How to Buy Shoes as a Gift Without Getting It Wrong

Buying shoes as a gift is genuinely risky — sizing is personal, fit varies between brands, and footwear is hard to get right for someone else's feet. Here's how to give footwear that actually gets worn.

The honest advice first

If you don't know the person's size and something about their feet, buying a specific pair of shoes is a gamble. Feet vary in width, instep and shape, and sizes differ between brands. That doesn't mean don't buy footwear — it means choose the categories that are forgiving.

The forgiving choices

• Slippers. The safest footwear gift by a distance — wool and felt are soft, forgiving of width, and a size out either way still works. Our wool felt slippers are a genuinely reliable gift.
• Bags. No sizing at all. A well-made leather bag avoids the problem entirely and lasts for years.
• Care kits and accessories. Conditioner, brushes, wool socks — useful, no fit risk, and genuinely appreciated by anyone who owns good leather.
• Kids' shoes — with a caveat: check the current size with the parent, since children's feet change fast.

If you're buying actual shoes

Find out their usual size and ideally the length of their foot in centimetres — the measuring method is in our sizing guide. Ask whether they have wide feet or a high instep, which rules out narrow styles.

Then check the returns policy before ordering, and keep the receipt accessible. A gift that can be exchanged is far better than a perfect guess.

Choose forgiving styles

Laced boots adjust to a range of foot shapes; Chelsea boots and slip-ons don't, because there's no way to alter the tension. If in doubt, laced is the safer gift — our guide to boot styles explains the differences.

Give something that lasts

The nicest thing about handmade footwear as a gift is that it's still being worn years later. That's worth more than novelty — the argument in our piece on slow fashion. Pair the gift with a note about care, or include a conditioner, so it actually reaches its potential.

Frequently asked questions

What footwear is safest to give as a gift? Slippers, bags and care accessories — they avoid the sizing problem entirely. Wool felt slippers are forgiving of width and a size either way.

How do I find out someone's shoe size discreetly? Check a pair they already own, or ask a family member. Foot length in centimetres is more reliable than a size number.

Should I buy a bigger size to be safe? No — shoes that are too large cause blisters and heel slip. Check the returns policy instead.

Gifts that get worn

Browse our wool felt slippers, leather bags and handmade shoes, made in Estonia.