Buying shoes online or in-store becomes much simpler once the different international sizing systems are decrypted, and the specifics of certain brands and types of shoes too.
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How is the size of a shoe calculated in France?
In France, the shoe size corresponds to 1.5 times the length of the foot, expressed in centimeters. For example, if the length of the foot is 30 cm, the shoe size will be 45. Conversely, a shoe size of 42 corresponds to a foot length of about 28 cm. But other countries, such as the United Kingdom or the United States, have adopted a somewhat different conversion system.
To measure in centimeters, simply follow these simple steps:
- Stand in your socks against a wall, slipping a sheet of cardstock under your foot.
- Make sure the heel remains firmly against the wall, while the foot remains flat on the sheet.
- Draw a line just in front of the tip of the big toe.
- Take the measurement of the distance in centimetres between the edge of the sheet of paper positioned against the wall and the line that has been drawn with a tape measure (always rounding up to the nearest millimetre).
International Shoes and Sizing Systems
Shoe size matches vary from country to country, which means that a size 39 in France will not be the same as a size 39 in the US or UK. Size conversion charts show how a size corresponds to the sizes of other countries, which in the context of globalization makes shopping much easier.
Here is a table of correspondences taking into account the different sizes (from 35 to 45) according to the length of the foot (measured in centimeters) and the main countries concerned (France, Italy, United States, United Kingdom and Japan):
| France | Italy | United Kingdom | United States | Japan |
| 35 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 21 |
| 35.5 | 34.5 | 2.5 | 4.5 | 21.5 |
| 36 | 35 | 3 | 5 | 22 |
| 36.5 | 35.5 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 22.5 |
| 37 | 36 | 4 | 6 | 23 |
| 37.5 | 36.5 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 23.5 |
| 38 | 37 | 5 | 7 | 24 |
| 38.5 | 37.5 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 24.5 |
| 39 | 38 | 6 | 8 | 25 |
| 39.5 | 38.5 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 25.5 |
| 40 | 39 | 7 | 9 | 26 |
| 40.5 | 39.5 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 26.5 |
| 41 | 40 | 8 | 10 | 27 |
| 41.5 | 40.5 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 27.5 |
| 42 | 41 | 9 | 11 | 28 |
| 42.5 | 41.5 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 28.5 |
| 43 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 29 |
| 43.5 | 42.5 | 10.5 | 12.5 | 29.5 |
| 44 | 43 | 11 | 13 | 30 |
| 44.5 | 43.5 | 11.5 | 13.5 | 30.5 |
| 45 | 44 | 12 | 14 | 31 |
The specificities of shoe sizes according to the brands
However, each shoe brand may have variations in the sizes of the same measurement system. For example, a pair of boots from a certain brand may fit in size 38, while another brand may require a size 39. It is therefore recommended to consult the size guides specific to each brand. Customer feedback can also provide very valuable insights into the actual fit of shoe sizes for different brands.
Read alsoHow to wash your shoes in the machine?
Take into account the type of shoes to adjust the size
It's important to keep in mind that the type of footwear also influences the "right" size to adopt. Athletic shoes, derby-style dress shoes, heels, etc., often have different fits. So, before making an online purchase, for example, it's a good idea to refer to the size guides specific to each shoe category, if they exist. Even if measuring the length of the foot and consulting the conversion charts guarantees a relatively precise fit, there can still be differences of 1/2 size, or even more, depending on the model...
Knowing the match of shoe sizes is therefore essential to avoid the inconveniences associated with shoes that do not fit well and/or are not the right size. When it comes to buying shoes online or abroad, regardless of the type or brand, consulting the appropriate size guides makes it easy to choose shoes that are comfortable and perfectly suited to the length of your foot.