I’m a freak. And I’m not talking about on the dance floor. Well except for Middle School. But nobody counts Middle School, right? No, I am a biological freak. Specifically, my left foot is a size 8.5 and my right is a 7.5. That’s right – a whole size different. It’s a miracle I can walk without toppling over (somebody start the telethon!).
I’m not alone in this. 60% of the population have mismatched tootsies with 80% of those people having a left appendage of unnatural length. So I’m going to assume that a lot of you are beautiful little freaks as well (and you know I mean that with love).
You would think that a little extra toe-age wouldn’t be a problem – it’s actually a bonus when I play the legless piano or shoot hoops with my feet – until you go shoe shopping. Just like every other girl, I’m willing to endure a certain amount of pain for cute shoes. But those cute shoes only have to last an evening (less if the restaurant has long tableclothes so I can kick them off under the table). Athletic shoes are an entirely different matter. A small pain when you put them on can sideline you by the end of your workout.
In the past, I have compromised by buying the mathematical average: a size 8. This leaves my left foot a titch scrunched and my right foot a smidge unsupported but overall it’s liveable. I was okay with this.
Until this weekend. I took my son to the Mall of America for his 4th birthday – they have a whole amusement park in there! – and, being 4, he had to go potty righthisveryminute. We were in front of a shoe “wearhouse” so that’s where we ducked in. The bathrooms were located twenty miles to the back of the store, which I sprinted carrying a 50-lb child (yes, he’s big for his age), behind all the clearance racks. So while child number 2 took a leisurely number 2 – twenty minutes, people* – child number 1 and I tried on shoes.
It was then I had my epiphany. I found a whole shelf of clearanced athletic shoes so while child 1 experimented with blue, jeweled stilettos, (“I can’t run fast in these, mommy” “Exactly right son, it’s just one way society hobbles women.”) I tried on mismatched shoes. And it was niiiiiice. My feet didn’t even know what to think of their new found joy. They did cheerleader jumps all of their own accord. They tap danced and I don’t even know how to tap. It was amazing.
Now before you get your e-mail all fired up, I know that there are places one can buy mismatched shoes – like the really upscale running stores. But I am nothing if not cheap (a fact that endeared me to many a college boyfriend). So cheap, in fact, that I wouldn’t even buy two pairs of clearanced shoes to keep my feet jumping for joy. Well, that and they were New Balance. I hate New Balance.
But now that I’ve seen what life could be, well, I just can’t stop thinking about foot bliss. What’s a freak to do? Are you a biological freak of nature in some way too? One nostril twice as big as the other? A wingspan that is downright avian? A mole the exact shape of Chile?
*No, he didn’t fall in the toilet. He was enraptured with the urinals. I finally had to send a store employee in after him. He thought the grimy “waterfalls” were better than the Diego Bus Ride that I paid $2.17 for him to ride. Kids.
I have the same problem, but not as big a difference between feet. My left foot is about a 1/2 size larger. So I end up buying shoes that are most comfortable on my left foot. It would be a pretty cool idea if you could buy all shoes in whichever mismatched size you wanted.
To add to the freakyness: My right leg is also 1/2 inch shorter. I'm lopsided.
Of course I'm a foot freak too, though in a different way. My feet are pretty close in size–both measure somewhere between and 8 and and 8.5.
Thing is, I wear a 10.
My toes curl up funny and feel "pinched" if I don't wear shoes with a huge amount of toe room. My feet can sense the end of the shoe lurking if it gets anywhere near them. I've been sternly lectured by many a shoe salesman saying I should wear a smaller size, but I swear I'm most comfortable in a shoe that's almost 2 sizes too big.
I have a *slight* difference in foot size but what's supper annoying is how said foot size changes SO quickly with every 5lbs I gain/lose. I'm back to a 7 at the moment but it can fluctate between a 6.5 and 7.5 depending on what time of the month it is.
I'm with Tracey though – I have a 1/2 inch difference in my leg length which I barely notice but which freaks physios and doctors out sometimes.
And Crabby, I used to work in shoes and you're doing yourself a disservice by wearing such big shoes.
omg so that picture freaked me the eff out! hahaha
i don't think i have a noticeable foot discrepancy but my feet are freaking HUGE. like 11W. a popular size you know. and trust me a size 10 actually leaves makes on my feet, same if it's a regular width. so whenever i find a shoe that fits i buy like 10 pair haha
I'm not sure I've commented before but I always enjoy your witty and sarcastic posts so much! I'm not even sure why I haven't commented because this is one of my fave blogs. Anywayssss, back to this post- great as usual except for that picture!! Wow, I couldn't stop looking at it because I find it SO creepy. No majorly mismatched feet over here, I just buy the wrong size sometimes to save money.
I had a suspician one foot was larger than the other. Then terrifyingly (is that a word?) a reader pointed that fact out to me as I had posted a photo of my sneakers on the blog-doh! Don't look so closely people!! 🙂
what did you do? Buy some sneaks?
There should be a website to pair you mismatched foot people! There has to be SOMEONE else in the US who has the same size shoe issue, but switched feet, and who also loves the same type of shoes as you.
I'm actually pretty symmetrical. I mean, my right foot is marginally larger, but not enough to even justify an insert- and it usually only bothers me when I fly and my feet get all swollen.
One of my eyes is smaller than the other- it's not always obvious, but my passport picture was freaky. My little brother has the same thing, so I'm blaming my parents (I mean, it must be one of them, right?).
And kids are fascinated by the weirdest things- when I was little I LOVED to collect those keys that fall off maple trees. And when my dad built my treehouse when I was 5, I made my mom give me ziplock baggies and I collected ALL of the sawdust I could. It's not like I had a shortage of toys either, I had tons of barbies, books, dolls, etc. I just loved to collect weird things. Hmm..maybe I was just weird.
Im cracking up (skim todays post and youll see why) and yet do need to surrender that I have EASY feet to fit.
simply.
no special needs.
Now lets talk about PANTS. JEANS.
dont git me started…
My feet are the same size, thank-goodness.
My asymmetry is in my bra. I have to get the right side nice and snug so it doesn't flop around, but then my poor left booby is all mashed up and has wrinkle lines on it when I disrobe.
I recently got a pair of shoes on-line. The site said they run 1/2 size small. So I ordered a 1/2 larger size, but they were still a little tight. I called customer service and they said, "Oh my feet are different sizes, don't worry, they will stretch!" That guy must subscribe to the shoe sellers motto of,"Any shoe can fit any foot!"
I am not going to complain. But my weirdness is that I have a short upper body and long legs. I can't wear regular jeans because they all end at my ankles. So I have been forced (against my oh so cheap nature) to buy the specialty store extra longs.
my legs are mismatched as well. I have to use a lift in my left shoe if I want to run without hip pain.
I remember learning in elementary school that whatever foot is larger has to do with whether you're left handed or right handed.
I was going to say there ought to be a website too- and guess what- there is!
http://www.oddshoefinder.com/faq
My feet are pretty much the same size, but they are long and narrow. A friend of mine says that this is the reason I am so klutzy; my feet are too narrow to support my height. If I were 3 inches shorter or had wider feet, I wouldn't fall so much.
This doesn't help you at all, however. And I really don't have any advice, except maybe to talk to someone at a specialty store (like REI).
Sorry.
If 60% of people have mismatched feet, doesn't that make those of us with the same sized feet the freaks?
i also have one leg that is shorter….a whole 1 1/2-2 inches shorter…but my docs have never been amazed! It isn't noticable unless I am tired…and then I limp…but i dont' notice it…everyone just asks if I am hurt:) Recently I had some custom insoles made and didn't realize how good it would feel to be even! But they have squished down….so I am now going to break down and see a podiatrist. And i have heard that knee and back pain can be caused by your feet….
Mary Kate
My toes look just like weebles.
Weebles wabble etc.
I'm lucky if any shoes fit. I have a wide (ass) foot.
But the weebles like to be covered. They are my secret weapon.
ummmm WTF? butter…
I wore a size 8 shoe when I was 8 years old. As an adult, I'm an 11 and can only buy shoes in a few stores because no one stocks my size (Nordstrom being the *only* place for non-fitness). I also remember being 6 years old and learning my body wasn't "normal" enough for jeans — in order to fit my cute little bottom, the waist was 2-3 inches too big. It's no wonder I developed eating disorders. Thankfully, over the years, I've learned to be grateful for a body that is healthy and moves. And not worry so much about whether or not I'm "normal". Love those feet, Charlotte!!! 🙂
OK, that pic.. OMG, I laughed out loud!!!!!! Too funny!
My feet are a tiny bit different but not to your extent. My big prob, very narrow at the heels & wider than a flat earth at the forefoot & bunions too. I have a heard time getting a shoe that fits both. Right now, I did find a pair of NB that are working.. for now!
I am indeed a freak! But in a different way; FOOT size is not an issue: instead, my left leg is 3/4 of an inch longer than my right leg. I have to always take my shoes to the shoemaker, and he adds on a build-up of 3/4" on the bottom of my right shoe. But it's a pain, because the sole has to be a very specific type for the shoemaker to be able to put a build-up on the bottom… so I don't get very many cute shoes, unless I want to hurt my hips!
I like that we're all freaks in our own way 😀
I can endure some cute shoe pain, but honestly, less than most women. I'd probably have to go for at least 2-3 *staple* shoes the you double buy, so I'd be comfortable MOST of the time. And I'd live in sandals when at all possible (ok, so I do that already, shoes are so… confining…) Especially running/workout shoes. If my tootsies are unhappy, I'm unhappy.
One foot is probably SLIGHTLY bigger than the other, but I don't notice it. However, I have a backwards neck. Most people's spinal curvature is more like a slight C, mine curves the opposite way. It doesn't cause me pain but it certainly looks freaky in x-rays!
I've never noticed a difference in my foot size. If there is one, it's too slight to cause any discomfort.
However! My right eye opens just slightly more than my left eye. Its mostly noticeable if I wear eyeliner, so I have to layer it up on the left eye to make them appear even.
Charlotte, are you saying you walk around with a shoe on one foot that doesn't fit? Why do you do that to yourself? As a hard to fit shoe shopper, if I could afford custom shoes, I'd buy them. Please let your feet be happy.
Now for my freakiness…my second toe on my right foot is bigger than the second toe on my left. My toes on my left foot are stair steps but my second toe on my right is actually longer than my big toe. I also can only wink with my left eye. My right eye cannot wink or close without the left eye closing too.
Thanks for the post Charlotte.
And I am happy to say we can help with mismatched sizes without buying multiple pairs.
We can also help with extra large and smaller sizes.
We make shoes to order at a reasonable price and world class styles.
For those with other unique issues we can connect you with local providers to help you get shoes that will help you keep your feet healthy and happy.
Check out our site http://www.thegoodshoecompany.com
Just send us a note with your order and let us know that you need two different sizes.
Let me know if you have any questions. http://www.twitter.com/thegoodshoe
Fathers were asked that question, too, and 64 percent gave themselves high marks.
All mismatched feet walk your fingers over to http://www.oddshoefinderom.com it beats buying two pairs different size, also plenty of name brand if you’ve looking.