It's a very popular size'. Well, why don't you bloody stock more of them then??? !!!!!

[stringbean]

And I don't want to buy online. I want to try them on first!!!!!

[JohnniesBitch]

online i'm afraid. next sell 42's they class them as an 8. topshops sell 42's as well.
rarely found 42's in stores though and 8's would often be a 40/41 so too small. clarks have some harder wearing shoes in an 8or a 9 and they stand up well to abuse, but not a huge selection. also m&s do the 8/9 as well again not the usual luxyury brands that you would prefer but some options.
i use hobbs online, net a porter and jimmy choo have the odd 42.

[Rosa]

Same problem. However Clarks size 8 really do vairy. Sandals not a hope this summer as too short but I have bought a pair of boots that are fine. Jones do a size 9 which is a 42 and I couldn't find in store but I ordered online and knew that I could take back to store if needed. Next the odd 9 comes up ok . M&S its worth trying on everything as again the styles do change. I found that some of the wide fit 41s were actually ok. I have to buy when I am in the Uk as overseas people almost laugh when I ask for a 42 !!!!

[stringbean]

Thanks Tmmj - Unfortunately Next shoes fall apart on me - I'm really hard on my shoes.

[stringbean]

Tmmj - you have my sympathy .

[stringbean]

Sorry, that should have been !

[BikeRunSki]

I have been a 42 all my adult life, and 2 pgs are pushing me into a 43! Was once in Hobbs in Bath and my sister (size 38 foot, size 10 and 5'10", eat like a pig, never exercises, bitch, ) burst out laughing when the shop assistant told me that "None of our styles are made in that size". DSis then adopted the voice of the weight watchers coach in Little Britain fo rthe rest of the day and bought about 5 pairs of fun, funky shoes in her mininscule size.

I am also heavy on shoes. The brands that work for me and my ginormous feet (also v wide):

Clarks
Next - occasionally, must try on, and only really for "party" shoes, as they don't last.
M&S
Land's End (on line on though, but good for day to day basics)
Doc Marten (they do a fashion range not just work boots, sell on the highstreet and on line through Schuu), I have these boots in three colours, often on sale on Amazon
Birkenstock (I am a 41 here, they come up v big)
Fat Face
Carvella
Dune (not always, but worth a try)
New Look to big sizes in some of their bigger stores
Nine West (in Debenhams)


Shoe brands that NEVER fit, so don't go falling in love with shoes in there:
Office
Fly
Boden
Gucci (OK, I was shopping for my wedding shoes. Harvey Nicks in Leeds rang HN in London and then Gucci in Milan, again to be told that very ocassionally, Gucci may make a 41, but 42, oh horror...)

[accessorizequeen]

I'm mostly a 43 these days. Haven't found a pair of shoes in a shop to fit for years now. You can order clarks shoes to be sent to the shop, try them on and then pay for what fits. Joules 8 is a 42 and I have heard that White Stuff is the same. But I find Amazon with free postage and free returns the best choice. Was eyeing up some dr martens boots just last night! Also TKMaxx sometimes have 8s and 9s in stock. Fitflops 8 is a 42 too as I managed to fit into some this summer yay.

[naturalbaby]

i wear bigger shoes than all the above and have had to mail order since i was a teenager. if i'm lucky i can find size 43 summer shoes to try on. i've lived in unisex trainers most of my life

[LongWayRound]

Long Tall Sally do shoes in UK sizes 7-11 (EU 40.5-45.5S). They don't seem to do wide fittings, so no use for me (wide 8) but my SIL (size 9, narrow fit) has had some really nice boots from them. I usually get shoes in Clarks, but have occasionally struck lucky in T K Maxx.

I can't buy shoes where I live - largest women's size here is probably a 6, and they look at you in horror if you ask for anything larger. So when I'm in the UK I spend a disproportionate amount of time in shoe shops. I used to live in eastern France and was once told very snootily that size 42 was only available from orthopedic suppliers . Just across the border in Germany I could usually find a wide choice of shoes, going up to 43.

[stringbean]

Thank you for your replies. It's nice to know I'm not alone, and clearly I do not have much to complain about compared to some of you. BikeRunSki, I dream of being able to do what your sister does (how can she be 5'10 and only little feet??). But surely its not too much to ask for, to be able to buy the odd pair of shoes in a shop rather than online. I am pretty fussy about quality, as shoes tend to fall apart quickly on me, so I really want to check them out first. Is that really too much to ask for? I guess I already know the answer to that one .

[slug]

Hush Puppies are quite generous and looking better these days. Am currently wearing a very nice pair of sandals bought in the sale, size 8.

[slug]

ACTUALLY, AM WEARING these today, though i got them for a good £15 less than the price advertised.

[TrillianAstra]

I am only a 41 and it's great to hear about which shops think 41 is 8 and 42 is 9 vs which think that 41 is a 7 and 42 is an 8.

[stringbean]

This is what I'm after here but I don't think it' meant to be .

[stringbean]

Yup good point Trillian - I often get the wrong size brought out to me for that reason - followed by a gasp and 'oh no, we don't stock that size' -they may as well say 'take your hairy hobbit feet and don't darken our doors again!'.

[stringbean]

Have just browsed on Clarks website - boy, have they overhauled their shoes in the last few years! Do their '8's come up big?

[eaglewings]

Russell and Bromley

Expensive but last for years and years and years

[Rosa]

I bought these www.clarks.co.uk/find/department-is-women/producttype-is-boots/subproducttype-is-midcalfboots/product-is-20348330 in an 8 and they are roomy . However I tried on a pair of shoes as well and no way . Hence I went to Jones....

[fluffles]

i have the same problem finding 36s - clarks only do them in selected syles (ie. horrid ones) and most other shops i have to open with 'what do you have in a 36?' when i'd kill to just be able to pick one up and say 'i'll have this style in a 36 please'.

tried on EVERY pair of brown boots in clarks last year and NONE were available in Edinburgh in a 36 :(

[MatLeaveForever]

I used to work in Jones Bootmaker and I'm sure they used to stock up to a 42 (9) in some styles. Good quality too, have a look!

[duckyfuzz]

Oh thank god I'm not the only one! I order size 8 which turns out to be a 41 and can fit, if flat or boots, but never fits if heels. M&S and Next are ok, duo likewise, but not keen on the styles. Dune I find make good claims, as do KG, but I am generally disappointed by the fit. I do have flat FLY boots in a 41 which fit, but only just. I'm sure 8 used to be 42? It is in mens' shoes!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

I go into Brantano every now and then because all of the shoes are out on the shelves and you don't have to deal with any sniffy shop assistants. However their stock can be a bit hit and miss.

I am a size 8, which in my mind IS a 42, and I mostly wear Birkenstocks (41), Converse (not really hard wearig though) and boots from Jones.

I feckin hate shoe shopping .......