To think it's not unusual for a woman to have size 42+ feet ...

[bricka]

... and yet so many shoe ranges only go up to a size 41! Why is that? I've had problems buying shoes ever since my early teens. I rarely own more than 2 pairs at any one time, because finding shoes that I like, and which fit, is so difficult. If size 42 (or more) isn't unusual, then there must be a big untapped market out there.

I do hope all the people coming on to say they'd love nice shoes but have to wear trainers/DMs etc will RTFT and try some of the excellent recommendations for brands which do "ladylike" () shoes in larger sizes....

(Not those who are happy in trainer/DMs of course!)

I’m a size 10 Uk which is a 44/45 European size or a 12 USA.

I don’t have any problem getting shoes and I buy from the following companies.

CINDERELLA SHOES.
MAGNUS
CRISPINS
ZAPPOS
NORDSTROM

and there are some really good sales on right now 😊

I’ve just had a look based on your recommendation and I love the shoes. Thank you n

The lack of availability in larger sizes is a disgrace! I am 5'9'' and a size 40-41. 40 in normal shoes, 41 in trainers. My husband is three inches taller and a 44-45. My own feet actually seem reasonably small, if not dainty, in proportion to my height. Given that a reasonable and increasing proportion of women in the UK are my height or taller, I cannot understand why shops don't stock a wider range. Most sports shops seem to max out at a 40 for women, and then start at 41 for men. I find that neither fits: the 40 is too small, and the men's 41 is too wide (eg in New Balance, which has different width fittings for men and women).

I can buy trousers that are too short (most standard sizes in shops), far too short (petite), about right (longer length at M&S, standard at H&M) and WAY too long (long at most shops, any specialist tall people shops). Why I cannot buy shoes that fit I do not know. Seems manufacturers and retailers are missing a huge section of the market.

Independent shoe shop worker here 😬👍🏻 Trust me when I say, there are LOTS of size 42+ ladies out there!

Off the top of my head, try-
Rieker/Remonte
Gabor (majority of people go down a 1/2 size or full size in comfort/G-fit styles!)
Softinos
Think!
Paul Green
Ecco
Mephisto
I think they all equate a 42 with being an 8. Perhaps with the exception of Gabor.

Also - the way shoe manufacturers sell their shoes into stores affects the stock we can carry. Shoes from most retailers are sold in runs, not as individual items. For example - A typical run could be something like 1x36 3x37 4x38 4x39 2x40 2x41 1x42 1x43. The run will be dictated by their production quantities etc. You either take the whole run or none of it and to be able to carry a larger stock of size 42/43 I’m having to carry a far larger stock of 38/39 etc. I hope that makes sense the way it’s written 🤔😬

I have found my people! I’m a 42 (and also hate asking for an 8 and being presented with a 41) and have always struggled to get girly shoes that fit. Brands I go for; Sketchers, Vans, Birkenstocks. Next are good too if you need things like occasions shoes. Always buy online though, never in a shop.

It’s much better then it was though; trying to get school shoes (in the 90s) was a nightmare. My mum had to spend a fortune to get school shoes that fit.

Add in that I am 6ft tall and could start a whole thread about trying to buy trousers……I feel like a complete freak sometimes when shopping!

At least I am Britains Commonest Dress Size apparently (size 16).

Oh, and I recently discovered DMs, they fit beautifully (though are not very girly!)

I thought of you guys as I polished my 4 x shades of size 42 Hotter 'Jewel' style in readiness for the new school year (black, reddy orange, purple, navy mock croc). They've lasted 10 years! I keep them at school and never wear them on my commute.

My biggest disappointment was Fit Flop knee boots which are weirdly square on the toe and make my big tors numb. And they were £99 .

That’s really interesting about the “runs” for stock. So it’s the original manufacturers / retailers more than the shops, if they’re selling a variety of brands?

As an aside, as a wide footed 7.5 who nearly always wears 8 for width, I am finally seeing a benefit to having big wide feet as opposed to just large but normal width. At least I can buy from the mens section and have a good fit, even if I don’t usually like the style that much. Hadn’t ever seen my wide feet as a positive before! My son’s 7.5H Clarks school shoes are sooo comfy on. But triple Velcro black leather boys school shoes aren’t usually the look I’m going for.

I always thought that a 37 was a 4, 38 a 5 etc which would make a 41 an 8. Is the problem that mens shoes are made to a different pattern as someone said previously and for mens shoes an 8 is a 42? Shoe buying is always a gamble - no guarantee your usual size will fit or even be comfortable. I am a half size and it is difficult enough to find those so I do sympathise if you are an “unpopular” size if I can put it like that - although it appears that bigger sizes are not that unpopular or unusual from this thread.

That’s really interesting about the “runs” for stock. So it’s the original manufacturers / retailers more than the shops, if they’re selling a variety of brands?

@Talipesmum I can’t speak for all shops but certainly that’s the way most of our suppliers work. We’re an independent carrying a large range of brands.

@Allywill The confusion actually is when you reach a size 40. It’s closest UK size is actually a 6.5, not a 7.
I believe the most accurate comparisons would be
35 - 2.5
36 - 3
37 - 4
38 - 5
39 - 6
40 - 6.5
41 - 7
42 - 8
43 - 9
44 - 10
45 - 10.5
46 - 11

Another vote for Otto and Ivy - they are expensive but really lovely.

I was an 8 / 42 all my life but went up half a shoe size with each pregnancy and am now more like a 9 / 43. I genuinely do not understand how the woman described upthread as 5’11” with size 5 feet stays upright. My 9yo DD is already in a size 4.

My feet are a size 9, which equates to an EU 43. They've been that way for around 35 years. And yet - there still seem to be swathes of people (shops and individuals) lining up to tell me a 9 is a 42. It just isn't. It's a scam that started about 15 years ago to try and make sizing seem more inclusive.

I'm currently very cross with Clarks, who have drastically reduced their range of 43s in the past couple of years. Very annoying. Although the paltry offering left are at least still labelled correctly.

As someone with wide size 8/9 feet, I know exactly what you mean. It's so frustrating.

Often when you do see larger shoes the styles are awful. Like orthopaedic shoes.

I'm currently very cross with Clarks, who have drastically reduced their range of 43s in the past couple of years. Very annoying. Although the paltry offering left are at least still labelled correctly.

Yes! They were one of the few actual shops left routinely stocking size 9s (proper size 9s). I have awkward shaped feet as well as big feet, so buying online is a hit and miss and tedious affair. Think I'll be wearing trainers from here on in.

I've just looked at Otto and Ivy and they are amazing!!!

Actual nice shoes in my size!

I've noticed that Toms come in bigger sizes too, can anyone advise me what the fit is like?

I haven't looked at the shoes yet, but love this rationale for the name on the About page ...

"Otto is Italian for eight, and Ivy is a beautiful climbing plant that rises, disrupts, and refuses to be tamed. The shoes are all available in a UK size 8 and above."

I think Laura Schofield may be my new best friend. 😁

... thiugh sadly we have different taste in shoes. 🙄

Hang on, where did this EU crap come from? I have NEVER gone into a shoe shop & asked for a '41' or whatever.. then again I do buy mostly online with ENGLISH sizes - ffs, we still have gallons & pints & miles..
Having said that, anyway, I'm a size 4 which was THE size when I wor a lass & always sold out first.. :-(
Am loving being able to find them so easily in sales now! (Although sometimes go bigger for comfort now.)
My daughters, on the other hand.. one is a 7 & narrow, nightmare shoe shopping for her back in the day.. & my younger daughter is a 10/11. Luckily preferring trainers to girly shoes.. finding some for a wedding we were attending was awful. Thank God for google.
Do you all think trainers, DM's etc let female feet grow bigger / develop properly, rather than being enclosed / tormented in fashionable shoes? My daughters' toes are lovely & straight, whereas mine are mangled!

Btw, this thread is positively polite after reading the 'size 18 clothes' thread which made me, & others, I imagine, feel the size of a barrage balloon.. such RUDE & insensitive posters on there. :-(

My poor stepdaughter is already a size 43 and she's only 12. Her dad has size... I dunno, but he left a couple of pairs when he moved out and they're like canoes. Had to special order a lot apparently.

I feel for her because she doesn't have many choices but am somewhat relieved that she's already grown out of nicking my size 41s!

I am size 9. I find it so difficult to find shoes I actually like . It’s usually a case of get what I can that fits. New look and Next do affordable shoes on larger sizes.

years ago it was so hard to find larger sizes shoes and it’s still not great .

Hang on, where did this EU crap come from? I have NEVER gone into a shoe shop & asked for a '41' or whatever.. then again I do buy mostly online with ENGLISH sizes - ffs, we still have gallons & pints & miles..

As has been explained on this thread, shoe shops regularly mis-label size 41 shoes as an 8 when they are more like a 7 - 7.5. In this case the European sizes are more reliable and more usually accurate. What possible difference could it make to you if using Euro sizes means the rest of us on this thread can find shoes that fit us?

@mamabear715 I used my EU 42size as my unambiguous reference point because I know it fits me. However, if I order a UK8 (often the max size available) I am frequently sent an EU41, which doesn't fit me, so over the years I have become confused as to whether I am a UK8 or not. This confusion has been caused by manufacturers/retailers, as explained very well here: www.elevateyoursole.co.uk/collections/size-uk-8