A Big-Foot Problem.

So here’s the issue. I have big feet. Not ginormous, but big. Big as in, an 8.5 to 9... or in more universal terms, an EU 42. I come from a family of big feet, with my brother coming in at an astounding UK size 15.

I cannot go into a shop, point at a pair of shoes and know that they will have my size... or even that my size will actually exist. I will never be able to buy a pair of Kurt Geiger’s – or worse – Isabel Marant and Manolo Blahnik, as they only go up to an EU 41 (UK 7). When I’m buying a new pair of running trainers, there is no point going to the women’s section of Nike and selecting a pair of coral trainers with blue laces. It’s to the men’s department for me, to purchase some depressing grey and orange trainers (why can’t men wear pink?!) in a men's 42. There is some good news though... Jimmy Choo have attempted to accommodate for big-feet: they go up to a 42 AND they’re generous in sizing (I take a 41.5 shoe there). This has resulted in a wardrobe full of Jimmy Choos... and not much else!

I do not want to go to the equivalent of ‘Jacamo’ for women with big feet - It's not that there aren't shoes out there. But I want to walk into Selfridges or the Shoe Heaven in Harrods, and walk out with a new box of beautiful shoes. Setting up my own brand of shoe is not the solution – but making brands and manufacturers more aware of the target market they are cutting out will be a step in the right direction. 

People’s feet are getting larger as each generation gets taller. The average height of women in the 40s was 5’2 with a 3.5 sized shoe (UK), and by 2012 women were on average 5’5 with a size 6 shoe. Please can we admit that by 2015 the average shoe size might have hit a size 7? And let’s just point out that by average, I mean the MIDDLE. The number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data. This does not mean that a UK 7 is the highest size – it is the middle size, meaning that out of all the people with feet smaller that a 7 – there are JUST AS MANY PEOPLE with a size LARGER than a 7.

So why are shops still refusing to order in shoes sized 8 or higher? I’ve got money that I want to spend on shoes. Shoes that fit, and where I can wriggle my toes in the inch of space at the end. Shoes where I can try on a larger size if need be – and not have to debate whether I squeeze my feet into a size 7 and risk a life of curled up, deformed hammer toes or to never own a pair of Isabel Marant Bekket Trainers, or Manolo Blahnik Tayler Pumps.

I almost considered surgery to shorten my toes by a centimetre until I read a woman’s personal experience of hearing surgeons sawing through her toes while on local anaesthetic. I think I’ll just stick to Jimmy Choos and handbags until designers realise that big feet aren't necessarily ugly.