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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Mainstream women's shoes only going up to a size 8

210 replies

AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 17:08

And even then its not always a 42!

Took ds school shoe shopping today and while I was in and out of the various shoe shops, I had a quick look in the women's sections.

I am a 9, but a 43 9. Sometimes a 10. Not a single shoe was bigger than an 8.

Now, luckily I know where I can buy shoes that fit, but I was thinking about this, and isn't it ridiculous?

So, I'm wondering how many women here have feet larger than an 8? I mean, I imagine there aren't tens of thousands of us, but there just be enough to warrant shops selling 9s and 10s?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Mumof1andacat · 10/08/2023 17:55

enchantedsquirrelwood · 10/08/2023 17:10

My mum complains of the opposite - she and I are both size 4.5. I tend to buy all my shoes online, but she goes into shoe shops where she lives and says they often don't have anything smaller than a 5!

How odd. I am a size 4 and never have trouble finding a size 4

Original poster
AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 17:56

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/08/2023 17:47

I used to be a footwear buyer for a brand mentioned on this thread.

The factories were exclusively women's shoe makers and did not have a size 43. And when we did pay them to develop a 43, and we stocked our 60 or so lines in size 43, we sold one or two in maybe 20 of the styles, leaving us with a big stock to try and flog in the sale. So we tried to stock maybe half the lines in a 43 and got complaints that it was discriminatory just to do the more boring styles in a 10.

Essentially we lost money on both the size 43s and the size 35s (2). It is easier to not do them.

I can imagine it's tricky for businesses.

If you're talking about Next, I'm sorry, but the shoes are not good. I don't know if it's a problem with them sizing up or the fashion element, but not a single pair of next 9s has ever fitted me properly. Which means I never, ever buy them...

OP posts:
floribunda18 · 10/08/2023 17:56

Yeah, DD2 is a size 9 aged 14, also very tall. I think her feet have stopped growing. Fortunately at the moment she is a trainer fan so we can get men's. But for sandals we have to buy online and the quality isn't always great. Her generation's feet are big and it's weird that shops don't appear to have noticed.

Even DD1 (18) has size 7 feet though is only 5'4". Her feet are bigger than mine and I'm 5'7".

KirstenBlest · 10/08/2023 18:00

@TheBitterBoy , the first column is american, 2nd on EU, 3rd one UK, 4th on Inches, 5th one cm

10 40-41 8 10.1875" 25.9

Original poster
AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 18:01

floribunda18 · 10/08/2023 17:56

Yeah, DD2 is a size 9 aged 14, also very tall. I think her feet have stopped growing. Fortunately at the moment she is a trainer fan so we can get men's. But for sandals we have to buy online and the quality isn't always great. Her generation's feet are big and it's weird that shops don't appear to have noticed.

Even DD1 (18) has size 7 feet though is only 5'4". Her feet are bigger than mine and I'm 5'7".

I have some Tom's sandals that fit (43). Real Leather. Comfy and have lasted me well. Worth a look?

I asked Saltwater about 43s and 44s once or twice and they said they were working on it. That was pre pandemic and I haven't seen that they've managed.

OP posts:
girlygirly · 10/08/2023 18:02

I was a size 8 in 1971 when I was 11. The only shoes I had a "choice" of were granny ones (not even my mum would wear them) or boys. You can imagine how much fun that was! I am now in my 60s and a size 9. Deichmann are good but pot luck if they have any left after the first 2 days, I've given up and wear mens a lot of the time. Particularly trainers.

CrosstheTee · 10/08/2023 18:03

In my twenties I used to be about a size 5 and now in my thirties I'm a size 7.5 sucks as some really nice shoes never come up in my size.

Original poster
AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 18:03

It makes me wonder where ttanswomen shop for shoes. I bet its online, but I've had such a mixed bag buying random online shoes. Hence sticking to the brands I know fit. And will definely be a 43-9.

Which is why it would be great to be able to try some on in an actual shop.

OP posts:
TheCatterall · 10/08/2023 18:06

I have found my foot sisters!!

thanks for the post @AlwaysFreezing

I’m a proper 9/43 and wide to boot.

Next used to be fabulous but seem to be dropping a lot of the wide ranges and less 9s actually in stock now.

Hotter, Riker and sketchers are my go to brands. Few converse as well.

some of the US brands are good and go up
High enough.

Pandagirl10 · 10/08/2023 18:15

Foot sisters! Haha! Definitely with you all on this!

trainers, slippers and wellies are all fine..anything else is hit and miss!

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/08/2023 18:16

AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 17:56

I can imagine it's tricky for businesses.

If you're talking about Next, I'm sorry, but the shoes are not good. I don't know if it's a problem with them sizing up or the fashion element, but not a single pair of next 9s has ever fitted me properly. Which means I never, ever buy them...

Show quote history

Not Next! Small enough company to be outing. I also hate Next shoes.

BeeBelle16 · 10/08/2023 18:17

Menopausehaver · 10/08/2023 17:16

Size 42/8/7.5 depending on the shop. It’s infuriating. When I ask sales assistants why they don’t have the stock I’ve been told it’s because there’s not much demand. Ie they don’t sell many, not surprising they don’t sell many if they are not in stock, it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. I must be amongst the few women who absolutely hate buying shoes.

Oh my goodness I could have written this post!!!

I was away from home other part of the UK totally misjudged the weather/unexpected sunshine!! So went to local metalan absolutely no size 8 or above
I am an 8

Went to Tesco one pair of shoes suitable for what I needed absolutely not my taste but took them anyway as a means to an end

Local new look again 1 or 2 pairs of 8s

When I asked in Matalan why no 8s or above
Oh we don't seem to sell much of them... ever think of stocking them so you could sell them?

Op I know I'm "lucky" I can usually get 8s but it's a pain and I feel you!

TheBitterBoy · 10/08/2023 18:18

KirstenBlest · 10/08/2023 18:00

@TheBitterBoy , the first column is american, 2nd on EU, 3rd one UK, 4th on Inches, 5th one cm

10 40-41 8 10.1875" 25.9

I am aware of that. I am saying the site it comes from is a US site. And it is wrong.

Original poster
AlwaysFreezing · 10/08/2023 18:19

AndIKnewYouMeantIt · 10/08/2023 18:16

Not Next! Small enough company to be outing. I also hate Next shoes.

Show quote history

Oh, sorry in that case! (I mean I was already sorry, but doubly so now!)

I have never really thought about the shoes just being a bit shit. I assumed it was the sizing up that made them shit.

Shame really, at least they try

OP posts:
magicalkitty · 10/08/2023 18:20

Neonyellowfish · 10/08/2023 17:23

Size 9 is pretty big for womens feet. I doubt the store sell many hence not stocking them as they won’t sale them.

My feet are a 7 and I was always told I had big feet.

Same here, I wore a size 7 in secondary school and I was treated like a freak of nature.

Size 7 now is too big for me so I don't think my feet have shrunk, I think the sizes have got bigger in a similar way to clothes.

BakedBeeeen · 10/08/2023 18:28

TheBitterBoy · 10/08/2023 17:28

I am a size 8 and was infuriated a few years ago when I decided to treat myself to a new pair of leather long boots. I went to Jones, saw a style I liked and asked for a size 8, only to be told that sorry all their size 8s in that style were sold out, and would not be restocked. The assistant actually said to me 'you need to come earlier in the season, as all the 8s go quickly' (it was the beginning of September). I said that seemed odd, and asked if they have many people asking for 8s , and she said 'oh yes all the time, but head office still won't stock more in case they don't sell'
I'm lucky as I am actually a true 41, so it's easier for me, but my mum was a size 9 and struggled to find nice shoes her whole life until she found Evans. And even they are gone now.

I’m exactly the same as you - have to buy boots before autumn and sandals before spring to have a chance of my size being stocked.

FuzzyPuffling · 10/08/2023 18:30

I'm a 42. That's an 8 to me, but obviously not to many shoe manufacturers. I have the additional issue of narrow feet. Long does not mean wide. I don't want boats.

dramoy · 10/08/2023 18:30

Russell & Bromley

Leopardchange · 10/08/2023 18:32

Size 9 here and it's a real bugbear of mine too.

WedRine · 10/08/2023 18:32

I'm an 8 but I feel your pain. Places theoretically sell up to an 8 but rarely have them in stock. The only places I've found reliably have 8s in stock are Next, but they are too wide and flop of the back of my heels when walking, and New Look, which are just rubbish quality and hurt my feet to wear. My sister is a size 3 and now just looks in the children's section.

almostoverthehill · 10/08/2023 18:33

https://www.evans.co.uk/shoes/

dramoy · 10/08/2023 18:34

I think sizes have got bigger, I was a 39 which was a 6, now 6 is often a 40 which is too big for me. Plus my feet are wider then when I was young.

Swimbius · 10/08/2023 18:35

Ponderingwindow · 10/08/2023 17:37

This is the first I have heard that size 9 is considered large.

Are you outside of the UK? That's the only way this comment can make sense

PoppityBoo · 10/08/2023 18:42

I have found my people…. Size 9/43 here and fresh from throwing a wobbly in a shoe shop a fortnight ago when I was desperately looking for some nice sandals to buy to take on holiday. Also needed trainers and ended up with men’s sketchers.

It has been this way since I was 16. I honestly thought by now that shoe manufacturers would have caught up with the times.

I’m saving this thread so when I have a chance I can scroll back through and make a note of all the big shoe companies people have mentioned on here!

Maybe we should start a support group…

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/08/2023 18:44

I hear you!

I've been a wide 9 since 1985!
I've got no magic bullet though - its all a bit and miss. Clarks do a few styies, I've had some success with Timberland too.

Curiously, when I took dd to get school echoes recentjy, I noticed that StartRite do their girls' school shoes up to a 9. 1- there some patent brogues I quite fancy 2- nice to see recognition that big feet are normal.