Designer shoes are always in fashion, so if you are looking for a pair of Geox or Sergio Rossi, you need to know how to convert Russian to Italian shoe size. Pairs designed and manufactured in Italy have a different numbering system. Finding the perfect fit can be quite difficult, especially for shoes that are needed for outdoor activities. Before you go to the store or place an order via the Internet, do a little work so as not to get poorly selected shoes.
Tips for buying Italian shoes
Need to know:
- Legs change during the day. Therefore, you should buy in the afternoon or evening.
- The calibration system is for guidance only. If you choose shoes according to the size chart, they are not necessarily suitable. Even instances of the same brand may vary.
- Shoes are comfortable only if they are sitting properly. Take the time to find the right shape. Never buy shoes that “almost” fit.
- Take your time in the store and walk around when trying on. Make sure you have 1 to 1.5 cm of room for maneuver when you step on the foot in front of the shoe. This rule does not apply to high-heeled shoes. For her, slipping of the foot should be prevented with firm support.
- Test models from different manufacturers. Correct width is just as important as length when it comes to optimum comfort. If you have narrow legs, you should not purchase smaller shoes, instead choose a brand with a narrower fit.
- The materials used are also of great importance. Rubber, leather, artificial leather, or fabric stretches differently over time. It also affects landing.
- Women especially often buy small shoes. Reason: false vanity and outdated beauty ideals. Some manufacturers respond to this behavior and offer, for example, actual shoe size 40 as size 39. However, not all companies do this.
Features of the production of shoes in Italy
Basically, European shoe companies determine the size of shoes, considering only the length of the legs. The Italian standard for sizes is based on the European one, that is, the size value will be one more than the Russian one. Since the shoe industry in Italy is well developed, many factories have invented their own standards, which take into account not only the length, but also the completeness of the shoes.
These indicators take into account the anatomy, so Italian shoe sizes, depending on the brand, may differ or coincide with the Russian sizes. If you have decided on a brand and are ready to purchase a pair, it is better to focus on the size chart, which is presented on the company's official website. If there is no such information, refer to the calibration tables of Italian sizes of women's shoes and men's. To do this, you need to measure the length of the leg.
Size chart for men.
The foot is three-dimensional, so length is only one of the things to consider (width, height). Add to this the fact that today's shoe market is made up of brands from the USA, Europe and other countries, and everything is becoming even more confusing.
Size chart for women.
Many manufacturers also deviate slightly from standards. Some brands prefer to make shoes more comfortable or suitable for wider legs, so they increase the size.
Due to the fact that the materials used (fabric, leather, leatherette, rubber, etc.) are very flexible, making shoes according to exact specifications is a very complicated or simply too expensive process for manufacturers.
How to measure foot length
Most often, women's shoes differ by one size, and men's shoes by several. It is rare to find models that match perfectly.
To translate the Italian shoe size into Russian, first measure the length of your foot. To do this, you need a white sheet of paper, a ruler and a pencil. The best time to measure is the day or evening when your legs are relaxed. If you measure them in the morning, they will be smaller, which will give you incorrect measurements, and then you will buy shoes that will be small.
Place your feet on a piece of paper at a 90 ° angle. Glue the paper to the floor with tape so that it does not slip. Circle the foot with a pencil and measure the length from the end of the heel to the beginning of the thumb. With an inaccurate result, it is better to round it up.
What to do with different leg lengths
If one of your shoes is always too tight, measure both feet and then use the length of the largest to calculate the correct size of your shoes. If the two lengths are very different, you should consider making shoes to order or using special insoles.
When choosing Italian shoes, you need to pay attention to the fullness or width of the foot. For those with a narrow foot, you need to buy shoes that are 0.5 sizes smaller, and those with a wide foot - 1 or 1.5 more.
Italian shoe sizes are not the only difference. Shoes are usually narrower in the backdrop with a wide toe. Such a fit allows you to hold the heel tightly in place without injuring your toes. Russian shoes usually have a deeper toe than Italian shoes. Keep in mind that these generalizations need to be considered separately for each brand of shoes separately.