How to Compare Women's Shoe Sizes With Men's

Fashion is becoming more and more androgynous.

With fashion becoming more and more androgynous these days, women are often tempted by a comfortable pair of men's low-heeled shoes. Conversely, some men may want to try on women's shoes, for Halloween, cross-dressing, or just to see how the other half walks in stiletto heels. However, sizes for American-made men's and women's shoes are not the same. The following instructions will help you convert women's sizes into men's sizes, and vice versa.

Things You'll Need

• A pair of shoes intended for the opposite sex

Instructions

Converting Women's Sizes to Men's Sizes

1. 

   Pick out a pair of men's shoes.

   Pick out a pair of men's shoes you'd like to try on, if you're a woman.

2. Subtract two full sizes from your women's shoe size. For example, if you're size 7 1/2 in women's, your men's shoe size is 5 1/2.

3. Try on the men's shoes in that sizeand adjust your shoe size up or down if they don't fit.

Converting Men's Sizes to Women's Sizes

1. 

   Choose a pair of women's shoes.

   Choose a pair of women's shoes that you like, if you're a man.

2. Add two sizes to your men's shoe size. For example, if you're size 8 in men's, your women's shoe size is 10.

3. Try on the women's shoes in that size and adjust the shoe size up or down if they don't fit.

Tips & Warnings

• If you buy European shoes, there's no need to convert sizes. Men's and women's shoe sizes are the same.

• The above conversion is a rule of thumb. Some American shoe manufacturers have slightly different conversions.

References

• Gempler's: Shoe size conversion chart