The main differences between US and European shoe sizing.
Measurement Units:
US sizes are based on inches, using a unit called the barleycorn (1/3 inch).
EU sizes use the Paris point, which is 2/3 of a centimeter (about 6.67 mm).
Numbering System:
US sizes are generally lower numbers (e.g., women's size 8).
EU sizes are higher (e.g., the equivalent is around EU 39).
Width Options:
US brands often offer multiple widths (like B, D, EE).
Most European shoes come in a standard width, with fewer wide or narrow options.
Fit and Conversion:
There’s no exact formula to convert between the two. A rough estimate is to add 31 to a US women's size or 33 to a US men's size to get the EU equivalent—but this varies by brand.
Trying on or checking brand-specific size charts is always the safest bet.
The most expensive shoes ever sold are Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz", which were auctioned for over $32 million!
The Moon Star Shoes are among the most expensive footwear in the world, valued at $20 million! Designed by Italian designer Antonio Vietri, these extravagant
shoes were unveiled in Dubai as part of a luxury fashion event.
Materials: Made from solid gold, diamonds, and even a meteorite fragment.
Unique Concept: Inspired by space exploration, the shoes symbolize luxury beyond Earth.
Exclusivity: These heels are considered one of the most expensive shoes ever created, though they have yet to be officially certified by Guinness World Records.
Debbie Winghamheels are a masterpiece of luxury and craftsmanship, valued at $15.1 million! These extravagant stilettos are adorned with rare pink and blue diamonds, along with flawless
white diamonds set in platinum, gold-thread stitching, solid gold zippers, and 24-karat gold-painted leather. Debbie Wingham, known for her opulent designs,
has also created the world's most expensive dress and other lavish fashion pieces; she collaborated with artist Chris Campbell to design these $15.1 million heels.
Materials: The heels feature 18K gold zippers, gold-thread stitching, and 24K gold-painted leather.
Diamonds: Thousands of diamonds, including pink, blue, and flawless white diamonds, are set in platinum.
Handcrafted Details: The shoes are adorned with handcrafted Arabian Jasmine flowers made from fine leather.
Unique Piping: The piping on the shoes was designed to resemble icing on a cake, reflecting Wingham’s crossover into luxury cake artistry.
The Stuart Weitzman Rita Hayworth Heels are a stunning tribute to Hollywood glamour, valued at $3 million! These luxurious heels are adorned with diamond, ruby, and sapphire earrings
that once belonged to the legendary actress Rita Hayworth. Stuart Weitzman is known for creating ultra-luxurious footwear, but these heels stand out for their historical significance
and timeless elegance.
Material: Made from burnt sienna satin, a unique and elegant color choice.
Jewelry: The centerpiece of the shoes features earrings worn by Rita Hayworth, adding a personal touch of history.
Exclusivity: Unlike other high-value shoes, these heels are not for sale—they belong to Hayworth’s daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.
Most American shoes are made in Vietnam (Adidas, Asics, Converse, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok, Skechers, Vagabond and Vans), and China (Adidas, Asics, Converse,
New Balance, Nike, Puma, Skechers, and Vans). Other countries, which have also made some American shoes, include Argentina (Adidas, Asics, Nike, Puma, and Vans), Bangladesh (Puma),
Bosnia (Nike), Brazil (Asics, Nike, and VEJA), Cambodia (Adidas, and Asics), Germany (Adidas), Herzegovina (Nike), India (Adidas, Converse, and Nike), Indonesia (Adidas, Asics, Converse, Nike, and Puma),
Italy (Adidas), Japan (Asics, and Nike), Mexico (Vans), Myanmar (Adidas), Portugal (Birkenstock), Romania (Puma), South Korea (Nike, and Vans), Sri Lanka (Nike), Taiwan (Nike), Turkey (Adidas),
and USA (Vans).
The most popular shoes that people like to wear:
Nike Air Force 1: The shoes have been used for street play, professional play, and fashion and casual wear; its versatile design has been loved since the '80s.
Adidas Yeezy: Kanye West's line, blending style and exclusivity; Adidas' Yeezy saga appears to be almost at an end.
Converse All Stars and Chuck Taylor: Both shoes are made with canvas, while All Star's upper is light like a tote bag, lighter than any pair of jeans,
Chuck Taylor shoes have much thicker canvas; they have been a staple for decades, iconic in their own right.
Vans Old Skool: This shoe, which was the first Vans shoe to feature the now iconic side stripe, is a classic low-top sneaker with an iconic design and a slim, minimalist build.
Skate culture to street style, these are always in demand.
Gucci Ace Sneakers: Combining luxury and casual wear seamlessly; introduced in 2016, the Gucci Ace sneaker took the luxury footwear space, its classic continental style
remains relevant today, with the iconic sneaker delivering on the brand's luxury aesthetic.
The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 shoe provides stability and arch support, and is excellent for flat feet and overpronation. It's a go-to for runners who need structured support
without sacrificing comfort. It features GuideRails technology, which helps keep excess movement in check, making it ideal for overpronators. The DNA LOFT v2 cushioning delivers a soft, responsive
ride, while the engineered air mesh upper ensures breathability and a secure fit.
The Adidas Ultraboost Light Running shoe known for cloud-like comfort, sock-like fit, and durability, is great for both running and walking. It's a standout for anyone
craving plush comfort and versatile performance. With its featherweight Light BOOST midsole, it delivers a responsive, cushioned ride that’s ideal for both long runs and casual strolls.
The PRIMEKNIT+ upper hugs your foot like a sock, adapting to movement while keeping things breathable and secure.
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 V12 is a lightweight and supportive shoe suitable for all-day wear. It's a top-tier choice for comfort seekers and high-mileage runners alike.
It blends plush cushioning with a responsive ride, making it ideal for everything from long shifts on your feet to daily training runs.
HOKA Bondi SR Leather Trainer shoe offers plush cushioning and stability, molds to your feet, provides comfort and support; it'sdeal for walking and running.
Shoe, outer covering for the foot, usually of leather with a stiff or thick sole and heel, and generally reaching no higher than the ankle.
The oldest-known leather shoe dates back to about 3,500 BCE and was discovered in southern Armenia. It was found in the Areni-1 cave and provides evidence of early footwear use.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, shoes became extremely long and pointed. King Edward III even enacted a law limiting the length of shoe points (called “crakows”) to 2 inches, but some exceeded 18 inches.
Those exaggerated pointed shoes—known as crakows or poulaines—were the medieval equivalent of a status symbol, signaling wealth and privilege. The longer the point, the more elite the wearer (and the less walking they likely did).
High heels force your foot into a downward position, increasing pressure on the forefoot. This affects your overall posture, leading to an unnatural stance and stiffness. The higher the heels, the greater the pressure.
High heels shift your body’s natural alignment: your center of gravity tips forward, the arch and forefoot absorb more impact, and your calves, hips, and lower back are forced to compensate. Over time, that imbalance can
lead to muscle fatigue, joint strain, and even long-term issues like bunions or shortened Achilles tendons.
High heels were worn by both men and women in ancient Persia. The high heel descends from the riding footwear of medieval Persian cavalrymen. These heels, which served a functional purpose, helping secure the rider’s feet
in the stirrups while on horseback, later became associated with European nobility. In 17th-century Europe, high heels were initially a sign of women’s high social status.
Wearing heels became associated with wealth due to their connection with horseback riding, which was expensive and time-consuming; the practical use of heels set the standard for most horseback riding shoes throughout history.
High heels weren’t originally created for fashion or femininity—they were built for function. In the 10th century, Persian cavalry wore heels to help keep their feet in stirrups during battle. The elevated heel gave riders better
stability and control, making them more effective on horseback.
Ohio once prohibited women from wearing patent leather shoes in public.
The reason was the shiny surface could reflect undergarments, which was considered scandalous at the time. This law is more of a historical oddity than something actively enforced today. It’s a great example of how cultural norms
shape legislation—and how those norms can shift dramatically over time.
In North Dakota, it is illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
That’s a real law—at least but rarely (if ever) enforced, it was at one point! In North Dakota, it’s been said that falling asleep with your shoes on is technically illegal.
It is illegal to walk down a street in Maine with your shoelaces untied. That’s one of those delightfully oddball “laws” that’s often repeated in trivia lists—but there’s no official record of such a statute in Maine’s legal code.
In China one of the bride’s red shoes is tossed from the roof to ensure happiness for the bridal couple. That’s a beautiful and symbolic tradition—though it’s not widely practiced across all of China, it does appear
in some regional wedding customs. In certain areas, tossing one of the bride’s red shoes
from the rooftop is believed to bring good luck and happiness to the newlyweds. Red, of course, is the color of joy and prosperity in Chinese culture, and shoes (鞋 xié) are a homophone for harmony (谐 xié), making
them a powerful symbol in wedding rituals. This tradition fits within a broader tapestry of Chinese wedding customs that use shoes in meaningful ways—like hiding the bride’s shoes for the groom to find, or insisting
the couple wear brand-new red shoes throughout the day for luck and unity.
The Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Canada, is the only shoe museum in North America. It houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of
footwear, with over 13,000 items spanning 4,500 years of history. From ancient Egyptian sandals to celebrity sneakers, it’s a treasure trove for anyone fascinated by fashion, culture, or craftsmanship. Founded by Sonja Bata and
opened in its current location in 1995, the museum explores the role of shoes in everything from identity and status to innovation and art. The museum building designed by architect Raymond Moriyama is shaped like a shoebox.
The average person walks 2,000 miles a year. Most walking shoes are designed to last between 300 to 500 miles, depending on the materials, walking style, and the terrain, a person likely needs 4 to 6 pairs per year to keep feet
properly supported and avoid injury.
The first lady’s boot was designed for Queen Victoria in 1840 by her shoemaker, Joseph Sparkes Hall. His creation featured elastic side panels, allowing the boots to be slipped on and off easily without
laces or buttons. The design, which was both practical and elegant, capturing Victorian ideals of modesty while offering unprecedented comfort, quickly spread beyond the royal court into general fashion.
The first shoe making machine was introduced in 1846 Elias Howe, who patented the sewing machine that laid the groundwork for mechanized shoemaking. Later in 1858, Lyman Blake invented a specialized machine that could
sew the soles of shoes to the uppers—a critical step that further revolutionized the process. Mass production took off when Gordon McKay improved Blake’s design and licensed it widely, slashing costs and making shoes more
accessible to the general public.
The world's oldest shoes are Fort Rock-style sandals found below a layer of volcanic ash from the eruption of
the Mt. Mazama volcano (Crater Lake - the deepest lake in central Oregon of the United States) around 7,700 years ago. Those Fort Rock-style sandals are a
fascinating link to prehistoric life in North America. Woven from sagebrush bark and discovered in a cave in Oregon in the 1930s, their preservation beneath the volcanic ash from Mount Mazama’s eruption—which formed
today’s Crater Lake—basically froze them in time.
Cowboy boots arrived in the American West from Mexico, and they had been brought to
Mexico by the Spanish horsemen who conquered that country. Cowboy boots are normally made from cowhide leather, which may be decoratively hand tooled. Decoration varied widely.
Early boots were cowhide leather pieced together with single rows of top stitching, but as custom boots were made, cowboys asked for decorative stitching, cutouts in the high tops (early on, often Texas stars), and different materials.
With sharply pointed toes and a high, angled heel, usually from one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half inches high, the tall leather boots slid easily into stirrups and hooked there when
a horseman had to stand up in the saddle to rope cows.
Modern cowboy boots are available in all colors and can be made from just about every animal whose skin can be made into leather, including exotic materials like alligator,
snake, ostrich, lizard,
eel, elephant, stingray,
elk, buffalo, and so on. Both women and men wore cowboy boots, because they seemingly
portrayed a tough, masculine image yet were highly decorative. Old cowboy boots were more about utility than looks, but the line
dancing community has also adopted the West’s favorite footwear as its own. Though cowboy boots have remained popular in the American West, their popularity throughout the rest of the world had faded by the 1990s.
Cowboy boots originated in the 1800s in the plains and desert of the midwest and far Western United States, however they were inspired by the vaquero-style boot bought from Spain to the Americas in the 1600s.
Cowboy boots are a classic case of cultural evolution on horseback. The iconic style we recognize today—pointed toes, high shafts, angled heels—really came into its own in the 1800s, tailored to the demands of life in the American West.
These boots had to handle rugged terrain, long hours in the saddle, and the occasional stampede. But their roots trace back to the vaquero tradition of the 1600s, when Spanish settlers brought their ranching expertise—and their
distinctive riding boots—to the Americas. Vaqueros were the original cowboys, and their boot designs featured high heels and functional silhouettes suited for riding and roping. As American and Mexican cultures mingled, particularly
in Texas and surrounding areas, these boots evolved into the utilitarian-meets-stylish symbols of frontier life we know today.
In 2019, 24.3 billion pair of shoes were produced. China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia were
leaders in this footwear production following by Cambodia, India,
Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Thailand. These days, 99%
of shoes sold in the U.S. are imported, China's share has declined in recent years, but it remains a key source of America's shoes and shoe parts.
The shifting of manufacturing from China to Vietnam by giants like
Nike and Adidas highlights how economic strategies evolve—often due to factors like labor costs, tariffs, or geopolitical considerations. The U.S. annually imported 1.6 billion, 502 million and 114 million pairs of shoes from China,
Vietnam, and Indonesia, respectively.
In 2021, American people spent around $20 billion on shoes annually, of which Foot Locker gets about $4.8 billion, approximate $3.3 billion went to Payless ShoeSource, and around $2.27 billion was for The Brown Shoe Company.
In 2024, the U.S. athletic footwear market is estimated to have reached $26.9 billion in revenue. An estimated 2024 revenue breakdowns for Foot Locker, Payless ShoeSource, and The Brown Shoe Company are around $9.7 billion, $6.7 billion
and $4.6 billion, respectively. This growth reflects rising interest in health, fitness, and athleisure trends, along with strong demand for both performance and lifestyle sneakers.
Since 2010, Adidas and Nike, the world’s two biggest athletic brands, have cut the share of footwear
they make in China in half. China was their main footwear producer; as of 2022, Vietnam owns that title. Vietnam now produces more than twice as many Adidas and Nike shoes as China do. At Adidas, China is actually in third place
as a supplier of shoes; Indonesia is now the second-biggest source, behind Vietnam. Adidas and Nike still make most of their clothes in China, despite the drift in their footwear production. Among US fashion companies,
the typical sourcing portfolio today is 30-50 percent from China, 11-30 percent from Vietnam, and the rest from other countries. As of 2025, the shift in footwear manufacturing away from China has only accelerated.
Vietnam now accounts for 52% of Nike’s global footwear production, while China’s share has dropped below 19%. Adidas shows a similar pattern, 43% of its shoes are now made in Vietnam, with China contributing just 16%, placing
it behind both Vietnam and Indonesia.
In many European traditions the shoe itself has symbolic power—often representing the soul, a journey, or the foundation of a relationship. During a traditional wedding, Hungarian groom removes
one of the bride's shoes and then drinks a toast to the bride out of her wedding shoe. In Hungarian culture, the wedding shoe toast
is steeped in symbolic meaning. The groom drinking from the bride’s shoe is seen as a gesture of love, humility, and playful devotion. It also represents good luck, fertility, and a prosperous life together.
Turning it into a ceremonial drinking vessel definitely makes for a memorable moment during the festivities!
By the time you reach your 50th birthday, you've put 75,000 miles on your feet. By age 50, you may have lost nearly half of the fatty padding on the soles of your feet, and
you may be wearing a shoe that's a size bigger than what you wore in your 20s, in part because of weight gain that puts greater
pres-sure on your feet.
Your fingers and toes tend to swell up in hotter climates and the feet naturally expand with use during the day, you should better
wait until the afternoon to shop for shoes. Because your feet can expand up to half a size throughout
the day—especially in warm weather or if you’ve been on your feet a lot—shopping for shoes in the afternoon or evening gives you a much more accurate fit.
Shoe sizes began with barleycorn. The use of barleycorn as a unit of measurement for shoe sizes goes way back to medieval England. One barleycorn—literally
a grain of barley—was considered equal to 1/3 of an inch. The legend says that King Edward II declared in the 14th century that three barleycorns laid end to end would equal one inch, and that this would serve as the basis for
measuring feet and shoes.
Shoe sizes vary between manufacturers, you should trust your own comfort level rather than a shoe's size or description. Shoe
sizing isn’t standardized globally (or even consistently within a brand), so a size 9 in one style might feel like a snug 8.5 or a roomy 10 in another. Factors like the last (the mold shoes are built on), materials, and even regional sizing
charts (U.S. vs. EU vs. UK) can all play tricks on your feet.
Dorothy’s iconic ruby red slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was the most expensive shoes ever sold for $660,000.
They’re not just shoes—they're a symbol of childhood wonder, cinematic history, and Judy Garland's unforgettable role as Dorothy Gale.
In 1947, Salvatore Ferragamo designed an upper made of one continuous thread, a transparent strand of nylon with
a wedge or F-shaped heel. Salvatore Ferragamo’s 1947 creation, often referred to as the “Invisible Sandal,” was a marvel of engineering. With this shoe, Ferragamo won the Neiman Marcus Award, the Oscar of Fashion.
In the 1670s, Louis XIV of France issued an edict that only members of his court were allowed to wear red heels. His 1670s edict made red heels an elite
status symbol, worn exclusively by those in royal favor. The vibrant red dye was expensive, and the color itself stood out dramatically against the often-drab palette of 17th-century European dress. It wasn’t just a fashion
statement—it was power literally worn on one’s feet.
At the end of 2012 there were 29,360 shoe stores employed 188,866 workers in the U.S., of which Payless ShoeSource had about 4,470 stores, Foot Locker had approximate 4,000 stores and The Brown Shoe Company had around 1,600 stores.
As of 2025, the U.S. shoe store industry has grown significantly. There are approximately 382,532 people employed in shoe stores across
the country—more than double the number from 2012. This growth reflects both the expansion of retail operations and the increasing demand for footwear across various segments, including athletic, casual, and specialty shoes.
As of 2025, the global footwear industry is booming, with an estimated annual revenue of over $500 billion. That includes everything from athletic sneakers and luxury heels to work boots and casual sandals.
The boots segment alone is projected to generate nearly $185 billion in 2025. The U.S. market leads globally, expected to bring in over $101 billion this year. And by 2030, the market is forecasted to reach $588 billion,
growing steadily at around 4.3% annually.
A diabetic shoe that comes in a wide width is more likely to provide a roomy fit. That extra width can make a big difference
for people managing diabetes, especially if they experience foot swelling, neuropathy, or have a higher risk of ulcers. Roomier shoes help reduce friction and pressure points, which can prevent skin breakdown and promote
better foot health. Many diabetic shoes also come with features like seamless interiors, cushioned insoles, and adjustable closures to further enhance comfort and protection.
Today, around 20 % of total shoes is for men’s athletic shoes, 17% for women’s casual shoes, 13 % for women’s dress shoes, 10 % for women’s athletic shoes, 9 % for men’s casual shoes, 6 % for men’s dress shoes,
and the rest (about 25%) is for other styles of shoes.
Ruby slippers from House of Harry Winston is the most expensive shoes: $3,000,000. That’s right—and those dazzling slippers are in a whole league of their own!
Crafted in 1989 to honor the 50th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, House of Harry Winston recreated Dorothy’s ruby slippers with 4,600 rubies totaling over 1,300 carats, and added 50 carats of diamonds for good measure.
A cool $3 million—officially making them the most expensive shoes ever made.
The most ever spent on a pair of shoes was at auction $665,000 for Judy Garland's ruby red slippers from
the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz". These slippers symbolize hope, home, and fantasy, immortalized by Garland’s journey down
the Yellow Brick Road.
There are estimated 2144 different styles of shoes. The world of shoes is incredibly diverse, with thousands of styles and variations across culture, function, fashion, and historical eras. These styles include everything
from traditional handmade designs to modern niche athletic footwear, such as Sneakers (covering running, basketball, skateboarding, and fashion variants), boots—combat, cowboy, Chelsea, hiking, Victorian lace-ups, heels,
flats, sandals, moccasins, loafers, clogs, oxfords ... and the regional and ceremonial styles around the world like Japanese geta or Indian juttis.
Men’s shoes collections often include dress shoes for formal occasions, casual shoes for everyday wear, sneakers for sports or street style, boots, sandals, and even slippers for seasonal or indoor use.
The average man owns between 8 and 15 pairs of shoes, depending on lifestyle, profession, and fashion preferences. Some sources peg the U.S. average
closer to 12 pairs, while others suggest a broader range of 7 to 20 pairs.
As of 2025 men’s average shoe size is around 10.5 while women’s average shoe size falls between 8.5 and 9. These numbers have crept up
over the decades, likely due to changes in nutrition, height, and overall body size. Globally, the ranges vary—men typically fall between US sizes 9 to 12, and women between 7 to 9.
A study shows that women typically own between 20 to 30 pairs of shoes, with some sources citing an average of 27 pairs.
Many women regularly wear just 4 to 5 pairs, while the rest wait patiently in the closet for their moment to shine.
The average American woman owns around 19 (in 2007) to 27 pairs of shoes (in 2025) in their closet, while many women own dozens of pairs,
they tend to rotate through just a handful regularly—usually 4 to 6 favorites. The rest? They’re waiting for the perfect outfit or occasion.
Around 30% of women have fallen while wearing high heels, and emergency departments in the U.S. see thousands of heel-related injuries
each year. Their Common culprits include ankle sprains and fractures, blisters and pressure sores, and chronic foot pain or postural issues from prolonged wear.
33% women's shoes are black and 4% are red. A fashion study shows that black is the most commonly owned shoe color among women, often making up a third or more of a typical collection. Red shoes, on the other hand, tend to
be more of a bold statement piece—so 4% feels plausible for a splash of color without overwhelming the closet.
American women own an average of 19 to 27 pairs of shoes, depending on the source, and most women regularly rotate through just 4 to 6 favorite pairs. About 15% of women reportedly own more than 30 pairs,
which speaks to how shoes can be both a necessity and a form of self-expression. Whether it’s heels for work, sneakers for errands, or boots for fall flair, each pair tells a story.
According to surveys, the average American woman buys around 256 to 268 pairs of shoes over her lifetime,
spending somewhere between $14,640 and $20,557 in total. The variation depends on factors like fashion habits (trendsetters vs. minimalists), income level, lifestyle needs (work, fitness, events), And the occasional impulse buy.
Interestingly, a chunk of that spending—over $4,000 in some studies—is on shoes that are rarely or never worn.
When Imelda Marcos fled the Philippines with her husband Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 amid a popular uprising, thousands of her shoes were discovered abandoned
in the presidential palace. The image of all those shoes—reportedly around 2,700 pairs—quickly became a symbol of extravagance and excess. That towering shoe collection became both famous and infamous around the world.
Brahim Takioullah, a Morocco man born 26 January 1982, has world's biggest feet; he wears a pair of European size-58 shoes, which is roughly a U.S. men’s size 24.
His shoes have to be custom-made, and just finding materials sturdy and comfortable enough is a challenge in itself. He holds the official Guinness World Record for the largest feet on a living person. He is also
the second tallest man alive at 8 feet 1 inch (2.46 meters).
Marikina city, located in the island of Luzon in the Philippines, owns the distinction of having
crafted the world’s largest pair of shoes, each measuring 5.5 meters long, 2.25 meters wide and 1.83 meters high. Marikina, often hailed as the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines,"
proudly holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pair of shoes ever made. Crafted in 2002 by local artisans, these colossal kicks were designed to showcase the city’s deep shoemaking heritage and craftsmanship. Each shoe
is around the length of a small bus and could fit a giant about 125 feet tall if such a person existed! They're made from genuine leather and rubber, just like regular shoes—only scaled up dramatically. Today, they’re displayed at
the Marikina Shoe Museum, right alongside footwear from famous Filipino personalities, including some from Imelda Marcos’ legendary collection.
Shoes were discovered in various parts of the work that date back from 3500 BC to 8000 BC. The oldest known preserved footwear is the Areni-1 shoe, found in an Armenian cave, dating back to around 3500 BC.
It's a one-piece leather shoe that looks surprisingly modern—sort of like a simple moccasin. The Areni-1 shoe, found in a cave in Armenia in 2008, is a stunning example of this. Made from a single piece of tanned cowhide and laced up
with leather cords, it dates back over 5,500 years—around 3500 BC—yet it’s shockingly familiar in form, resembling a modern moccasin.
90% of European shoe sizes don't come in multiple widths. Most European shoe brands typically offer only a standard
or “regular” width, which can be frustrating for people with narrower or wider feet. Unlike U.S. sizing, which often includes a range of widths (like B, D, E, EE, etc.), European sizing tends to focus on length and assumes
a medium width as the default.
In Europe it wasn't until the eighteenth century that women's shoes were different from men's. For centuries, European footwear was more about function over fashion, and both men and women wore remarkably
similar styles—often with heavy leather, thick soles, and modest decoration. It wasn’t until the 18th century that gender-specific shoe design began to flourish, fueled by shifts in fashion, social roles,
and cultural expectations. Women's shoes became more delicate, with narrower silhouettes, finer materials like silk or brocade, and daintier heels—which ironically had started off as a masculine symbol of
status and power. Meanwhile, men's shoes took on more utilitarian forms, reflecting practicality and restraint, especially as Enlightenment values began to influence dress codes.
In the 19th century, shoes were all about modesty and elegance, and shoes were often hidden beneath long dresses since showing feet was considered scandalous. Women wore lace-up or button-up boots—often called “glove” or
“spat” boots—that hugged the ankle and came in black, tan, or even two-toned leather. For formal occasions, satin boots or slippers adorned with beads or rhinestones were the go-to choice.
Shoes all over the world were identical until the 19th century, when left- and right-footed shoes were first made in Philadelphia. Until the 1800s, shoes were basically “straight-lasted,” meaning both shoes in a pair
were exactly the same shape. No left, no right—just one uniform mold that your feet had to conform to (ouch). It wasn’t until the early 19th century, in Philadelphia, that manufacturers began producing left- and right-specific
shoes—a small innovation that made a huge difference in comfort.
In Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries heels on shoes were always colored red. During this period, red heels were a power statement, especially among nobility and the upper classes. The bold color, often achieved with expensive
cochineal dye, signified privilege, wealth, and political influence. This trend was especially popularized by Louis XIV of France, who famously declared that only members of his court could wear red heels. It became an unmistakable
sign of royal favor—like walking around with a velvet VIP pass.
People have been designing and wearing shoes for both protection and fashion for thousands of years. During the 17th century, footwear became more expressive, ornate and fashionable. For example, high heels and decorative
buckles were all the rage among the upper class; King Louis XIV of France—just across the Channel—famously sported red heels to denote privilege, and English nobility followed suit.
Sneakers, which were originally called Keds, making them one of the earliest mass-produced rubber-soled shoes designed for comfort and quiet movement, were first made in America in 1916. The name “sneakers” came about
because their rubber soles allowed wearers to quite literally sneak around without making a sound, unlike the clack of traditional leather shoes.
Sandals originated in warm climates where the soles of the feet needed protection but the top of the foot needed to be cool. Sandals are one of the oldest types of footwear known to humanity, dating back thousands of years.
In warm climates—like ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and parts of the Americas—the challenge was protecting the soles from hot, rough ground while keeping the tops of the feet ventilated to stay cool and dry.
Boots were first worn in cold, mountainous regions and hot, sandy deserts where horse-riding communities lived. Boots have a fascinating origin story that’s deeply tied to both geography and function. In colder,
mountainous regions, they offered insulation and support for traversing rugged terrain. Meanwhile, in hot deserts, tall boots protected against sand, sunburn, and bites while also offering a sturdy grip in the stirrups
for horseback riders.
A boot, a type of footwear, mainly covers the foot and the ankle, while some also cover some part of the lower calf. Some boots extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip.
Boots which are designed for walking through snow shallow water and mud to prevent the entry of water, snow, mud or dirt through gaps between the laces and tongue found in other types of shoes.
