FREE STANDARD UK DELIVERY SPEND OVER £50 - CODE 50FREE
FREE RETURNS Within 30 days.
SIGN UP FOR 20% OFF Join our emails for the latest offers and arrivals
When you go shoe shopping, your options are often split out into sections: men’s footwear, women’s footwear and children’s footwear. While it’s clear that size prevents most adults from wearing children’s shoes, this isn’t the case for adult shoes. So if you’re a woman who’s spotted a nice pair of shoes in the men’s section – or vice versa – is there any reason why you shouldn’t go ahead and buy them?
What is the difference between men’s and women’s shoes?
One difference between men’s and women’s shoes that’s easy to spot is style. While men’s shoes are generally flat-soled, with only a one or two inch platform heel added to dress shoes, women’s shoes often have higher heels, both for formal and casual wear. Women’s shoes often incorporate open-top designs – while men are usually restricted to sandals if they want their toes or the tops of their feet to feel the air, women can opt for ballet flats, espadrilles, sandals, pumps and more.
It’s also a common trend that women’s shoes are available in more colours. While some men’s shoes do incorporate bright shades, these are less common and many shoes only come in a range of neutral colours like black, navy blue, brown and white. Meanwhile, women’s shoes can seem like they come in every colour under the sun - as well as featuring more frills, bows, and decorative additions.
However, there are some areas where this isn’t the case and footwear is more or less unisex. For example, hiking boots have a very functional design regardless of whether they’re labelled men’s or women’s boots. Wellies and other purpose-driven footwear such as wetsuit boots, reinforced toe-cap shoes and riding boots are similar.
Are men’s and women’s shoe sizes the same?
Despite both being made for adults, men and women’s shoes use different sizing scales. This can make shopping confusing, so it’s worth making sure you’ve got the right size before you buy. In general, if you’re a woman buying men’s shoes, you should go down 1.5 sizes. So, if you’re a women's size 8, you’ll be a men’s size 6.5. Similarly, if you’re a man shopping for women’s shoes, you’ll want to go up 1.5 sizes, for example from a men’s size 8 to a women’s size 9.5.
Some shoes advertise themselves as unisex, so are designed to be worn by men and women alike. However, it’s important to note that they are almost always sized in men’s sizes – so don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t have to convert just because the shoe is designed for both sexes.
Once you’ve converted the sizing, you can get on with the purchase, right? Well, not necessarily. As a general rule, men’s shoes tend to be on the wider side and women’s shoes narrower, because men’s and women’s feet typically follow those patterns. However, we all know that everyone’s feet are built differently, so it may be that a man with narrow feet might fit women’s sizes better than men’s sizes. Of course this works the other way around as well – and there’s even more nuance to be had with shoes that are specifically designed for wider or narrower feet.
Can women wear men’s shoes?
In many cases, the biggest thing preventing us from shopping in sections for the opposite sex is our perception of it. This is especially true for in-store shops where the added pressure of other customers and sales assistants being there with you might put you off. However, buying shoes online lessens the pressure on you to do what is expected, allowing you to take a leap that might be better for your feet and their specific needs.
While some shoes are clearly designed with a specific type of wearer in mind, many are unisex in appearance. Think back to the last time you saw someone wearing trainers or smart dress shoes. Could you actually tell whether they were bought in the men’s or the women’s section, or did the thought not even register?
A lot of the time, it’s very difficult to tell whether a shoe was originally sold as a men’s or women’s shoe, and more importantly, it’s irrelevant. You should choose the shoe that best suits the size and shape of your foot, combined with your personal aesthetic preferences. If that means shopping in the other section, then that’s what you should do - because wearing ill-fitting shoes is no good for anyone.
Posted by Stephen R on 21 March 2023
Stephen works with email and social media at Chums. He specialises in men’s fashion marketing.
See more from Stephen R →
TOP
Call Us:
Order Line:
08715 265 265
Enquiry Line:
03333 554 455
Calls to the order line cost 13p per minute plus network extras
My Account
Customer Services
FAQ's
Delivery
Returns
Request A Catalogue
Size Guide
Find Us
VAT Relief
Sustainability
About Us
Legal
Privacy
Cookies
Contact
Pay Using
Safe & Secure Shopping
Copyright © 2024 Chums
PayPal Representative Example:
Representative 23.9% APR (variable) Purchase interest rate 23.9% p.a. (variable) Assumed Credit limit £1,200. PayPal Credit and PayPal Pay in 3 are trading names of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH. Terms and conditions apply. Credit subject to status, UK residents only, Chums Ltd acts as a broker and offers finance from a restricted range of finance providers. PayPal Pay in 3 is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Pay in 3 eligibility is subject to status and approval. 18+. UK residents only. Pay in 3 is a form of credit. Check if affordable and how you will repay. May make other borrowing more difficult or expensive. See product terms for more details
Claiming VAT Relief
Individuals who are chronically sick or disabled can claim VAT Relief on those products shown with "without VAT" prices. A person is 'chronically sick or disabled' if they:
- Have a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term effect on their ability to carry our everyday activities
- Have a condition that doctors treat as a chronic sickness (like diabetes, for example) OR
- Are terminally ill
The following conditions may also qualify for VAT relief in some circ*mstances; Arthritis, Multiple Scierosis, Oedema, Heart Disease, Stroke.
If you are not sure ask your medical advisor, as we are unable to give medical opinions.
Claiming is quick and easy, simply add the products you wish to purchase to your shopping basket. You can then either complete your VAT Relief registration in the shopping basket or during the checkout process
If you require further information regarding claiming VAT Relief please click here.