Hi,

I’ve read your posts regarding Australia to USA conversions but I’m still really unsure as to what size shoe I should buy. The largest of my feet are 25.2cm long and 10.4 cm wide. I have to get shoes for a wedding in about 2 months and can’t find anything that fits right in the stores. Any help you could provide asap would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Tracey W.
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Dearest Tracey,
Anything for a wedding! Are you, per chance, the bride?

First the disclaimer. You Australians are far too easy going about everything…. life, shoe size and everything in between (except, perhaps, for barbecue?). You get shoes from many different countries which all have slightly or very different sizing systems. Even with in those countries (I’m tempted to mention France, but won’t) there are significantly different approaches to what constitutes a EU size 38, for example. My favorite Aussie shoe colleague, Alice, could never determine her own size. We narrowed it down to 10.5W, mainly because of the thickness of her foot… an avid sportswoman, she has very muscular feet.

Now the answer. IF you are correct in your foot measurements (please read this and measure again), then you will be either a size 9W or 9.5W. Here are the measurements:
9W = 25 cm long and 10.3 cm wide. 9.5W = 25.4 cm long and 10.5 cm wide.

This is where picking your size becomes no longer a science but rather an art. Have a friend look at your feet objectively. Are your toes longer or shorter than average? Is your foot, like Alice’s, thicker and more muscular from top to sole than average? Do you have a high arch or no arch at all? Then compare the shape of the shoes you are considering to the shape of your foot. If you want a high heel, pointy toe closed pump, go for the 9.5W. If you want a strappy sandal and like your toes coming up close to the front edge, go for the 9W.

Anneka Silver T-strap jeweled sandal by Touch Ups

Porsha White Silk Pump by Diane Lynn

Best wishes,
The Shoe Lady