Broke my own rules.

[Shyheels]

I suspect that women’s models may be made in narrower lasts but otherwise the size - length - would be the same, although like you I’ve notice odd conversions between UK and EU sizes 

[mlroseplant]

I am fairly lucky when it comes to women's shoes and clothing. I'm fairly predictable. Size 9 USW shoes. Or maybe 8.5 for sandals. Size 4 bottoms, not size 6, not size 2. Which sometimes translates to size 27.  .  . 27? Don't ask me. My actual waist size is approximately 30". Also, it's better if whatever it is is labeled 4P (for petite), otherwise, I have to get it hemmed. We won't even get into odd-numbered juniors sizing, which you would think would fit my non-curvy body better, but it doesn't.

[pebblesf]

14 hours ago, Cali said:

I was look at a shoe company's website, can't remember which one, but they advertised an ankle boot as unisex. First time I've seen that.

Cool!

[Cali]

There is a shape difference in shoes. Men's shoes are like boxes, very little difference in width between the toes and heels. Women's show have more of a pear shape, wider at the front and narrower at the heel. For me it means in men's I am a 9-9.5 EEE just to get my toes in, but then I have 1/2 inch on both sides of my heel and at the toes, 'clown shoes'. Lead to numerous ankle and knee issues (operations ad sprains). In women's I'm a regular size 10 and size 11 in some narrower heels. I can't get my feet into pumps, but that's alright, there is plenty of others I can.

[Mr. X]

On 2/3/2026 at 6:52 AM, mlroseplant said:

Size 4 bottoms, not size 6, not size 2. Which sometimes translates to size 27.  .  . 27? Don't ask me. My actual waist size is approximately 30". 

My size is almost identical to yours. And yes, It is weird that women's waist size for pants is less than our actual waist size. But then again, women's natural waists are higher up than a mans. Maybe that has something to do with it?

[Cali]

I was a size 10 but lately moving down to size 8 and some size 6 fit.

[Shyheels]

I'm afraid I went in the opposite direction - long Covid was not good to me and I need to lose about 7kgs and it doesn't seem to want to shift....

[CrushedVamp]

There are also differences in clothing and shapes from region of the world to region of the world. I only know this because I once watched a real-life crime show where skeletonized human remains were found in an extremely remote area. One of the few clues they found was the metal button on a pair of jeans. It had a special insignia similar to how Wrangler puts the W on its button, but it was one none of the detectives ever seen before. Finally, a friend of one of the detectives, an importer of goods recognized it. It came from a denim jeans manufacturer operating only in Asia. Ultimately from that they found a missing Asia woman (a mail order bride murdered by her husband who had ties to that remote area) who only liked the special cut of the jeans this manufacturer used. So she imported jeans from Vietnam to wear. It was because the curve of an Asia person’s bottom is different and that particular manufacture made the seat of the pants for that region of the world.

I did not realize the European sizes of shoes were unisex though. Thanks for teaching me something new!