Sizing - am I the only one who finds a large discrepancy between US/UK?

[mrclam]

I've been wearing size 10-10.5 for basically all my adult life, and never really had nice dress shoes. However, upon getting my first pair of C&J handgrades, I tried a bunch of different sizes, and found that a size 8 - 8.5 UK would be a tight fit, depending on how thick my socks were. I recently tried a brannock device, and found that my shoe size was a 9.5US between C and D widths. I'd been led to believe that UK sizes should be roughly half a size smaller, but I seem to be 1-1.5 sizes smaller than the brannock indicates. Anyone else experience this? What do you do to make sure you aren't ordering sizes too big/small when trying on a shoe in person isn't an (easy) option?

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by mrclam

I'd been led to believe that UK sizes should be roughly half a size smaller

There is usually a whole size difference between US and UK sizes, though this can of course vary either way between 0.5 and 1.5 sizes.

 

[olualbert]

Originally Posted by mrclam

I've been wearing size 10-10.5 for basically all my adult life, and never really had nice dress shoes. However, upon getting my first pair of C&J handgrades, I tried a bunch of different sizes, and found that a size 8 - 8.5 UK would be a tight fit, depending on how thick my socks were. I recently tried a brannock device, and found that my shoe size was a 9.5US between C and D widths. I'd been led to believe that UK sizes should be roughly half a size smaller, but I seem to be 1-1.5 sizes smaller than the brannock indicates. Anyone else experience this? What do you do to make sure you aren't ordering sizes too big/small when trying on a shoe in person isn't an (easy) option?

+1

 

[olualbert]

Im a US size 11 and I fit size 9.5 in UK size most of the time.

 

[either/or]

-here's an informative post.

 

[jonuiuc]

I was in London last month and bought a size 8.5 oxford, normally I get a 9.5 in US.

 

[mrclam]

Originally Posted by either/or

-here's an informative post.

thanks for that!

even more confused now, according to that calculation for english sizes, i should be a 7.5! i think i might have to follow that advice to make a note of how i fit in various lasts/makers...

 

[Claus]

Shoe fit (for dress shoes) is determined by at least two factors: shoe size and the last/width combination. For this reason, shoe size conversion differs depending on the last/width combinations you compare. Theoretically, Sanguis Mortuum is correct: It's one full size.

And you may like to use my website for your notes.

 

[JapanAlex01]

That link to thread was bollocks! The equation made no sense?! Here is what I use—usually works:Shoe Conversion I, usually, wear a size 9 (U.K.) or a 9.5 (U.S.)—although, I could get away with an 8.5 (U.K.). Loafers are another thing—I bought a 9.5, from the U.S., and they are at least a half size too big! Ergh, but today I saw the exact same loafers (G.H. Bass) in a shop, in Southampton! *dancing (Although, they did cut up my feet, pretty bad?!

)

 

[meister]

UK made shoes are generally wider than US sizes (this included UK BB shoes IMO). I am a 10F (Loakes/Churchs) or D (C&J). I can often fit a wider UK9.5. Ostensibly 10.5 is UK9.5. This is probably true. I use an orthotic so I need the extra volume by going up a UK size.

A USA 10.5D is a hard ask for me and I like a 10.5E. But you get around this problem by sticking to US11D. The go up half size - down half size idea is an excellent way to solve US fitting problems.

Fitting problems are less pronounced in UK shoes IMO though the up and down can help with fitting problems as well.