Fitting for Irregular Sizes


Problem definition

Throughout the history, shoe sizes are developed according to the standard distribution of human proportions. In this respect, a person having a certain feet length is assumed to have a certain feet width related with that. This has been calculated according to the statistics. However, it is surprising to know that only 60% of the human population fits into this statistical matching! In reality most of us have mismatching length and width sizes (according to what is called standard), and in fact for some people this difference can be quite emphasized.

For the street shoes, irregularities are better tolerated. However in dance shoes, an unfitting shoe can be a burden. If our feet are much narrower than the standard, our shoes will not hold our feet from the sides resulting in a sliding action inside the shoe. Besides mis-balance, this creates an invitation to corns! Many women, if wearing an open-toe(luckier than men), in a desperate fitting attempt seek for shoes shorter than their size so that the shoe holds better from the lateral. However, this attempt ends up with toes sticking out in front of the shoe. Conversely, if our feet are much thicker than the standard, in a desperate fitting attempt we may end up buying much longer shoes than required. This means a big gap in front of our toes, giving awkward feeling to the dance, not to mention the visual drawbacks. Also in both cases when high heels are worn, foot arch is then wrongly placed on the shoe base, causing foot-ache.

Solution

Now in Binicideri shoes, better fitting can be achieved by the variations on the sizes. Besides normal sizes, we have developed 4 extra fits: wide(W), narrow(N), extra-wide(XW) and extra-narrow(XN). These employ 1.5 size (in Central European Measures) variations in width. Wide and Narrow fits differs 1.5 size in its width from the regular fit while maintaining the length to the standard measures. Extra wide and extra narrow fits, on the other hand, varies 3 sizes from the regular. For example a shoe size 37N means, a shoe with length of size 37 and width of size 35.5; whereas 37XN means same length with a width of size 34. In a similar example for a wide fit, 37W has the same length as standard size 37, but a thickness of size 38.5; meanwhile 37XW has the width of size 40.

Tables

Table 1: Women's irregular shoe sizes vs measures
Shoe Size
 L - Length
    (cm)		 T - Thickness
    (cm)
Size Variation
34 34XN
*
*
34N
*
*
34
*
*
34W
*
*
34XW
22.75
22.25
35 35XN
23.25
19.50
35N
23.25
20.50
35
23.25
21.25
35W
23.25
22
35XW
23.25
22.75
36 36XN
24
20.25
36N
24
21
36
24
21.75
36W
24
22.50
36XW
24
23.25
37 37XN
24.75
20.75
37N
24.75
21.50
37
24.75
22.25
37W
24.75
23
37XW
24.75
24
38 38XN
25.25
21.25
38N
25.25
22
38
25.25
23
38W
25.25
23.75
38XW
25.25
24.5
39 39XN
26
21.75
39N
26
22.50
39
26
23.5
39W
26
24.25
39XW
26
25
40 40XN
26.75
22.25
40N
26.75
23.25
40
26.75
24.25
40W
26.75
25
40XW
*
*
41 41XN
27.25
23
41N
27.25
23.75
41
27.25
24.75
41W
27.25
25.50
41XW
*
*

Table 2: Men's irregular shoe sizes vs measures
Shoe Size
 L - Length
    (cm)		 T - Thickness
    (cm)
Size Variation
38 38N
*
*
38
25.50
22.50
38W
25.50
23.25
38XW
25.50
24
39 39N
*
*
39
26
23
39W
26
23.75
39XW
26
24.5
40 40N
*
*
40
26.50
23.50
40W
26.50
24.25
40XW
26.50
25
41 41N
*
*
41
27.25
24
41W
27.25
24.75
41XW
27.25
25.75
42 42N
*
*
42
28
24.50
42W
28
25.25
42XW
28
26.25
43 43N
*
*
43
28.75
25
43W
28.75
26
43XW
28.75
27
44 44N
*
*
44
29.25
25.75
44W
29.25
26.50
44XW
29.25
27.50
45 45N
*
*
45
30
26.25
45W
30
27.25
45XW
30
28
46 46N
*
*
46
30.75
27
46W
30.75
28
46XW
30.5
28.75
(*) Not yet implemented.
XN: Extra Narrow
N : Narrow
W : Wide
XW: Extra Wide