Women Wearing Mens Shoes The Whys And Hows To Converting Sizes

Women Wearing Men's Shoes- The Why's and How's to Converting Sizes

A shoe size is defined as, "a numerical indication of the fitting size of a shoe for a person."� To determine what shoe size you need it is best to have your feet measured by a professional at a shoe store before you begin your shoe shopping. Some individuals have one foot that is slightly larger than the other and the shoe size should always go by the larger of the two. Each individual shoe is appropriate for a tiny interval of foot lengths with the length of the shoe's inner cavity being generally longer (15 to 20 mm) than is the foot's length. However this tends to vary from shoe to shoe and manufacturer to manufacturer. A shoe-size system can make reference to three specific lengths and these are the average length of foot for which a shoe is designed, the length of the shoe's inner cavity and thirdly, the length of what is known as the "last."� This is the one manufacturers used most often and the "last"� is the foot-shaped template that is used to produce the finished product.

There are a number of different length units that are used throughout the world to define different systems of shoes. These include the millimeter (mm), the centimeter (cm, which equals 10 mm), the Paris point, which equals 2/3 cm, which in turn equals 6.67 mm, and lastly, the Barleycorn, which equals 1/3 inch and according to the metric system is 8.47 mm. In the United Kingdom and Australia shoe size determination is calculated by the length of the last, which is measured in barleycorns but minus a constant. The same constant is used for men in these countries but different ones are used for women's shoes. In most European countries including France and Germany a traditional shoe size is calculated as the last's length measured in Paris points.

In Canada and the United States shoe size is calculated the length of the last, which is then measured in barleycorns and is minus a constant, decides upon the same way it is in the United Kingdom- it. This constant is not the same for women, men's and children's shoes. In North America women's shoes are broken down into the "common"� scale and the less commonly used, "Standard"� or "FIA"� (Footwear Industries of America) scale. The common scale is one in which women's sizes are the same as men's but plus 1.5 (to use an example a 10.5 men's shoe size would be a woman's size 12). In the standard scale women's and men's are the same but this time it is plus 1 (therefore a men's 9.5 would be a women's 10.5).

A woman may choose to shop in the men's shoe department instead of the women's department for a variety of reasons. Perhaps she is looking for a very specific kind of shoe such as a boat shoe or loafer and is unable to find one she likes and/or one that is in her size in the women's shoe section but it can be found in the men's; perhaps the design of a particular pair of men's shoes appeals to her more; maybe the men's shoe is made of a more sturdy construction or perhaps the men's shoe is either the price she wants to pay or is presently on sale. Another reason might have to do with the company name. Some people are very particular about brand names and like to stick with the tried and true. Sometimes the determining factor when it comes to a shoe purchase is how the shoe feels on one's foot. It is always a good idea to shop for shoes later in the day as feet expands as the day progresses and takes the time to walk around a bit in the shoe aisle to get a feel for the shoe in question. Make sure your toes are not too close to the end and that the shoe doesn't squeeze the toes, but also that the shoes aren't too big that they flop off the feet.

To give some examples of shoe size conversions, a women's size 8 American shoe is a men's size 6.5; a women's 8.5 is a men's 7; a women's 9 is a men's 7.5 and a women's 9.5 is a men's 8.