Think You Know Your Shoe Size? 7 in 10 Women Don’t

Have you ever noticed how women constantly compliment each other’s shoes, but the conversation always ends the same way? “They’re gorgeous!” is almost always followed by, “But are they comfortable?”

Somehow, we’ve created a world where beauty and comfort are treated like opposing forces. And somewhere along the way, we’ve accepted that our feet should suffer for fashion. But why?

Even without realising it, most of us ignore the signals our feet are sending every single day. That urge to slip your shoes off under your desk. The way you avoid certain pairs for long days. The instant relief you feel the moment you swap into sneakers. These aren’t just harmless quirks, they’re your feet trying to tell you something important.

And here’s the surprising part: what if the size you’ve been wearing for years isn’t actually your true size at all? What if the key to ending this silent discomfort is as simple as re-measuring your feet?

Let’s Talk Numbers

Here's a startling reality check that might make you glance down at your feet: you're probably wearing the wrong shoe size.

It sounds impossible, but the numbers don't lie. Research consistently shows that 63-72% of people are walking around in shoes that don't properly fit their feet whether too long, short, narrow, or wide. The situation is even more striking for women. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society found that 88% of women wear shoes that are too small. That's nearly 9 out of every 10 women experiencing unnecessary discomfort with each step. Perhaps most telling of all, a College of Podiatry survey revealed that half of women openly admit their shoes don't fit properly, while less than one in four people reported having their feet properly measured since leaving school. We've somehow accepted foot discomfort as normal when it absolutely doesn't have to be.

Why Women Get It So Wrong?

The Vanity Factor. Many women choose shoes based on the size they want to be rather than their actual measurements, leading to chronically tight-fitting shoes.

Feet Change. 41% of women have increased their shoe size during adult life. Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, aging, and time of day all affect foot size.

No Universal Sizing. A size 8 in one brand can be completely different from another. There's no industry standard for shoe sizing.

Wrong Shopping Time. Most people shop for shoes in the morning when their feet are smallest, but feet can swell up to half a size by evening.

The Bunion Trap: Why Sizing Up Isn't the Solution

If you have bunions, you've probably been told to "just buy a bigger size" to accommodate the bump. This advice seems logical, but it creates a new problem: when you size up in length to get width, you end up with shoes that are too long. Your foot slides forward, your toes jam into the front of the shoe, and you're back to square one just with different discomfort.

At Calla, we understand that bunions need width, not length. Our shoes are designed with varied width options and bunion-friendly toe boxes, so you can wear your true size while getting the room your feet actually need. No more choosing between pain and proper fit.

Check Our Bestsellers for Bunion-Friendly Styles →

Find Your Perfect Fit With Calla

The statistics don't lie. Most women are wearing the wrong shoe size, affecting their health and quality of life. At Calla, we believe every woman deserves to walk through life in comfort and style.

Don't guess but measure properly and find your perfect fit.

Measure Your Feet Now →