Most women wear shoes that don't match their feet, study finds
Most women in a new RMIT University study wore shoe sizes that differed from the size indicated by their foot length, highlighting the limitations of conventional sizing systems in accounting for differences in foot width and shape. The study of 107 women found 72% wore a different size under U.S. sizing and 65% under EU sizing.
A recent study from RMIT University reveals that most women's shoe sizes often don't align with their actual foot dimensions. Out of 107 participants, 72% wore a different shoe size under U.S. sizing and 65% under EU sizing, indicating that conventional sizing systems struggle to account for foot width and shape variations. The research found that more women selected larger sizes than their foot length suggested—59% under U.S. sizing and 52% under EU sizing.
This tendency to size up may be a compensatory measure for shoes that fail to accommodate foot width adequately. The study, published in the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, also discovered that 68% of participants experienced at least one recurring issue with shoe fit. Associate Professor Saniyat Islam, co-author of the study, suggests that the current sizing system is limited in describing foot width and shape, forcing women to choose between the correct length and width.
He emphasizes the need for more width options to improve shoe fit. Furthermore, the research highlights the importance of considering Australia's diverse population when designing footwear, as 60% of participants from Northeast Asian, Southeast Asian, or South Asian backgrounds reported shoes being too narrow. The findings underscore the necessity of developing footwear that better reflects the diversity of foot shapes in Australia, as current sizing systems mainly cater to a narrow range of Western foot shapes.
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