The best thing about going back to school was always shopping for new stationery. The second best thing was being measured on the Clark’s shoe fitting machine. How exciting was it to stick your foot in a fancy contraption and have some nice lady slide down a metal bar to your toes?!
A couple of weeks ago I found myself in Primark. Women were scrambling all over themselves to get their hands on a pair of coral courts for the rather bargainous price of £12. A bold pair of mid heels was high on my spring capsule wish-list and so I waded in to grab myself a pair.
£12 lighter I took my size fives home to try on with a few items and strutted though the house to show James my new wares. He remarked “they’re nice but you look like you’re wearing your mum’s shoes”. As I looked down I realised I could get my whole finger down the back of the shoe. They were promptly exchanged for a size four. I wore them round the house for two minutes and deduced they were too small.
Shoes are a bit of nightmare for me. If I were to step on the Clark’s machine I feel one foot would be a 4 and a half and the other 4 and three quarters. Yes I realise shoes don’t come in quarter sizes, in fact I’m hard pushed to find half sizes so I always find myself looking for an ankle strap or a lace up to keep my foot in position. It’s quite restrictive.
I adore the Oasis Cassie courts Miranda featured in her smart workwear edit but they don’t like me. Fours are too tight and fives slob off. Surely I’m not the only one experiencing issues with my chaussures?
Marks and Spencer and Next both offer a half size (and in fact I ended up with the cobalt blue pointy courts from M&S in the end). However I really wouldn’t mind a bit of choice when in comes to shoe shopping.
Does anyone else have shoe shopping woes? Are there any places you can recommend for half sizes? Any places you can recommend for readers with small or larger tootsies?
I have big feet (I’m either an 8 or a 9 or a 42 or 43) so struggle a bit although less than I did in my teens and early 20s when the choice was trainers, old lady shoes, shoes for wider feet, men’s shoes or shoes for transvestites! All at extortionate prices!!
Thankfully the high street has got a lot better but I still have to try on and usually order online as the bigger sizes are never in stock!
I got some excellent leopard print flats from Marks and spencer at the weekend. 🙂
Ooooh do share the leopard flats. I am obsessed with animal print Vicky.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/suede-leopard-print-albert-pumps-with-insolia-flex/p/p22378414
This is them, they do half sizes! And annoyingly are cheaper than when I bought them on Saturday….They are super comfy.
Vicky I share your pain! I’m an 8.5 – identified as I had bespoke shoes made for my wedding (about £120 if any one is interested from Shoes of Prey – an online team based in Australia who have an excellent returns policy – I’d highly recommend them). I find buying shoes a complete nightmare and where possible avoid shopping on the high street as they never seem to have my size in.
At the moment I am in a workplace where I can get away with wearing DM boots. And at 5ft 9, I don’t feel the need for a heel, so that works for me. Summer is always an issue though, but I have found these in Clarks, which do them in a 9: http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/26106641
Think I’ll be ordering them in over the Easter break (they didn’t have them in store when I popped in and even told me they don’t come in a 9…) and see how they look on. I might buy both the blue and yellow pairs if they fit!
Caroline have looked at Next they do up to a 9 in loads of shoes. My wedding shoes were from Next (bargain at £40!). The world is finally realising that women have feet bigger than a 6!!
I’m also 6ft2.
Those Clarks shoes look excellent!
I take a 45/46 I hate shoes because I can’t afford nice ones that fit to be made for me as choice is beyond limited especially as I don’t want heels or ballerina shoes.
Yes I want to know who sells half sizes too! I’m a 3 and a half and it’s a bit of a nightmare shoe shopping. I know some of the brands under Kurt Geiger do half sizes but they’re not always the most affordable for everyday shoes…
Hopefully we’ll get lots of suggestions for us half sizers Natalie x
I have the same problem. I need a 3 and a half and a narrow fit.
Most shoes i find are wide fitting.
Oh for a nice court shoe and not to high a heel.
I feel your pain – literally sometimes! I am a 6.5, in fact my most accurate shoe size is a European 40 which can range from a 6 to a 7 in UK sizing depending on the shop, but is usually a 6.5. Most trainers do come in 6.5 and luckily for me I work in media and Shoreditch where it’s pretty mandatory to wear trainers so I do most days! One place I can recommend for half sizes (6.5 anyway) is H&M. They do a lovely selection of premium leather shoes and also cheaper ones that usually come in a good selection of half sizes.
I didn’t realise H&M did half sizes Bryony. And very reasonably priced too! Thanks for that x
They do indeed and are much better quality than Primark. I’m almost glad of the half size issue as I no longer even look in the shoe department and have saved myself numerous £8 / £10 / £12’s on shoes that would have been worn once. Ive made that mistake too many times!
I have a different sizing issue… my calves! I have quite slim ankles and calves (not that I am boasting, I promise) and most boots look ridiculous on me – like baggy wellies or super baggy round the ankle if they’re ankle ones. Until a friend mentioned Jones S-fit range I couldn’t wear long boots. The only ankle boots I have found that fit are some Jack Wills flatties (where I took a size 5 and I’m usually a size 6!) but I cannot for the life of me find some with a little heel and a Charlotte-O’Shea-required “dip” at the front… If you can I’d love you forever!
For your sizing, I think Jones do some styles half sizes & they do great sales too.
I’ve got the Ash Jalouse boots with the low heel and the dip at the front. They have no zip on them though and I still haven’t worked out the right way to get my foot in them!
I always forget about Jones, but you’re so right about the great sales.
Not particularly glam, but for high heels leather half size inserts that you slip into the front of the shoe work wonders for me! They take the shoe half a size down, and you can put only one in if, as me, you have different sized feet! I get mine from the bit of John Lewis where you can also find shoe laces. I guess they wouldn’t work for sandals/open toes though….
Ooh Jenni, these could be just the ticket for court shoes though. Will definitely check out next time I’m in John Lewis
We do sizes 2 – 9 in all our wedding shoes and for those looking for every day wear with a bit of a vintage twist, we do 2 – 9 in all our agnes & norman shoes too.
Oh Lauren I feel your pain – quite literally at the moment!1 I recently bought a pair of beauties from Clarks {they are no longer on the website} but the multiple textures of mohair, suede and leather drew me in.
I tried on my usual size 6 and they were humungous. I bought the 5 1/2 on the advice of the lady in the shop who reassured me as they were leather they would stretch.
Well, five blisters and 3 heel cuts later I don’t think they are 🙁 it looks like i could have done with a 5 3/4 I am now toying with investing in one of these shoe stretchers -http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/281158131047?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0.
My go to when it comes to boots are always DUO they measure your calf and come in half sizes too 😉 xx
Ouch Helen.
Duo sound fabulous, so good to hear of a company who realise we all have different calf sizes too! x
I’ve found some comfy heels in half sizes at Hotter and they do a variety of width fittings too. I’ve currently got my eye on these in dark blue which looks Aqua to me: http://www.hotter.com/gb/en/womens/womens-flats/soft-shoes
I second the Duo recommendation for boots too.
Such great reviews on those Hotter shoes Sarah. I’ll have to take a look at the rest of their range.
I’ve got the Ash Jalouse boots in tan and in brown. I spent AGES trying to figure out how to get them on easily! A shoe horn is the answer. (Not practical when out and about!)
Oh, and Jimmy Choo do half sizes 😉 xx
I can’t even get them on with a shoe horn Rebecca. I think mine must be a bit on the small side! Still love them though (and the choos!) x
It’s not the length as such but the width for me. I’m a 6/6.5 which I can work with fine, but my feet are slightly too wide for most normal shoes but slightly too narrow for most wide-fit.
Flats are usually okay (but I do have short toes which isn’t always agreeable with a rounded shoe. Heels are a nightmare! Sandals – don’t even go there. And boots, well, ankle boots are fine but I spent a good 6 months looking for a good knee-high and couldn’t find anything 🙁
Oh no Jo, we need someone to offer to make us all a pair of custom shoes…… x
Thanks for posting! This drives me mad. I go shopping determined to treat myself, and after walking my feet sore round every shop I have to give up… its so depressing. I am a 5 or possibly 5.5. However my problem is the top of my foot (not sure what this is called – not the instep – the top arch??) which seems to be quite high. So I struggle with boots or anything quite closed. I have to wear a 6 which can be like boats, but only so I can fit my foot in. I then slop about or have to wear thicker socks. Insoles don’t tend to help as they lift my foot to much so the top bit squishes again. Sounds attractive doesn’t it…
Oh no LJ 🙁
Hopefully summer shoe shopping is easier for you x
I recommend doing a full circle and going back to Clarks! I’m a 4.5 and I have 3 pairs of Clarks boots in my wardrobe which are the comfiest I own. They really do have some great designs now.
I find myself sucked in by bargin shoes (most recently a black suede court wedge from DPs) which then end up ruining my feet 🙁 I was wearing said items of torture yesterday and ended up trying on Clarks shoes in my lunch break to give my poor toes and heels a rest!!
I think I just might have too Sarah. I’ve commented on quite a few of my colleagues shoes only to find out they’re from Clarks.
Hope your feet have recovered x
Go back to Clarks!
Yes, some of their shoes are a wee bit frumpy. But they usually have some nice ones – especially winter boots – they are super comfy and they all come in half sizes. Plus, the nice lady might let you get back on the machine if you ask nicely!
Ha ha Stacey! I wonder if they do Magic Step shoes for adults……
I’m exactly the same….4 too tight and 5 too big in nearly everything! I always seem to have to shop in Marks or Next especially as they have wide fit ones ( thanks mum for my horrible buniony wide feet 🙁 )
I also recommend Clarks! I also find buying the wide fit in a smaller size in New Look does the trick as well!
Help I’m usually a size 3 but my feet seem to have shrunk..2’s are too small so need size 2.5 in nice heels and I can’t find any shops that do them
That’s me, its such a nightmare, I need 2.5 stunning lady heels or sneakers
I have the same probably, I’m 4.5. Some brands I can do 5 but not many. I didn’t have much of an issue until the last few years, which is weird as my feet haven’t shrunk! New Look did half sizes for a while and have now stopped. It’s fustrating as I cannot afford expensive shoes and I cannot see much selection. Next, Newlook, Dorothy Perkins all do great shoes but no in half sizes. 🙁 I’ll read through the comments and hope someone has discovered somewhere! If I had the money / time etc I’d want to open my own half size shoe shop!
I know I’m a bit late to the half size shoe party, but I just found https://www.walkinstyle.co.uk/ and am about to order a pair with a platform heel (can’t do thin spindly heels!)..
I’m a 5.5 and it’s trial and error whether I need a 5 or a 6 in nearly every shoe I buy. I use Clarks a lot too but they are a bit frumpy.
I’m a 7.5 and if a certain shop doesn’t do half sizes I go to there wide fit section that way I can get a size 7 to fit pretty well