Are shoe sizing going the way of vanity sizing in clothing?

[rightknockered]

Because I was a size 6 a few years ago. Then I found I had to buy a size 5.5 or 5 in most shoe shops, but thought that it was because I was buying different brands. However, today I tried on 4 pairs of chelsea boots in 2 different shops and the 5 was a little loose. Same with trainers.
Either my feet are shrinking with age, or shoe sizes are getting larger, and wider.

Huge grammatical error in title, making my teeth itch, but can't edit

Yes! I've been wondering the same thing too recently. Always took a size 7, then was a 6.5 for a while and now have to buy a bloomin' 6. Unless feet shrink with age, there must be some sizing jiggery pokery going on.

Oh my god yes. And it's so annoying! I used to be a 5 in everything. For 3+ years I've been a 4 in everything and recently I had to get trainers in a size 3.

Pretty much impossible to buy shoes online these days as you don't know how much they're lying.

OMG! I thought this was just me! Used to wear an 8 - now as small as a 6.5!

My feet did go down a half size and then another after I turned 30 (shoes from years ago need insoles to fit) so that really is down to me but I have noticed that the EU-UK conversion has messed up sizing in places like H&M, it used to be whole numbers but now the same size is converted to a half size. Equally French sizes used to be a full size smaller than an Italian size (same number), these days the difference is more like half a size or none at all. Italian sizing still appears to be true but I find trainers to be all over the place and where I find myself needing much smaller sizes. Adidas has 1/3 sizes which makes even less sense to me too.

In my perception shoes have also become wider and that definitely means I can go down a further half a size as a result.

Hmm. I don't see the problem, unless you are already a size 3 or 2.5. As a tall woman with very large (not standard women's size) feet, it is a blessing to be able go buy shoes that fit and don't leave me with crippling blisters. The population is generally getting taller (and fatter) so bigger shoes are needed. Just like tiny or large footed women, you'll just have to find brands that suit you better (eg narrow) and shop carefully.

No.
At leats it would be amazing if it was.
I am a size 10. If they started to vanity size I might stand some chance of fitting into a size 9, which is more widely available.

As it is I am stuck with Evans and men's shoes.

Adn I was a 9.5 before kids, and I am now a 10.

I have never had this problem. I have been a size 4 since I was about 12. Or a 37 in shops that use that sizing. So my size hasn't changed in 30 years.

Another No from me.
I wish this was happening. I'm a size 9 and can buy nothing I would wear in UK shops.

Not for me. Been a 6 for 20 years though. My mum went from a 5 to a 4 in her 40s - she's also 2 inches shorter at 60 than she was when I was a teenager.

Weird, I've found the opposite - I was always a borderline 6, often a 5.5, sometimes a 5. Now I'm always a 6 or a 6.5

Me too Strummerville.

Although I agree with people who find the conversions suck now. I used to be a 6.5 or 40. Now a 41. But buying 7's is fraught with trouble.

A seven can be any old size these days.My 7 Uggs are too small, my 7 Matalan shoes too big, Moshulu is massive, George shoes tight.

Not for me, always been a straight 6 and still am

I wish. Another size 9-er here and the choice is appalling. Evans shoes are hideous and far too expensive for the quality. I can recommend Asda shoes, though... They are priced more reasonably and are often quite attractive

I found when I lost weight my shoe size changed, I now wear a 3!