20+ years ago, 6 was a boy's shoe size, and 7 was a men's shoe size. There was no debate, that's how all shoes were set up. I clearly remember this when I was in the 6.5 transition sizing, but there were literally no shoes in that size for boys/men.
About 10 years ago, I was in a department store and noticed their kids shoe on display looked huge, much more like a men's size than for a kid. Upon further investigation, I saw that it was a size 7 and was very confused. Why was a 7 in the kid's section? My mind was blown, but I just figured it was put in the wrong spot and it's one of those shoes where they just manufacture a continuum of sizes.
That was all good and well until I went into the men's shoes and found that 8's were the smallest anywhere for all their men's shoes. I later checked online and most places still had 7's as a men's size. I was sure that this 1 store had just messed up.
Little did I know that it was at the forefront of re-classifying sizing. Nowadays, it's common, not the exception, to see 7s listed as a boys size. Places like Walmart still have boys sizes only up to 6, but 7s are curiously absent from most of the men's sizes.
I had a crisis of identity. I had always thought "well, at least I'm not the smallest men's size" And now I am. I fear that in another 10-15 years, I will be a boys size 8. Already, many adults just accept 8 as a boys size, not a men's size. ebay auctions of pre-owned shoes show that parents just classify their growing boys' size 8s and sometimes 9s as "boys size"
We live in an ever-increasing foot size world, and us small-footed men are being left behind with every generation.
I totally agree, but probably we don't have to wait another 10 years ...
ReplyDeleteIn Germany some important children's shoes manufacturers like "Ricosta" already produce up to size EUR 43 (US 10!), while in discount stores like "Lidl" they offer men's shoes from size EUR 42 (US 9) to 46 (US 12.5).
I recently wanted to buy some warm shoes for the winter, the shop assistant asked my size. Normally I wear a size 41 (US 8) and she said that size 41 was the smallest men's size in the shop, but sometimes I fit in a size 40 (US 7/7.5) ... Then the assistant said that they stock men's shoes up to size 50 (US 15).
I'm sure - in the near future I will find shoes only in the kid's section or in a specialist shop for undersized shoes. How embarrassing!
I think mostly in the US 7 is the largest boys size and 7.5 starts mens sizes. Though the Jordan GS line having some sizes go up to 9.5 sort of skews that. And on ebay I have seen listings up to size 9 being referred to as boys and listed under kids section. And I remember seeing a size 11 listed as men/boys, but I sort of assumed it was more related to the style than the size in that case.
ReplyDeleteoh, if you want to feel worse about being able to fit in a boy's shoes get a pair of Ripkicks (don't think they are made anymore) but I remember maybe 10 years ago when my cousin was like 12 he had a pair in a size 7. They were huge. His feet were almost the same size as mine and they fit him fine. I remember talking to him about them and I tried them and I could totally wear them. They must have fit at least like a 9 but they still had a "young boy's shoe" look to them. The funny part was that I think it was his aunt who had given them to him and she thought he was still like a size 7 when he had just had a growth spurt and was now a size 9. I think his mom said his aunt insisted he try them on and he was like “they won’t fit me” but he did try them and they did fit him and he aunt was like, “see I knew they were your size”! He was all upset but I think then his mother pushed him to wear them since they fit him and he decided they were kinda cool so he wore them anyway. I remember I was in a store after that and saw them in the boys's section and tried them (while no one was looking ;-) just to see if his pair was a fluke. I was even able to fit the size 6s pretty comfortably! I don't think I ever saw a shoe as oversize as they were.
ReplyDeleteActually just asked my cousin if he remembered those shoes and he does! He said it was so embarrassing, I guess his aunt made him try them on and felt his toes and how they fit him and everything. He said it made him feel like he was 8 years old again and question whether he had really grown past a size 7 or not! He was so mad when he realized it was just that the shoes were way oversized and wanted to throw them out but his mom insisted he keep them and at first he left them in his closet but after a few months decided maybe they were kinda cool and wore them anyway. Now that he is grown my cousin wears like an 11.5 I think. I know his feet are quite a bit bigger than mine, even though he is about the same height (5’11”).
DeleteWow. Fitting into size 6! Even though they're oversized, that would be tough to swallow. I've definitely seen different shoe brands over and undersized but nothing quite that extreme.
DeleteYeah they were crazy. I have never seen another shoe, before or since, that fit so big compared to the size marked. They were at least 2 sizes bigger than marked. Hey if you want to prank your friends who can fit like a 7 there's one pair in a sz 5 on ebay, lol: https://www.ebay.com/itm/401735308230
DeleteOh, shit dude! :-)
DeleteI once was in a big Nike Outlet store, and Mens went from 9 to 13.
ReplyDeleteAll the rest, 8. 5, 7, 6, was lumped together in a small aisle on the side, named "Small Sizes".
Even the 13+ Section was bigger, and more neatly presented.
Yeah, I have seen stores that label sizes below 9 as small and, as JBCx mentioned above, Nike's "youth" GS sizes now go to 9.5. Grade school appears to be defined as age 8-12, so that means they are expecting it to be very common for a 12 year old to need a size 9.5 (and maybe even kids below 12!).
Deletehahaha, this defines size 7.5-9.5 as a small-footed adult:
https://sneakernews.com/2015/05/22/get-ready-for-a-trend-of-men-wearing-kids-sized-jordans/amp/
This is called Evolution. The gene pool forever (slowly) improving.
ReplyDelete(Yip, i thought of giving all threads a bit of a bump 😁).
Evolution is sure going in warp drive these days...with young kids feet anyway. I keep hoping that I am just exaggerating...and then I see more examples of how I am being left in the dust. Makes me feel like I am becoming a dwarf in a world of giants...foot-wise at least. Next to my 8.5-9.5 feet a size 12 foot looks huge, literally in a whole other class. Add some width to the size 12 foot and I become a skinny grade school kid next to a gladiator...
ReplyDeleteSSrF, that article is 7 years old 😁
ReplyDeleteYup, feet have been getting bigger for a while now, probably for at least the last 20-30 years or so, maybe longer...I'm just one of those data points that is near the bottom of the charts ;-) It's funny too because a 9.5Y would fit me anything but small...I would say they would be almost too big for me (even if I didn't like wearing smaller shoes)!
ReplyDeleteDid you see this? Mind, the sizes are in UK.
ReplyDeletehttps://illicitencounterspress.wordpress.com/2016/06/16/men-with-big-feet-are-more-likely-to-cheat/
hahaha, that psychological confidence and power thing I guess...combined with women's impressions. Though I would guess that psychological effect on the male side more likely the issue...knowing how fragile some men's egos can be ;-)
DeleteAnd did you see the supposed size distribution at the bottom?
ReplyDeleteyeah, it really drops off under 10. I guess 10.5 is the optimal cheating size, lol. Though I would also be interested to see how many men exaggerate their shoe size, I bet it's a lot...especially among those with big egos ;-)
DeleteOr are the big egos confident, have no need to exaggerate anything, and it are the others?
DeleteI've always wanted to know people's "true" size and know how many people wear shoes that are on the big side. I know I am not alone, but I would love to see stats. Does me wearing bigger shoes make me someone with a big ego or a fragile ego or both? ;-) I suppose that's a rhetorical question...I guess I have to be fragile or I wouldn't be trying to fake it...but as long as people don't catch on I am fine ;-)
DeleteDon't fragile size and fragile ego about it go hand in hand?
DeleteTrue...at minimum my foot size ego is fragile, or I wouldn't care about upsizing. Though I have known people with smaller feet where they still seem to have a big ego. But some 12 & 13s can be very proud of their size, it can clearly be an ego boost! It would probably boost my ego too if my feet suddenly grew to size 12 (I wish)!
DeleteYou can imagine my foot size ego 😁.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, the fragility about it starts at 9US, and becomes predominant at 8US, where there still can be confidence or not caring, but it's rare.
No fragility here! :-) Being able to wear size 7s is so awesome. I love wearing size 7s out in public and maybe have people notice (though it is rare for someone to comment). I suppose I do have an inferiority complex to some extend but I am not sure I would say I have a fragile ego. I do occasionally seen others (especially teens who might be still growing) my height and sometimes even taller who look like they are wearing size 7 jordans. If I get a chance I will complement their shoes and ask their size. Sometimes I am wrong and they are actually more like an 8-9 but I have run into people legit wearing size 7. I think it is also not uncommon for teens to squeeze into a 7 to get a particular style (they care far more about the style than whether their feet look small). I think I have gotten better about guessing people's sizes too ;-)
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