Choosing The Right Size Shoe

Where you have previously had shoes of a certain type and style and merely want a larger size of the same shoe you should be able to order with confidence. If however this is not the case, please feel free to contact us for advice.

Tracing Your Foot

If in doubt we recommend that you trace and send a fax image of one or both feet.

Do this wearing socks and stand on blank A4 paper on a firm surface. Keep the pen vertical and trace around the whole foot.

Fax machines distort images so it is important that you also measure the extreme length of your foot in centimetres and write this on the drawing. 

UK Children's shoe chart (up to size 13)

Continental	UK	Foot Length (cm)
25	7½	14.8
26	8½	15.6
27	9½	16.4
28	10	16.8
29	10½	16.8
30	11½	18.0
31	12½	18.8
32	13	19.2

UK Adult shoe chart

Continental	UK	Foot Length (cm)
33	1	20.0
34	1½	20.4
35	2½	21.2
36	3½	22.1
37	4	22.6
38	5	23.4
39	5½	23.8
40	6½	24.7
41	7½	25.5
42	8	26.0
43	8½	26.4
44	9½	27.3
45	10½	28.1
46	11½	29.0
47	12	29.4

US system sizing is normally one and a half to two sizes larger than the UK equivalent, e.g. size 4.5 US equals size 2.5 to 3 UK. This may vary slightly between children's, ladies and gents sizes.

Continental sizing can be converted to UK sizing by using the chart (above). Please note that some UK sizes do not have an exact equivalent in the Continental system.

Pumps

Each make and model of pump has different fitting characteristics.

As a general rule a half to one full size less than the dancer's normal shoe size will be the correct choice so that the shoe's natural stretch will ensure a snug fit and avoid any 'bagging' or gaps around the toes. This applies especially to older and more advanced dancers some of whom like an even tighter initial fitting. Youngsters may be allowed a little more comfort.

Heavy Shoes

Fitting for heavy shoes generally equates to the dancer's ordinary shoe size. However there are some slight variations between different manufacturers and styles. Pacelli heavy shoes have a generous fit but approximate to the dancer's normal shoe size.

Boys Reel Shoes

Pacelli Traditional Boys Reel shoes have the same sizing as their Jig Shoes. With regard to the Capezio Split Sole Boys Reel shoe, these are supplied in US sizing but the dancer should allow two sizes smaller than this to achieve a good fit e.g. size 9 US would be correct for a dancer who is a size 7 under the UK system.

Dance Trainers

There is extensive variation in sizing between many of the styles made by the various manufacturers of Dance Trainers. Trainers are commonly supplied in US sizing but often these sizes do not equate to the standard UK equivalent.