International Shoe Sizes

Arch Height
The arch of the foot is the concave bottom section of the foot between the ball and the heel. An experienced salesperson can determine arch height by looking at the bottom of someone's foot; individuals can know their arch height by stepping in sand at the beach or stepping on the concrete around a swimming pool with wet feet. A high arch will show the ball and heel of the foot in the footprint but only a narrow side foot. A low or flat arch will look almost solid from ball to heel. A regular arch will have the classic footprint look, with a curved side foot connecting the ball and heel.

Instep Height
The instep is basically the top of the foot that slopes up from the toes to the ankle. Some people have a thinner foot or a more shallow instep, while others have a thicker foot or a steep instep. Instep differences may affect how well the foot fits into a shoe, depending on the cut of the shoe.

Foot Proportions
Some people have very long toes, while others have shorter toes. This can affect the fit of shoes in that the ball of the foot may not sit at the right part of the shoe. A salesperson can make recommendations to assist with this problem.

This information is given to remind shoppers that shoe size alone will not always guarantee a perfect fit. A person may find, for example, that he or she needs more arch support in a shoe or a lower vamp (shoe front) to accommodate a high instep. These factors combine with shoe size to give the most comfortable fit possible.


International Shoe Sizes
Buying shoes from the U.K., elsewhere in Europe, or from other parts of the world requires that buyers consult international size charts. Be sure to check the U.S. size against a size conversion chart for the appropriate country in order to get a good fit. Some conversion charts are inaccurate, so using measurements to arrive at the size from scratch is a better way to size for international shoes.


How to Buy Shoes That Fit Perfectly
The difficulty in finding great-fitting shoes in the correct size comes from the fact that each manufacturer may use a different sizing system. There is no universal standard for shoe sizing. While the charts above are considered to be the most accurate, always retain the specific foot measurements, and write them down on a business or index card to keep in your wallet or purse. Then you will have the figures handy if you run into a shopping situation where your normal size does not fit well. A sales associate may be able to find a manufacturer-specific size chart and determine your size for that brand by using your measurements. This is important because the Brannock device used in most shoe stores to measure feet does not give measurements in inches or centimeters; they are automatically converted to sizes.

When shopping in a shoe store or department store, it never hurts to have a sales associate measure your feet with the Brannock or another device to double-check your own measurements. If there is a difference, mention this to the associate and ask why there is a discrepancy.

How to Buy Great-Fitting Shoes on Nordstrom

eBay makes it fast and easy to find tons of great-looking shoes in your perfect shoe size and width. The men's, women's, and children's shoe sections feature clickable sorting. To find your category, hover over the Fashion link at the homepage and navigate to Men's Shoes, Women's Shoes, or Kids'Clothing. Children's shoes can be viewed by selecting either Boys'Shoes or Girls'Shoes from the clothing page. Further sorting can be done by style, brand, and color to see all listings that match specific criteria, such as all men's work boots in an 11 D, for example.

You can always contact the seller directly if you have any concerns about the fit of a particular pair of shoes. It is a good idea to look for sellers with return policies, as the only way to be 100 percent sure of a footwear purchase is to try the shoes on and be sure that they really do fit correctly.

Conclusion
While there is no one standardized shoe size chart used around the world, it is still possible to find shoes in the right size that fit well. The best shoppers can do is take accurate measurements of their feet and compare these measurements with the size chart used by a particular footwear manufacturer. By tracing the feet carefully and recording these measurements, an appropriate size chart can be consulted, and the right size shoes can be obtained.