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.

@SwedeCarrotLime @bricka
Thank you both for explaining, NOW I understand!

I read a page or two of that thread and backed out quietly. I’ve spent my whole life feeling like a freak. Ladies shoe sizes from age 8, big hands, large head, wide hips, back and boobs. Along with not fitting in most women’s shoes, gloves and hats I have also been >16 dress since I was age 16, even when I was extreme dieting. If you have a big pelvis and shoulders + added boobs, you have to size up. I’m not a heifer, a freak or a total lard arse. If you saw me standing next to my Dad when I was younger, you’d just see I am born of bear.

It is lovely to be amongst other large footed and tall women. I get fed up of the assumption every woman should be a dainty sparrow.

If it helps many shoe ranges don't go down to UK size 3 either which I also think can't be that unusual!

But the average used to be a 4, so the general trend of larger feet across the population means that 8/42 is a lot less unusual than it used to be and will be quite commonplace in twenty years or so.

What is unusual is to post something like that 300+ posts in to a thread mainly contributed to by women with size 42+ feet.

Quantum same here a 9. I was in luck with these shops; Cinderella shoes. Asda some styles a 9. Shoezone. My daughter says alot of teens a 9 on her sports team! Hate being handed size 41s also!! My vans a 9. They def not that easy to get I think.

Why are some people on this thread unwilling to accept that they have big feet?

People who are to big for clothes in average stores have to go to specialist places for bigger clothes. Same with people with big feet.

I'm really not understanding what the big deal is.

But size 8 is completely within the normal distribution of woman's foot size.

Saying it is unusual would be asking a few dozen women none or very few of them have size 8 feet, when in reality, it's probably at least 10-20%.

As alluded to by multiple PP there is a general cultural definition of femininity equating to smallness, daintiness, teeny-tininess, starting from a very young age with Cinderella. It’s therefore understandable that many have internalised the idea that their big feet / tall height etc are unfeminine and undesirable (not helped by goady PP referring to ‘boat feet’ ).

I think most of us on this thread understand that our shoe sizes are unusual but not THAT unusual, and certainly our daughters are likely to continue the trend. We comprise a growing market and it is frustrating that manufacturers and retailers don’t always recognise this.

Two sizes either side of the average doesn’t feel “unusual”. It’s clearly still a sizeable market.

@RomComPhooey
Backing out of the 18+ thread was the right thing to do, hugs.. I ran away screaming!

I am a 36/37 and recognise that I have small feet. Why can't some people not accept that they have big boats feet???

Yup.....i'm a 9 ...find Next really good and "Heavenly Boots" for boots

apropos the PP who get annoyed at boat feet comments, I've had a thousand comments about my small feet like, 'how the hell don't you fall over with those feet?, 'did you r parents bind them?' and other such crap.

Some women have boat feet. Like massive flippers!

Of course a size 3 is unusual. Most early teens have larger feet than that, never mind grown adults.

Well, it's true, they do 😂
What can they do about it, though?

I'm 5"8 and a (genuine) 8 / 42.

It is so frustrating as they have so often run out. You would think that might tell them something!

Because size 8 really isn't that big or unusual!