Should I size up these oxfords?
I know the laces are too open, but they're fairly comfortable on my feet. I normally wear 9 or 9.5, these are size 8. I get the feeling I should go up half a size but I'm worried about heel slipping.
15 Replies
Increase size, increase width, might be that this last isn't a good match for you.
Try on in store.
Honestly, oxfords are supposed to be sized so that the top is not open like this. I can't imagine the shoes being comfortable in this position. If they are, I would suspect the last is wrong for your feet.
That said, you know what, if you own those shoes and they're comfortable, fuck it, wear them I guess? Resale on shoes sucks even if you've only worn them once. And you generally can't return anything you wore more than like, for a minute on a carpet.
But the answer to all of these questions is trying the shoe on in the store.
A last is not just length, width, and shoe shape, but also things like volume and arch support, in other words, how much vertical space you have at all points. It could be that that shoe is a good fit for you in terms of length and width but terrible in terms of vertical space, but when you put them on and leave the top 'open' it seems fine. I can't diagnose shoe fit particularly great, not any sort of expert, so the above advice is all I can give that's actionable.
Those shoes don't fit you at all
I tried a lot of shoes on at Nordstrom and Allen Edmonds and always settled on 8 or 8.5. They told me the laces can be somewhat open as long as the fit is comfortable. I agree though that this last must have less vertical space because this size was never so tight around the tongue.
Will contact Beckett Simonon and ask for an exchange
I would expect the sales people at Nordstrom to not know their asshole from a vamp, but I'm surprised you got that advice from an AE store. What did your Brannock size read? (Do you have photos?)
I believe my bannock size was 8.5 E, which is what AE advised. But even an 8 fit me just fine there, nothing like this
I tried on these shoes on the evening though, so maybe that accounts for some difference 🤷
Either way it's obvious I need to size up
Yeah as someone whose the same foot size but a tad wider i think you gotta go up a size for sure just so you enough volume. There's always gonna be some openness to the vamp like you said, but this is prolly too much lol
It might not be size or width which is the issue. But the last of the shoe has low volume instep, and your foot has a high instep. Really recommend you go to a store to try on oxfords with different lasts.
There's always gonna be some openness to the vamp like you saidThis is incorrect. Oxfords that fit correctly will have little to no 'V' unless they are designed that way
Like these
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoCqKO4BkQH/
Yeah sorry always is the wrong word. They ideally shouldn't V. I was more just sharing my experience as a 8.5E to EE person. When your in that entry level tier of shoes it seems almost impossible to get an Oxford that will fit with little to no V and checks all the other boxes.
It's okay to end up with a few millimeters of 'V', like, 2-3 or whatever. I think maybe one of my shoes does a tiny bit, can't really remember but I get the impression it does. The rest are a straight line the whole way. Straight line is the ideal, but it's possible to go the other way, where the shoe is just too big. In-store fitment is ideal. Nay, great photo.
Really appreciate all the advice, I really wanted to get these oxfords from Beckett Simonon but they're an DTC company so no way to try them on before buying. I emailed them about an exchange which they claim is quick and easy. I expect a half size up to still be too small in the instep but I'm okay with it looking a little wonky if it's comfortable and otherwise good.
I care about having the right fit and look but for me if they feel good and look mostly right that's acceptable. I feel equipped to shop more carefully in the future
My BS oxfords fit pretty much perfectly, but it can be luck of the draw unless you know your foot dimensions well, including the finer details.