I have been doing some extensive shoe shopping and purchasing lately, and I have come to ask a question regarding fit in regards to length/width.
My general experience with most American shoes (AE and Alden) is that I normally fit into an 11.5 EEE. This is my "natural size"; however, I have also bought (and worn comfortably) 12 EEE, 12 E, and 13 D. Generally, 12 EEE is actually bit on the roomy size for me, but I prefer roomy over cramped, so it has never been a big issue for me.
Recently, I've purchased an Edward Green Chelsea captoe on the 82 last in their uk 11.5/12 e standard width. This shoe fits me quite comfortably. Also, I went to Crockett and Jones yesterday and tried on several shoes, finding that I generally take an 11.5 E or a 10.5 G for best comfort, whether in oxfords or in derbys.
My theory is that the following sizes suit my foot as a result of this.
11.5 EEE = UK 10.5 G
12 E
12.5 D = UK 11.5 E
Given there are virtually no sellers of American 12.5 D, I assume that given I can wear a 13 D just fine (especially in cordovan), that my real size would be closer to a 12.5 D.
Would this be a reasonable association of how the shoes widen with length and therefore my wide ball/toes of my shoes fit roughly at a 1/2 size increase, 1/2 width decrease beginning at 11.5 EEE?
Interestingly, I purchased a pair of AE Dundees in 11 EEE and I find those shoes too tight width wise. I'm getting them stretched as I really have a difficult time feeling comfortable in them. That would seem to go with my hypothesis that with every 1/2 size in length, I decrease 1/2 in width, so to properly fit into an 11.0 I'd need a 4E, which is a size that virtually no shoe company makes.
Is this a reasonable "rule of big toe" to go with going forward?
Of course, these all are rounded/almond toed lasts. I don't go for chiseled or soft square shoes, so that's not my concern, although I did try on a wholecut from C&J that fit me fine at UK 11.5 E.
My general experience with most American shoes (AE and Alden) is that I normally fit into an 11.5 EEE. This is my "natural size"; however, I have also bought (and worn comfortably) 12 EEE, 12 E, and 13 D. Generally, 12 EEE is actually bit on the roomy size for me, but I prefer roomy over cramped, so it has never been a big issue for me.
Recently, I've purchased an Edward Green Chelsea captoe on the 82 last in their uk 11.5/12 e standard width. This shoe fits me quite comfortably. Also, I went to Crockett and Jones yesterday and tried on several shoes, finding that I generally take an 11.5 E or a 10.5 G for best comfort, whether in oxfords or in derbys.
My theory is that the following sizes suit my foot as a result of this.
11.5 EEE = UK 10.5 G
12 E
12.5 D = UK 11.5 E
Given there are virtually no sellers of American 12.5 D, I assume that given I can wear a 13 D just fine (especially in cordovan), that my real size would be closer to a 12.5 D.
Would this be a reasonable association of how the shoes widen with length and therefore my wide ball/toes of my shoes fit roughly at a 1/2 size increase, 1/2 width decrease beginning at 11.5 EEE?
Interestingly, I purchased a pair of AE Dundees in 11 EEE and I find those shoes too tight width wise. I'm getting them stretched as I really have a difficult time feeling comfortable in them. That would seem to go with my hypothesis that with every 1/2 size in length, I decrease 1/2 in width, so to properly fit into an 11.0 I'd need a 4E, which is a size that virtually no shoe company makes.
Is this a reasonable "rule of big toe" to go with going forward?
Of course, these all are rounded/almond toed lasts. I don't go for chiseled or soft square shoes, so that's not my concern, although I did try on a wholecut from C&J that fit me fine at UK 11.5 E.