One size fits small: exploring the shoe size preferences of Australian women and their implications for shoe design

Inconsistent shoe sizing across international systems and brands makes it difficult to find properly fitting footwear. Most systems rely on foot length and width, which vary by gender and ethnicity. Poorly fitting shoes can harm foot health, with some conditions disproportionately affecting women. This study compared anthropometric foot measurements with Australian shoe sizing charts to assess perceived versus actual shoe sizes in 107 Australian women. Most participants wore a size that did not match their measured foot length: 72% under US sizing and 65% under EU sizing, with more women choosing larger sizes than indicated (59% US; 52% EU). Considerable variation also emerged in width, with joint girth differing by up to 40 mm (US) and 37 mm (EU) among women in the same size. These findings suggest length-based sizing alone cannot capture foot shape diversity, and that width fittings alongside standardized length sizing could improve fit and reduce confusion.