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Is it common to go down in shoe size as you plow through your 30s?
For years, I’ve taken a US size 9 or 9.5 for my footwear. But a few weeks ago, while getting fitted for a new pair of dress shoes, I got measured with a size 8.
I figured that was an aberration attributable to that particular shoemaker. But in the last couple of days, I bought another two pairs of shoes — another for dress, and a pair of long-overdue snow/outdoor boots — and sure enough, I wound up with size 8 both times.
What gives? My feet don’t feel any different. I’d think my upright stride would be affected if there was some sort of pedal shrinkage goin’ on. But I’m not falling down or careening around lately (any more than normal, natch).
A mystery I’ll have to live with. It’s a pain, because size 8 doesn’t appear to be a “normal” size, so it’s harder to find most of the time. I could do without that complication.
Hmmm. I’ve gone up a size since my younger days.
Comment by CGHill — 02/28/2007 @ 11:00:52 AM
Paging Charles Brannock…
Do one’s clodhoppers eventually become less clodlike? Possibly: Is it common to go down in shoe size as you plow through your 30s? For years, I’ve taken a US size 9 or 9.5 for my footwear. But a few weeks……
Trackback by dustbury.com — 02/28/2007 @ 12:07:55 PM
The SF Giants equipment manager testified that since Barry Bonds has been with them (1993-2005; 29 to 41 years of age) he has gone from a size 10 1/2 to a 13 shoe. I can only deduce from this testimony and evidence that you have actively been taking HAGH, human anti-growth hormones.
Comment by Hunk Oman — 02/28/2007 @ 04:34:05 PM
Not to worry as I have found great differences in shoe manufactuers. I normally take an 8 1/2 but in some shoes I take an 8 and in one a 7 1/2. I have learned to know them apart. The Brannock device measures my left foot at 8 1/2 and my right foot at 8. I have been told that is quite common.
Comment by ms7168 — 02/28/2007 @ 04:52:47 PM
funny, i have always understood that your feet continue to grow. but me too, not only am i buying 1/2 size smaller, but my shoes are all too big & i’ve had to put heel pads in all of them. what exactly causes shrinking feet?
Comment by lisa — 03/01/2007 @ 02:11:52 PM
My feet have definitely shrunk, and all my shoes that fit two years ago are now too large to wear. Fortunately, I love buying shoes.
Comment by Dulce — 03/02/2007 @ 09:36:54 AM
i’m only eighteen. My shoesize when i was about fifteen was size 7, and then they shrunk to a size 6, now though has shrunk evenmore as three pairs of my shoes are size 5 and the rest that are size 6 still fit though, is it our feet that are shrinking or the shoes?
Comment by lisa — 03/30/2007 @ 02:05:06 PM
And that’s what I suspected, that the shoemakers were diddling with the numbers. They’re the same sizes, just being relabeled.
I neglected to mention that my old shoes all still fit as they did before. To some extent, that’s due to them conforming to my foot, but also that the old sizing was different.
Comment by CT — 03/31/2007 @ 01:53:24 PM
All my shoes are too big!
I have gone from a 9 (US) to a 7 1/2! I am 45 and for the last year my feet have been shrinking. I had to get rid of all of my shoes! Do I have osteoperosis with micro-fratures in my feet. I have chronic pain of unknown cause. Could it be bone breakage? I NEED Dr. House (TV)!
Comment by Little Feet — 04/05/2007 @ 02:30:58 PM
I used to be a size nine, sometimes even nine and a half, and over the summer my feet went down to a size six and a half! Anyone have any idea why this might be happening?
Comment by Leona — 09/26/2007 @ 06:56:28 AM
Statistically here in seattle, 7 out of every ten people have athletes foot. Due to constant Staph infections I’ve had to aggressivly attack the fungus (the fungus is the how staph breaks the skin). I’ve been a size ten since I was 14 and now I am a size nine. SO to answer your question, no feet do not shrink as one gets older.
Comment by stu — 10/20/2007 @ 05:40:58 AM
I feel like my feet shrink in the winter and fluctuate often from a week to week basis. I think it has to do with blood circulation and also the thickness of the surrounding skin. I usually wear a size 9 to 9.5 but I measure a size 8 1/2 on the Brannock device. I have tried a size 8 on a low-quality shoe, sometimes its the manufacturer. I have notice my hands and fingers go through this fluctuation also. It sounds weird.
Comment by Dan — 01/05/2008 @ 09:31:46 AM
I was a size 5 in women’s shoes and trust me that is a hard size to find shoes in and I have wide feet as well. Well that was my problem for awhile and then about around the age of 28 or 29 yrs I have all of a sudden found that I am now buying shoes in the children’s department. I wear a size 3 1/2. It is very difficult to find shoes and it is a very strange thing to tell people what my shoe size is without getting a very questionable response. I am now 31 and am glad to have found this website so I don’t feel so out of the ordinary.
Comment by Martha — 02/01/2008 @ 07:21:56 AM
Thanks to everyone for chiming in. I was feeling like a total freak. My shoe size has gone down from 7 1/2 to 6 1/2 over the past two years. None of my old shoes fit right. I have been worried about osteoporosis too. My doctor just cocks her head and says “weird” but offers no suggestions.
Comment by Amie — 02/03/2008 @ 07:19:07 PM
I am 23 and have been a size 7 since I was 15 but last year I found that some of my shoes didn’t fit me anymore so when I went to buy new ones I was suprised to find that I could now buy a size 6 which is a lot easier to find. I think my feet have shrunk but I also know it is also the case that shoe makers do not make them all the same just like clothes? Who knows why but I’m glad!
Comment by Laura — 06/03/2008 @ 06:23:05 AM