[Lebewohl]

At a very reputable independent runners' store, I was fitted into 10.5 size (US) sneakers after decades of wearing size throughout most of my adult life. I also recently got a pair of Keens steel toe shoes and 10 seemed to be the one that fits the best. I am dreading the possibility of replacing my nicer, more expensive shoes. During my only visit to the AE factory store in Port Washington back in 2012, they advised me to either wear 9E to accommodate my 3/4 inch shoe lift in my left shoe or wear 9D and have a cobbler add 1/2 inch to the left heel and remove 1/4 inch from the right heel.

Could my feet have gotten that much bigger in 10 years or are sneaker and dress shoe sizes not the same?

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I have several observations. First, it seems I take at least a half size larger for Adidas or Nike running shoes. Second, over the course of college to my mid-30s I went from a 9 to a 9.5. Then by the time I was 50 I was a ten. My loafers somehow managed to stretch and grow with me. Not so for my bals. I am now 73 and with some notable weight loss I am back to 9.5. Sorry, feet change, and what you weigh and do affects how much.

 

[Dhaller]

Shoe sizes - in my experience - are like a golf drive: the intent is less to score than to get in position to score.

Depending on brand/style/etc, my size has ranged from 9 (a puzzling recommendation from Mephisto) to 12 (Puma H-Streets.) So I start at 10.5-11 and go from there.

(My current Brooks running shoes are a 10, so I tried three pair (10.5, 11, 10) to find my size.)

I also don't order shoes online unless it's a specific shoe I've worn before, so I *know* my correct size in *that* shoe.

That said, feet do change, of course, but I doubt size progression over a decade is a reliable indicator.

DH

 

[Flanderian]

Yes, for a variety of reasons your feet can get a little larger as you age.

But a far more significant reason for what you've experienced is that the same numerical size can differ wildly among brands, and within brands different lasts of the same size will fit differently.

Bottom line; if the shoe fits,, wear it! 😆

 

[drpeter]

Bottom line; if the shoe fits,, wear it!

LOL. And if it doesn't. must we acquit?

 

[eagle2250]

I agree with the observation of others, as stated above, that our foot size can change as we age, gain weight, as a result of changes in our health status, etc. However, I will also tell you the sizing of athletic shoes can be a bit sketchy. For the most part, I have always worn 9.5D or E in my dress/leather shoes and boots, but I have had to purchase 10.5M's in Addias, size 11M's in Brooks and 11.5M's in Asics to get a fit that worked for me! Good luck in your hunt.

 

[ran23]

When I lost weight, I wore 9.5 D mostly. fun shoes/boots. Then was measured as a 9.5E or 10M that was easier to find. All my AE are E. Now I boxed up my 'D' shoes and gifted a few out.

 

[fishertw]

As posted here before on another thread, I have needed to wear full length orthotics for the past 6-8 years. Not only did I need longer shoes, but I went from a C to an EE or wider, and have found that buying shoes with removable insoles is about the only way to attain the depth in the forefoot needed to not squeeze my feet. I really feel that if Alden, AE and some others who make better mens shoes would include removable insoles they would open a whole new market in older trad folk. I have likely given away 5 grand worth of shoes in the past 5-6 years.

 

[drpeter]

I can't help but be happy and amused by the lovely title the OP has given to his post: Shoe Size Identity Crisis. In these days, of gender dysphoria and cultural identity debates, an identity crisis based on shoe size is so refreshingly different. You see, I'd much rather have an identity crisis based on my shoe size rather than my gender or culture or national origin. Much simpler to resolve, LOL. And much more likely to provoke general good feeling, even a dash of mirth, compared to all the dour discussions of the more serious kinds of identity crisis.

My sincere congratulations, @Lebewohl. It's as clever a title as it is lovely. I am probably going to steal it and use it somewhere, but I shall certainly do so only if you grant permission and certainly with attribution to you. "In a forum on economic disasters at Davos, my distinguished colleague Lebewohl opined..." and so forth.

By the way, I've never had an identity crisis -- at least not so far. But I have had an ID crisis many times: As in: Where in blazes did I put my driver's licence, when the officer is at the car window demanding that I show it, prior to deciding on whether to issue me with a warning or a speeding ticket)