UK shoes

I certainly can't afford Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin though.

I can't either but that never stopped me    

Plus, I don't understand why shoes here don't seem to have the various widths available?

I second that! Although I am thin, I have wide feet, which can make shoe shopping difficult to begin with (I can thank my mother for this, whereas my sister has skinny feet like my father's!) However, the shoes at Evans are not only too big, they also do not generally come in half sizes. I have only purchased a couple of shoes from the UK in the last couple year; one pair was a gorgeous pair of boots from a boutique that are very comfortable and the other pair are a pair of K shoes from Clark's. There is definitely not enough variety in terms of sizes and prices (so much more expensive here if I want a good pair of shoes)!

JuneHawk, I agree with your comments about sizing; I will try to remember that at times when I am convinced I am the only one with one foot slightly longer than the other one!

Try having really big feet ... I wear an 8 here in the UK, and they make about one size 8 of every style ... and I never seem to get to the shop first to get it! I definitely miss shoe-shopping in the US ... unless I'm at Camden Market, then I am spoiled for choice thanks to all the drag queens who shop there!

For some reason, though, I didn't have nearly as much a problem finding shoes that fit relatively closely in the US.

When I say that the the larger size is too big, I mean that I can comfortably fit my fingers in the back of my heel, with room to wiggle my fingers.

When I say the next smaller size is too small, I mean that my toes are bunched up in the front of the shoe.

Surely, there should be a size somewhere in between.

My shoes from the US all have a bit of space in front of the toe, so your feet don't get cramped, but not so much space that you have to worry about your feet falling out

Perhaps US shoe sizes go up in smaller increments.

I hadn't really thought about it that much, but most of the shoes I've bought here haven't fit that well. The exception is a pair of Ecco casual shoes that are now on their last legs. Tomorrow, if the weather is nice, I'm heading into town to look for their replacement. I'd prefer to shop in the US given what I have just realized, but that's not going to happen soon enough and I don't dare risk buying without trying.

I think maybe British women are so used to wearing shoes that don't fit just right that they don't expect anything better.

It's important to me to have shoes that fit well because my mother had bunions and horrible twisted toes and foot pain by the time she was in her 40s from wearing tight-fitting high heeled shoes when she was younger. I would much rather have a pair of healthy, sexy bare feet than a pair of sexy high heels.

I think maybe British women are so used to wearing shoes that don't fit just right that they don't expect anything better.

That's right and I have been having my feet bound from birth. 

*snort*

I certainly don't think British women are just used to poor fitting shoes. But it is odd that a lot of us seem to have a harder time finding shoes we're happy with. I can understand it with clothes, but shoes issues don't make any sense to me! I'll definitely be paying more attention this time around... I intend to hit a LOT of shops.

I've never had an easy time finding shoes.  However, I just bought some converse runners, and they're great!  (Unfortunately, they were probably made by children in China.)  Hoping to buy a pair of REAL Doc Marten's while we're here. 

I find a lot of shoes are mis-labeled, so I try sizes smaller and larger than what I know I need.  A lot of adjustments can be made with insoles and padding, too.  The sticky padding stuff from.. Scholes.. (sp?) stays in place for years.

Me: 7 or 8 US, AA.  Damn Clarks with their comfy-looking shoes all in DD.

I think maybe British women are so used to wearing shoes that don't fit just right that they don't expect anything better.

I hate to say it, but I've often wondered that myself!  When I first moved, I tried to wear size 6 -- but my toes ended up jamming against the shoe.  Size 7 is too big.  That was when I didn't think they had any half sizes here.  Only thing is, you have a lot harder time finding a variety to choose from in the half sizes, and then there is the lack of availability in various widths.

The only store I have much luck with over here is Clarks.

I'll be interested to hear if balmerhon stumbles upon any major British shoe revelations in her upcoming shoe quest!

I think maybe British women are so used to wearing shoes that don't fit just right that they don't expect anything better.

Huh??

I think maybe British women are so used to wearing shoes that don't fit just right that they don't expect anything better.

you come out with the oddest things, sometimes, Sweetpeach! 

Just because YOU have trouble finding shoes to fit properly, doesnt mean the majority of people in the UK do!  I certainly dont have a problem... i just buy a European 39, and usually dont even have to try them on in the shop, cos they almost always fit.

Actually, I think it depends on what size your feet are. In the US, I always found that a 7 1/2 was a teensy bit snug, but an 8 left my feet slipping out of the shoes. Here, I'm fine. But if someone fit perfectly into a US size, they might find themselves between sizes here.

i just buy a European 39, and usually dont even have to try them on in the shop, cos they almost always fit.

What are your main shops for making sure you find European sizing available (or listed on the box along with British/US sizing)?  (I take a size 40.)  Cos I find the British sizing to be all over the place & the European sizing is much more reliable, IMO.

Also, what are others' experiences with the width issue?  Most shoes in the shops here seem to be about what I'd say is a 'B' width by US standards, while the 'wide' shoes seem to be closer to a 'D' or greater.  In the US, I usually took a 'C' width.  I remember the first time I went shoe-shopping here and asked the shop assistants - What about shoes in different widths?  And they looked at me as if I had two heads.  Another shop said - 'Ok.  Here are our 'wide' shoes...'  (Pointing to a small selection of rather matronly (OAP?) looking shoes.)  And the 'wide' shoes in Evans usually are too wide for me, but the regular shoes around are too narrow.  Very frustrating.

I usually buy most of my shoes in the States as I too find that they fit better. I am between a uk 6 and 7 and need a wider shoes for working out at the gym so  I always get my 'trainers' in the States. However, as I live in Northamptonshire I have a wide selection of shoe factory outlets to choose from and can get most shoes quite cheap.  I have found a wonderful little shoe store in Olney, near Milton Keynes, that carry brands with 1/2 sizes.