Women are prone to wanting small feet or for their feet to appear small. This could be attributed to the glass slipper influence of Cinderella (a size 4.5) and fixation with princesses as they all tend to be illustrated or explained as representative of femininity. What’s truly happened in what is considered the “western” civilization (North America and Europe) is that the foot size is increasing and has been steadily since the early 1900s. There is plenty of applied science to justify that statement; increase in nutrition and the overall improvement of living conditions have contributed to larger feet and stronger bodies in general.[1]
The style of shoes and cosmetic application has made the foot its own representation of the owner (like face and the hands) and a subject of obsession for some. Heels obviously shorten the footprint and by doing so make the feet appear smaller than they are. Without shopping, a search of popular shoe sizes (sales) suggests US Size 7 is the shoe size that sells most but it’s noted that this may not be the appropriate fit for most people.[2]
Concerns for your feet appearance? Consult the centrally located Costa Mesa, California office of Dr. Kleis, DPM. He has over 25 years of foot specialty treatments featuring the best in non-invasive procedures and treatments. Call for an appointment (714) 760-4944.
The current average size of a woman’s foot is between 8 ½ and 9, which is an increase of a full size since the 1970s. The manufacturing rules or standards have not changed and in the US we abandoned transitioning to the metric system. At the beginning of the 20th century, feet were smaller and the Cinderella size 4.5 would have been almost normal for most women. It’s difficulty to definitively say why almost all women wish they had smaller feet. Feet sizes are not directly related ethnicity or height, but they can be altered by weight or activity demands.
Celebrity Feet Facts
The success of leading ladies and performers should be enough to keep them content with their traits and appearance. Here are some surprising statistics:
Actress Kate Winslet (Titanic) is 5’7” and she wears a size 11 shoe. Apparently, her co-star in “Titanic” Leonardo DiCaprio referred to her feet as “canoes” as they were in fact the same size as his. It is an inherited trait, as her mother wears a size 13 shoe.
Actress Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) is 5’5” and wears a size 10 ½ shoe. While growing up, she had difficulty finding shoes because India had a scarce market for the larger women’s shoe sizes. Actress Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) 5’7” wore the same size and usually always appeared as if she were diminutive and petite – most of her leading men were tall.
Whoopi Goldberg (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Winner) is 5’5” and wears a size 11 shoe and is dedicated to wearing flats.
Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, Australia) is 5’ 11 and an inch taller than husband Keith Urban. She also wears a size 11 shoe to his size 10.
Retired model Tyra Banks (TV Host) is 5’10” and wore an 11 ½ shoe, but she has since opted for size 12 for more comfort. Actress Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise) began as a 6’ even model and wears an 11 ½ shoe.
Missy Franklin (5X Olympic Gold Medalist) is 6’2” and wears a 13 shoe.
It’s relatively safe to assume that none of these people dwell on the size of their feet. They all seem to find the appropriate shoes for their appearances.
Intentional Foot Disfiguring
In Asia as a whole, the small foot was considered favorable. China is the most notorious for using the “binding” practice to confine the natural growth of the feet to achieve a tiny standard that lasted almost 1000 years. The small (mutilated) foot was a status symbol for families and in its later form increased the value of the dowry that could be expected. This practice forced the unnatural shaping of the toes to a point pulled so that the heel and point were the two balance points. Special shoes cradled the mis-shaped feet and provided the ability to walk and balance. The practice was crippling, but it remained in practice until the early 1900s.
Pictured is the result of the foot binding practice.
[1] TIME magazine, Health “Size 8 Is the New 7: Why Our Feet Are Getting Bigger” By Sorcha Pollak Oct. 16, 2012
[2] Google search “Ladies Shoe Size”, “People also ask: What women’s shoe size sells the most?”
By unknown; Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection. - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress & #039;s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph. 3c04036.
Dr. Kleis, DPM, uses state-of-the-art processes and treatments for correcting problems with the feet. Resizing is an impossibility unless it’s to reduce swelling, but thoughtful advisement, care for the working parts, and the beautiful appearance of your feet is always possible. Make an appointment (714) 760-4944 at the centrally located Orange County office (South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa).
How About Those Shoe Styles?
As mentioned, for some reason, the most popular shoe size according to purchase is size 7. The sole size smaller might pass for a sandal or flip-flop style open shoe, but for the instep, balls of the feet and toes you need to size for foot comfort. Squeezing the foot into a shoe that is too small (even if it’s just to be worn with one outfit) is not worth the abrasive pain. Working or wearing ill-fitting shoes daily will result in callouses, blisters, corns, step problems, heel problems. While you are not performing external transformation of your feet like the ancient Chinese practice of binding, you are essentially crippling yourself and altering your ability fit into shoes that do fit correctly.
In a survey of over 1000 women, the average woman owns 19 pairs of shoes[1] and it was confessed that the average woman purchases 4 pairs of new shoes per year. Some individuals can look at shoe style in a window display and know that it will work for them, either by experience with the brand or the style as they’ve experienced. For those lucky people, shopping on-line is an option. For the fickle or possible size-changed buyer, the following list is a reminder of what you need to do when you are on a mission:
- Take socks or sole inserts or foot pads that you use with you
- Put both shoes on and walk, adjust straps or ties as necessary and they may differ on each side, repeat
- Expose the portion of the leg that will most likely be visible if you word those shoes
- Don’t judge solely by looking down at your feet, look at them in a mirror
- Sit down, stand up, and extend your leg as if you are driving a car (heel to the floor), or slide and lightly shift your weight as if dancing, repeat
- Sincerely ask yourself if the public at large notices your feet or shoe size
It is in our nature to want to match colors or differentiate between seasonal footwear and make decisions purely based on current style or taste. When challenged by cute over comfort and you have a budget, remember that comfort needs to win.
Beautiful Feet Courtesy of Dr. Kleis
There are two types of irritation or pain that can distract a person to the point of misery. One is a problem with teeth or mouth pain (see your Dentist). The second is pain or discomfort in one’s feet (see Dr. Kleis).
Considering a make-over for an upcoming occasion or event? Why not start from the ground and work your way up? Any nagging condition will affect your decision making in preparation for a reunion or party. Or it may reduce your patience so that you make rash and fast decisions without thinking the process through. Comfortable feet, free of pain and looking their best, ground you in a better attitude about yourself. You are on your feet every day or sensing them even while you are sitting. In the world of foot-care, Dr. Kleis commits to helping you improve your base.
Check the website at www.drkleis.com to read about conditions and processes that the staff uses for improving the toes, feet, and conditions that are affecting them. You can make an appointment through the website or call (714) 760-4944. The practice offers the best in current non-invasive therapies to contain and cure conditions of your body’s main source of locomotion. And considering the feet are the body’s main propulsion, in respect to any body they are in fact very small.
[1] ShopSmart magazine and Reuters, January 8, 2021