Socks Make A Difference In Fit

Socks make a difference in fit when getting new dress shoes. You would be astonished how many guys I have sold shoes to that came in wearing athletic-weight ones, got their size, and then came back to return/exchange the shoes as they were inevitably too big. The part that always boggled me was when I asked them, ‘Are these the typical thickness you are going to wear’? They would say yes, that their dress styles were just as thick, and then lo and behold, they were not and the fit of the shoes with their actual dress socks was quite different.

That is why socks are so important when trying on dress shoes and getting the proper shoe fit. Having the one on or at least understanding the effect of not having the right one and understanding how that will change your ideal size is crucial. If you stumble across a shoe shop you didn’t plan to go to and have athletic socks on, know that this can add around ½ of a size difference. But it is always best to go planned with your actual dress socks because you would be amazed at how much different a shoe can feel even between super thin ones and slightly thicker wool dress versions.

This also goes for buying shoes you intend to wear sockless. If you do not intend to wear socks, I suggest trying the shoes in question barefoot. Naturally, I understand that sock places might not like this, so ask for a nylon hosiery which is as close as you can get. Trying on a dress sock and then going sockless will also give a different fit and feel. When you are particular about how your dress shoes fit, it is astonishing how something so trivial as sock weight can affect the outcome so always come prepared!

—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob

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