On the other end of the spectrum from big kid sizes, what's the smallest "men's" size?
Different brands and stores have widely varying views on this.
When I was growing up in the 90s, it felt like there was a very distinct line of up to 6 is boys, 7 and up is men's, with 6.5 impossible to find.
Then, in some stores I started to see men's sizes only go down to 8. Now, a few don't carry anything smaller than 9 for men's. There are still stores that carry and stock the traditional breakdown of size.
Of course, now we have online stores and manufacturers.
Some still list the traditional breakdown. Others go with the higher values seen in some stores. Still others list smaller men's size than I've ever seen in person. What is your experience?
8 in general.
ReplyDeleteIn small, branded stores that can be 8.5.
I've only ever been in one sports store where Mens was indicated as 9-13 (and that was not a small store either).
But overall it always seems to be 8.
And outside of stores, I hardly know guys less than 8, they're very rare I would say, only the occasional very short very skinny type. So i definitely put 8 as the smallest "men's"
DeleteI guess I need to pay more attention to new topics ;-)
ReplyDeleteI personally consider below size 8 to be a boy's size, but most brands have the cut off with size 7 or 7.5. Nike starts mens at 7.5, where adidas starts mens at 7 and puma starts mens at 7.5 (I have had puma size 7s actually fit me fine out of the box, they tend to run bigger). I have not see any brands that actually start men's at size 8, but I think it is rare for men to buy below a size 8. I have noticed more of a double take from clerks when I buy 7-7.5 vs if I buy 8, lol.
That is SO correct. Sometimes just 1 size up or down, can come with a much stronger reaction. I call them the "threshold sizes" 🙂. I'm definitely in the double take league, can hardly remember a sales clerk who did not show or express surprise.
DeleteIt's not as if I was looking for the attention of a sales clerk, this one just popped up to fold shirts on a table with shirts nearby and asked me if he could help with something.
DeleteI said about a series of loafers: "Just wondering if you'd have these in a smaller size".
He said: "Were you looking for a 7.5"? With an expression that I can only describe as endeared, as in 'how cute'. And in past tense, which hinted at if I were looking for 7.5 we could stop the process.
I said "eh, more like 7".
He went blank. Stopped folding, if not breathing. Just had to lean over the table to see that. Said "oh no", almost with a shiver.
I don't know the cut off, but there is a point that for sales clerks or other guys you seem to come from left field, surprise them so much that they can't or won't hide it.
I love it when clerks try to be endearing... Especially older woman, because they are actually nice about it and are more likely to be convinced I must be really young and my feet are still growing vs clerks closer to my age where is more hit or miss. When people are older everyone seems younger, even though I am still pretty good at passing for a young teen (or maybe even 12) even among teens sometimes ;-) When you are able to wear a narrow-ish size 7 people are more likely to be convinced your feet must be still "maturing" ;-)
DeleteThe narrow part makes a big difference. A "man" who has small size 7 feet should have wide feet because the width is making up for the length right? Usually that seems to be the case. Everyone I know who has had feet anywhere near my size, and are fully grown (and even not fully grown sometimes), their feet are much wider. I think that's why size 7-7.5s are so comfortable and no one ever thinks my feet must really be bigger than 7.
Just saw this new thread... I feel like a size 8 is a boys size really. Though technically boys is more like 6-7. I think by size 7.5 it is always technically considered men's? But even pre-teen feet are getting bigger so "boys" is ever expanding. And you have the jordan extended GS line that goes to 9.5 too! It is kinda scary how many boys feet I feel are nearly the same size as my feet (and sometimes bigger!). I used to have a friend who wore size 8 skate shoes and I always thought his shoes looked really tiny, like he was wearing a "boy's" size. And even some 9s can look like a boy's size. Heck, occasionally even a 10, depending on the model/style. You don't see the puffy skate shoes as much but some of them can look really small, even in a size 10 - probably the combination of puffiness and small toe box on some models. I digress. But yup, boy's sizes are creeping ever bigger, it's scary!
ReplyDeleteI feel like a different species :) Where you struggle or find things scary, I find them to be a given. Nothing wrong with being a boy's size.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in an environment where kids were picked on for anything that was viewed as abnormal. Feet being small could be a target. I was picked on for other things and I didn't need my shoe size to be one of them. It's just stuck with me, even though it shouldn't be as big a deal now, but it still is.
ReplyDeleteYou've developed sensitivity/awareness of it. Normal, we develop a radar for anything related to survival, also survival of ego, dignity, reputation.
DeleteBeen very quiet here. Maybe we need a new topic or something to liven things up? :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that JBC must have strong sensitivity/awareness... I chose to embrace rather than fighting it, because I knew I could never win...
SmallSneakersRFun wonders if SmallShoeSizeGuy is still alive... Been very quiet on here.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I just remembered this site. Thx for thinking about me SSrF 🙂.
ReplyDeleteNothing to add. I see 9 still as small, and 8 as smallest.
And i still don't know any 8s in real life.
ReplyDeleteThat is, for sure i must know 8s, there are still quite a lot, but then the size never came up, was never mentioned.
Some 9s i do know, 9s who mentioned their size i mean. But it seems to be a total 10s,11s,12s world with 13s clearly having walked in too.
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ReplyDeleteI thought of adding this: when a guy is a small size, you also never ask about it. I don't know if that's for no interest, or for not wanting to cause embarasment, or smth else. That too might contribute to not knowing any 8s - they silence it, you silence it.
ReplyDelete