Do Italian Shoes Run Big or Small?

You're getting ready to purchase your first pair of Italian shoes - great choice. The classic look and quality materials used in Italian footwear is why it's so highly regarded by many. But, there is an important question at hand before you pull the trigger...do Italian shoes run big or small?

The last thing you want to do is get the sizing wrong and end up disappointed in how your new shoes fit. Dealing with returns or exchanges is a hassle nobody wants to deal with. Fortunately, you can take a deep breath and enjoy peace of mind - we're going to cover everything you need to know about how Italian shoes are typically sized.

Now, with all that said, we want to let you in on a little secret before going any further. Here at Del Toro Shoes, we've taken a different approach to sizing our Italian footwear.

You can find size charts on each product's page, but our shoes feature standard American sizing. This keeps things simple so you don't have to stress or play the guessing game when shopping. With that said, we are still going to help you determine whether typical Italian footwear runs big or small. Let's take a look.

Do Italian Shoes Run Big or Small?

So, do Italian shoes run big or small? Or, do they fall somewhere in the middle? Keep in mind - this answer is not one-size-fits-all. However, Italian shoes do tend to run small, but the degree of difference varies. In general, you can expect Italian shoes to be about a size smaller than their American counterparts. This means if you typically wear a size US 11 shoe, you would likely need to purchase an Italian size 45.

However, it's important to keep in mind that there is no industry-wide sizing standard for Italian shoes. So, while one brand might be true to size, another might run slightly larger or smaller. That's why finding a brand-specific size chart is so important when shopping online.

After all, you aren't exactly able to try on your shoes before buying like you would in an in-person boutique. And if you're unsure of whether or not the specific brand runs bigger or smaller than you're American size, you can always reach out and ask! And, worst case scenario, we’ll help make it right. We offer free 30-day returns/exchanges.

Del Toro Italian Shoes Typically Run True to Size

Now, in saying that Italian shoes run smaller than their US counterparts, we do want to reiterate that we've broken the European sizing mold here at Del Toro Shoes. While we love everything about traditional Italian footwear - the materials, the canvas, the craftsmanship - we wanted to make things easier for our customers.

So, we won't make you play the guessing game about how your new shoes are going to fit. You can just stick with your traditional size. You should always make your decision based on the information provided on the product page - as we do recommend sizing down in some instances. For example, going a half size down from your most common sneaker size is typically the recommendation on our Italian loafers.

When you shop with us, you'll find Italian shoes handmade to perfection. With stunning styles that catch eyes and turn heads, you can trust that your new favorite pair is here waiting for you.

Take a look at our Italian loafers men's collection or our velvet slippers men's collection if you're not sure where to start - these are two of our most popular offerings. Or, if you're interested in women's styles, explore our Italian loafers women's collection or our Italian sneakers women's collection! For more inspiration, we've written a year-end review of the best Italian shoes at Del Toro.

Additional Advice When Shopping for Italian Shoes

Our complete guide on Italian shoe sizing will help you understand all that you need to know about picking the right size - no matter where you're shopping.

With all this said, we want to provide you with additional advice when shopping for Italian shoes to ensure you get a pair you love. Here are a few extra tips to help you shop in confidence:

• Pay attention to the width of your feet as well as the length. Italian shoes tend to be narrower than their American counterparts, so if you have wide feet, you might need to size up.
• If you're in between sizes, always err on the side of going down rather than up. Our loafers tend to stretch a bit over time.
• Factor in socks. Depending on how you style loafers or how you wear smoking slippers, you may go sockless. But if you're going to be wearing socks with your shoes, make sure to take that into consideration when picking a size. Otherwise, you might find yourself with a pair of shoes that's too small.
• Be sure you're shopping somewhere that has a hassle-free exchange process. While our guide should help you find the perfect size, you don't have to be out a few hundred dollars if you don't get the right size. Make sure you're able to return the shoes for a larger or smaller size if necessary. At Del Toro, you'll never have to stress over exchanges. We make them easy.
• When in doubt, reach out! The customer service team at Del Toro Shoes is more than happy to help with any questions or concerns you may have about sizing - before or after purchase. We want you to love your new shoes, and we'll do everything we can to make that happen.

Do Italian Shoes Run Big or Small? Wrapping Things Up

We hope this article has helped to answer the question - do Italian shoes run big or small? In summary, Italian shoes - and European shoes, in general - run smaller than their American counterparts. But, this guessing game does create some issues for online shoppers.

That's why we've decided to do something about the problem, and have created a unique sizing solution for our Italian shoes. When you shop with us, you can enjoy peace of mind and confidence knowing that finding your perfect pair is easier than ever.

Do you have a question about Italian shoe sizing that we didn't answer in this blog post? Just reach out to our support team and we'll be happy to help out! And if you're interested in learning more about how Italian shoes fit, be sure to check out our complete guide on the topic. Thanks for reading!