Who makes shoes boots in size 8 which are a real size 8, not a EU 41?

[bryte]

I live in a crap town with crap shops and the next nearest cities are quite far away. It's not easy to find shoes and boots locally if I want some choice. I buy most footwear online but get caught out by the inconsistency in sizing. I'm a proper British size 8 but never know if what I am ordering is really an EU41. If European sizes are given and I order an EU42, I've sometimes received a shoe that equates to a British size 9. It's infuriating. I recently ordered some size 8 loafers from Jones, only to receive a EU41. And that was the biggest size they did.

Is there anyone that reliably sells a size 8 which is truly a size 8? Or an Eu42 which isn't a size 9?

I can only find shoes in Debenhams that fit. I have freakishly wide feet and most shoes don't fit in width, and the soles are so bloody narrow compared to the actual shoe-that pisses me right off

On the same lines, can anyone tell me which style of shoes is the most flattering for long feet?

The current vogue for "man-styled" brogues is bad for me as I just look like I have raided my husband's shoe wardrobe (if he had one!)

I like El Naturalista, where 42 tends to be a 9.

In English shops 41 is small.

I'm a 42/43 (depending on width) and buy pretty much everything from Clarks or Next (with a bit of M&S thrown in) - but try American brands (in a size 10 = 8/42 or 11 = 9/43).

Nine West have a great range (sale on atm) and I've even found the odd pair at Land's End in the past...

There's also the fabulous shoe and boot brand Duo www.duoboots.com who do a range of widths and marvellous long boots with different calf fittings. Not cheap but I'm on my 4th winter with their Florence boots and they're worth every. single. penny. Also have a very good sale, when it happens, and you can search their site by size and width.

Shoe sizing generally drives me INSANE. I even saw somewhere the other day (forget where) equating a 41 = 8 = US 11

Zara's size 9s are a 42.

So they're an 8 really then.

Drives me bloody mad. I hate ordering on-line and never knowing if the size 8 is going to turn out to be too small (41) or the correct 42. I can sometimes fit in a 41 but most of the time can't be bothered with the faff of ordering, just in case.

M&S 42s are 8s, same at Primark

DMs are TTS = 9 is a 43. As a big footed lass myself I feel your pain as I have a freaky long second toe on my left foot which really hurts and the nail always splits. Agree that Next is a 43/9 but have found their sizing to be skimpy recently.

I'm usually a 7.5 /41 but in Hobbs generally have to size down as their 8s/41s are MASSIVE!

It drives me mad! It's bad enough that they sell out of the big sizes so fast, without half the shops trying to claim that a 41 is an 8 (it is a 7 1/2 max). I used to find that if I ordered a 42 it was pretty consistently the right size. But half the shops you ask for a 42 say "oh no we dont go up to a 9".

Things have got worse though...since having DS I need a size 43. So I am restricted to tranny shoes, mens shoes, and New Look (thank you thank you New Look!!)

I'm I really such a freak? I'm sure I'm not...there must be more of a market for big shoes? Why is New Look the only shop which thinks so?

Another size 42 driven mad by the inconsistent sizing, wish they'd get it right. I find Ecco size 8s to be true to size, as are George at Asda (but not the teeny Sainsbos shoes).

Yep, New Look size 42 is allegedly an 8, but I bought slip on trainers and lace up fake converse trainers online.
Sadly they're massive (except, bizarrely the ballet flats which fit beautifully)
I find Dune size 42 are alright but M&S size 7.5 fit my size 8 feet perfectly, isn't it strange!

Just to add my two penneth rant - a Russell & Bromley size 42/ 42.5 used to fit me in a lovely high heel for work called 'Loopy Lou' - the same design has now been renamed and only made in a 51 as they have changed their supplier - now in Asia and they don't have lasts for 42. Grrr. Drives me mad.

I have had some great boots and shoes from Shoon in the last coupe of months - they sell upto an EU 43.

shoe sizing is now as random as clothes sizing. I'm further stuffed because I can't wear any heel higher than an inch, nor do I want to wear silly ballet flats, ghastly beige or stupid bows, and very little else is made now.

Shoe zone have a couple of styles which are really an 8, i.e. a 42. They are also selling size 9 which may fit you.

this pair works for me:
www.shoezone.com/Womens/Boots/Ankle/Lilley-Womens-Ruched-Ankle-Boot-in-Black-18126

I ordered a pair of size 8 with strap and normal heel, but they were a 41 and too small.

ps if you are walking buy men's walking shoes, better made and cheaper.

Gawd I'm a 9 now. 9 in Zara etc.....massive blardy feet

I think you are getting a bit hung up on sizes here.

If you don't want a 41 and don't want a 42 then what do you want?

FWIW I know that if a shop says 7- 40 then it's too small for me, but if it say 7- 41 then it will probably fit, so I understand if you are annoyed at the inconsistencies, but you are wrong to say "REAL SIZE 8" as if that means anything.

Well it stops you buying confidently on line, for a start!

Had a very snooty sales assistant in l k Bennett tell me that a 41 was definitely an 8 and shoes in a 42 were virtually unheard of! Took off my Clarks brogues and showed her the 8/42 label to which she replied "oh some cheaper brands do vanity sizing". I wanted to slap her!

what an airhead.

mind you, I hear that Jimmy Choo shoes disintegrate if used for more than pouting and standing, and are not actually expected to be used for walking. But as long as people buy pointless crap, other people will keep selling it.

Dim-seeming sales assistant in Office insisted that 7 WAS 40, and there was no question about it, and I was ridiculous even to ask if their 7s were more like European 40s or 41s.

In the same shop there were mens shoes labelled 7/41.

I suppose what we really want to know is the difference between:

"this is a UK shoe made to UK sizes, where an 8 is xx inches long - we'll label it as 41 for those who like to read European sizes, but really it's between a 41 and a 42"

or

"this is a European shoe made to European sizes, where a 41 is yy cm long - we'll label is as 7 for those who like to read English sizes but really it's between a 7 and an 8"

or

"this is an American shoe made to American sizes - order a couple and send the other back because you're never going to guess"

Even then, you can't expect shoe manufacturers to actually stick to the sizes (clothes manufacturers certainly don't).

Trills - yes, you hit the nail on the head.

I think you're right, but what I can't understand is why Euro sizing is so much more consistent than UK. If something is labelled a 43 then I know I'll be able to get into it, whereas I can never guarantee a "9" will fit. Makes. No. Sense.

Btw Liquoricelips am utterly gobsmacked at rudeness of that LK Bennett assistant....

M&S size 8 seem to be a size 42 in my experience. They fit me (with my feet that Clarks measured as a size 9!) anyway.