Embarrassed being size 8 shoe

[MaryWants2getMarried]

Been struggling with shoe fit all my life. Even as a little girl I used to go fit

[RibenaFiend]

I'm 5ft8, long legged, big boobed and yes, as a teenager I was embarrassed about being the huge footed one of our friends. When my average height friends were trying on each others shoes I would just watch longingly Now I'm proud of my feet. Any smaller and I'm sure my bust and height would topple me forwards! I am happy to confess that I look clown like if I'm walking off pointe in pointe shoes but I love my shoes, I can wear the highest heels and they always seem to look fabulous and it's so much easier finding 8s in the sales

[Trills]

I haven't noticed anything change since I have had grownup-sized feet. Different shops have always been variable.

[Kernowgal]

Yep, same with the 9s - now seeing 9s labelled as 42. I tend to go with the European size as that seems to be more accurate to my size - ie a 43, in some cases a 44. I did wonder if it was some sort of vanity sizing so that people were less embarrassed about having large feet, but that's pointless if the label still says size 9!

Apparently M&S started doing size 9s a few years back but they stopped, claiming lack of demand. Er, probably because they didn't publicise it! Next size 9s seem to vary by manufacturer - some of their 9s fit me fine, others are too small. I just wish I could order a size 9 and know it was going to fit, as I'm too far away from any big cities to be able to try stuff on.

[AgathaF]

I think it's within the last two years or so, that the 7 and 8 thing has changed. It is bloody infuriating.

[Snowkey]

But something has changed recently all shops I've visited have referred to a size 41 as an 8

[Trills]

European and UK shoes have different increments. So wherever you start at some point they are going to get out of sync.

[Snowkey]

It really pisses me off too about the resizing of European/Uk sizing. Used to be a 41/7 now sometimes they are describing a 40 as a 7 and 41 as an eight - have the European sizes got bigger? Or am I now a size 8 because its not just Office that have made the change - it's across the whole industry. I'm not bothered about being a size 8/41, it's not knowing what shoe size I am anymore.

[AgathaF]

auldspinster - that really annoys me too!

[ravenAK]

I buy lots of mine from Demonia - they go up to at least a 10.

www.demonia.co.uk/demonia-footwear.html

& Office are brilliant.

[accessorizequeen]

It's tiresome, limiting and expensive but not embarrassing. I was a 41, had 4 dc in 5 years and they're now 43!! I wear unisex vans, converse, clarks, fit flops, hush puppies and dr martens. Sometimes long for footwear that's less practical and more frivolous but then my feet would hurt and I'd look daft anyway. Lots of good shops listed here, some new to me so thank you!

[auldspinster]

I am 5ft 8 and a size 42, get a bit pissed off when 41s are labelled as size 8 (Office I'm looking at you).

[Kernowgal]

Also Clarks online is good for size 9s - I ask them to order them in to my nearest shop and then try them on before buying. They've got some really nice styles and aren't too dear (which is the other problem with having massive feets, the shoes can be horribly expensive).

[Kernowgal]

The original poster seems to have disappeared! How odd.

I posted on another thread recently with the link to my blog (I make no money from this, it's there purely for me to keep all my links in one place!) with links to larger size online shoe shops.

sizeninefeet.blogspot.co.uk

I'm posting it in the hope that other bigfoots might find shoe shops on it that offer the sizes they need. I should add that I'm a narrow size 9 (43) and occasionally a 9.5 or 10. Currently planning a trip to the States to visit Barefoot Tess and relieve them of all their stock.

[daisydoodoo]

Most stores that stock a decentbrange go up to a 9. Usually only one pair in that size whereas the 5/6 have 3 or 4 pairs.

If you're anywhere near here I know Bracknell stock a 9 and Basingstoke. The Reading stores are a bit more hit and miss tbh.

[Dawndonna]

I'm 5'6" and a size nine. Been like that since my teens. Don't really think about it.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I am an 8 (or sometimes a 9, depending on the shoe). It isn't embarrasing. It is a bit annoying when the 8 is too small and they don't come in a 9, but it is far easier to find shoes now than it was 20 years ago. I remember being mortified as a toddler when a snotty sales assistant looked down at me and told me that "Ladies shoes don't come in a size 8!".

[wewereherefirst]

New Look do it in most larger stores Exit I have a lovely pair of knee high boots from Next in an 8, they're lovely, wide and the calf is lengthed slightly too, which is an oft overlooked bonus!

[ExitPursuedByABear]

StrawberrytallCake I do not refer to my DD's shoes as canal barges to her face, nor did I shush the shop assistant in front of DD.

Sheesh! What do you take me for?

Although to be fair, we do josh around a lot about such stuff.

Daisy Do New Look go up to size 9 in store or just online?

[daisydoodoo]

also duo go up to a 43 in their shoes and have variety of width fittings.

[daisydoodoo]

new look go up to a size 9, they are fab for cheap shoes and perfect for those with teenagers in an 8 or 9.

i'm an 8 (42) and the new look 8 fit perfectly (even though i think labelled as an 8/41).

another high street brand that go up to a 43/9 is next, they have standard fit as well as wide and extra wide.

I was a 9 until very recently but lost weight and my shoe size i now smaller

[wewereherefirst]

Ooh fab thank you, I'll have to have a look!

[Procrastinating]

wewerehere not sure of street names, but at the top of the hill on the main shopping street last time I went.
I'm in the midlands so I order online, you have to send measurements and draw around your feet. Then they send you the half-made shoes to check the fitting. It is a great service and mine always fit perfectly.

[willyoulistentome]

I had a friend at school who was 5 foot high and had size 7s. I always thought she looked like a capital L in her white plimpsols for PE.

[willyoulistentome]

I'm an 8 (41) too. I have very often found that the style I wanted is not in stock in my size, or only goes up to a size 7. Yes, there are often many size 8s in the sales, but minging ones that I would never BUY.

[wewereherefirst]

Procrastinating where are they in Totnes?