Why does it go pear shaped at size 8? *shoes

[BlythesEyes]

I am a size 8 shoe, always have been. I know a size 5 is 38, 6 is 39, 7 is 40...or it used to be
Why has it all gone pear shaped with sizing above that?
Is 7 a 40 or 41?
Is size 7.5 a 41? And if so why does it change increments?
Is size 8 a 42?
Whenever I buy shoes every retailer sells something different.
Somebody explain why this happens in larger 'big boat' sized feet?

I'd like to know too - I ignore the uk size and aim 41 as this seems to be the most consistent for me and like you say it can be a 7 or 7.5.

I always look for a 42 rather than an 8 after many disappointing buys.

It's because European and UK sizes aren't equivalent - sometimes a 5.5 is a 39. I always buy by European size (eg 39) as they do seem to be more consistent.

Christ knows. I'm sick to death of the inconsistency though. I wanted some trainers recently, tried a pair of size 8 karrimor ones that were too tight, tried the same trainers, same size but in the mens section and they were perfect. I wish I was a 7 at least there would be more choice and more opportunity to size up.

I totally agree OP! It’s a nightmare. I am a 42. I have learned to only look for 42 and not the random UK sizes. Apparently in Office and Ugg a 42 is a 9!

It is a nightmare. Then when it comes to running trainers I need an 9 in ladies but a 8.5 in Men's

Try being a 9!!!

Because that's about the size you switch from women's to men's lasts. Men's are slightly bigger at the same size, deeper and with wider heels. They should still be using a women's last for women's shoes, but it's particularly noticeable for unisex brands (e.g. Dr Martens and outdoor shoes) that a pink women's Dr Marten 8 will be half a size smaller than a unisex 8. The labellers screw up and don't know whether they mean a women's 8 (41) or a men's 8 (42)

Goodness knows. I'm a 40, they always fit consistently, but in UK sizes I can be anything from a 6 to an 8 🙄

I am a nine and a bloody half.

LTS - cheap and often slightly gauche shoes at fairly high prices

Magnus - same as LTS but at least you can look at them and try them on

Crispins - beautiful shoes and I’m grateful they exist but an absolute minimum of over £100 and up to over £500 which makes me sob.

Any others?

I thought it was a 7, or whatever the flying f that is wherever the hell you happen to be... My shoes are anywhere between 37 and 39, 4.5 and 5, 6.5 and 7.5. They’re thin like my hair and absolutely nothing in between.

I wear a 7 or 7.5 and always look for 41

Go for a 42. I’ve had 41’s and have sent them back as too small/tight. Yes, it goes to shit from size 7 onward.

I haven't found a universal solution for this - I just have to work out my size in each brand (or even each individual pair - I have both size 8 (41) and size 9 (42) Fly boots and they both fit!)

It REALLY pisses me off that although I think of myself as an 8, roughly, a women's 8 is smaller than a men's 8. Which is a total PITA when that means you need a 9, which of course many shoes don't come in.

If I'm buying trainers or boots I do sometimes get men's, also Birkenstocks.

Lovely, roomy brands that come up big include Merrells and Camper.

Lucky I'm not a lover of heels and girly shoes!

lumene I love Crispins. But so expensive.
I get boots from Gabor via Charles Clinkard online...hit and miss as I am narrow. But decent quality and reasonable.
Duo for boots too

I am finding it hard to get shoes that fit anymore.
European size 40s are sort of thinning out. Most ships now have this sizing.
I tried on a pair of Toms in schuh. I couldn't get my foot in the size down and the size up were laughably big. A lot of DMs are the same now too, and pretty much everything in office. I am a 40 and now it is classed as a 6.5 I can't get any shoes to fit.

Ooh thank you @AuntieMarys I will have a look. I have narrow feet too. Just spent £300 on two pairs of work shoes from Crispins. Nothing else fit me. They are gorgeous but I will have only two pairs this year - one for trousers, one for skirt/dresses.

It's so bloody frustrating trying to get trainers or walking boots. Some shops are fairly reliable with their sizing - Next, M&S, Clarks - but the majority don't even stock a proper women's 8 any more.

And don't get me started on socks!!! If it fits a size 4 it ain't gonna fir my size 8's no matter what the label says!!!

I just buy men’s socks, trainers, sports shoes.

I have Crispins boots from 9 years ago.

Uk sizes and eu sizes don’t match up
Each uk size is 3/4 of an eu size
38 = 5
39 = 5.75
40 = 6.5
41 = 7.25
42 = 8
But as with clothes all styles/brands vary depending on material or shoe shape
And different manufacturers interpret the conversion slightly differently
Hope that helps

And - to add to the confusion - there's the fact that size labels do not fit the abstract standard.
There used to be a "shoe shop chain" that measured up all their stock according to the standard and often there were up to two sizes difference between what was on the label and the actual size.