ALICE Shoe. MTO

I make shoes and boots in sizes UK 3 to UK 8 (no half sizes). Footwear is made to a standard D width fitting, but many of the styles have been especially designed to be adaptable for various width fittings adjusting from narrow to wide.

How to measure

You will need a metric tape, a sheet of paper, pencil and a wall. Use the diagram below to take your length measurement (both feet), then compare to size chart below to find the perfect fit. Allow a little wiggle room based on your own personal preference. If you buy larger sizes in high street shoes to get extra comfort on the width you may need 2 sizes down in fairysteps. Message me if you are unsure.

NOTE: Fairysteps shoes are generous. Customers always 'size down' in our shoes, so as a general rule, order one size down from your usual commercial shoe size, eg: usual size = EU 39 / UK 6, order size = EU 38 / UK 5. Half sizes should go down to the next full size below.

Place a sheet of paper and your heel against a straight wall. With pencil held upright, mark the longest toe. Do this with both feet as they are often different lengths. Use the longest measurement as a guide. If you are ordering boots it is advisable to wear your socks when measuring, for shoes, feet should be barefoot.

Interior finished size of BOOTS, SHOES & CLOSED TOE SANDALS:

UK 3 - Length: 23.8 cm  
UK 4 - Length: 24.7 cm  
UK 5 - Length: 25.6 cm 
UK 6 - Length: 26.5 cm 
UK 7 - Length: 27.4 cm 
UK 8 - Length: 28.3 cm

Interior finished size of OPEN TOE SANDALS, foot bed from heel cup to front edge (measured at the centre line):

UK 3 - Length: 24.4 cm
UK 4 - Length: 25.3 cm
UK 5 - Length: 26.2 cm
UK 6 - Length: 27.1 cm
UK 7 - Length: 28 cm
UK 8 - Length: 28.9 cm

Sandals such as 'Flittle' are open at the toe, so the exposed foot bed is longer. As such, you may have to size down further to avoid too much room being left beyond your toes. See individual listings for specific sizing information.

Example; my foot length measurement is 25.5 cm and I am a high street shoe size of UK 7. I select size UK 6 for boots & shoes, but I choose a UK 5 in open toe sandals & slip on's.

 

Overseas Sizing Conversion Table & Order notes for International customers

UK 3 / US 5 / EU 35.5
UK 4 / US 6 / EU 37
UK 5 / US 7 / EU 38
UK 6 / US 8 / EU 39
UK 7 / US 9 / EU 40.5
UK 8 / US 10 / EU 42

Conversions are approximate, don't forget you will need to measure up before ordering to check your actual foot measurement on the chart. An International customer who wears a US size 8 would convert to a UK 6, but will need to select UK 5 when ordering, thus following the 'down one size' rule.

Please note: Customers are responsible for taking accurate measurements following the detailed instructions given. I can only give sizing advice with the information you provide, and even then, on occasion you may have to pay to return footwear for a refund. Feet are fickle things and sometimes only actually trying on footwear can tell you if the fit feels right for you. 

I do not offer exchanges, instead please return your initial order which I will then refund (less the initial postage), and then reorder suitable replacements should you wish to.

Allow up to 10 weeks making time for custom items. A dispatch email will be sent as soon as they are in the post.

UK postage rates
One pair of shoes £10.00
Two pairs shoes / boots £12.00

INTERNATIONAL postage rates
One pair of shoes £25.00
Short boots £30
Mid boots £40.00 
Two pairs of shoes £50.00 
Postage is based on cart total.

Delivery information
All custom made footwear orders are sent via Royal Mail insured & signed for post.

Delivery times can vary depending on the destination country but it can take a while. Please allow up to 21 days for your parcel to be delivered. International customers are responsible for any customs charges that may be incurred. I am afraid that custom charges are beyond my control and I am unable to offer quotes of what they might be. Please do check the customs rules within your country before ordering. 

Returning goods - PLEASE READ!
I accept returned products within 14 days of date of delivery. Custom footwear can be returned as per conditions below. To log a return please contact me with your name and the date of order. Return to: Ren Cuming, Fairysteps, Northridge Farm, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 8QB, England. 

Items must be returned unworn / unused and in the new condition in which they were received, in their original packaging. Always try shoes on a clean carpeted surface to assess fit.

Your shoes will be handmade especially for you by Ren, an artisan Shoemaker working from her woodland workshop in the heart of rural Devonshire, England. Ren has been crafting unique shoes for her eclectic customers for over 2 decades, adding a little magic worldwide, one pair at a time.

Prices vary depending on the leather costs to myself as well as other factors, such as lining, etc with the tannery name / origin (if known) stated on the product description.

 

Adhesives & Threads

The adhesives I use are the lowest in nasty chemicals (toluene and MEK free) I could find whilst still being highly effective. Stitching threads are British made, superior quality, rot proof and abrasive resistant. My old sewing machines are terribly fussy, they only like to sew with the best.

 

After care

Always make sure that your shoes are kept well polished to avoid unnecessary wear. Any good polish will do, my preference being old fashioned dubbin (very sticky to apply), just use a small amount and rub in well. Dubbin is the most marvellous leather treatment balm made from almond oil, bees wax and other natural products. Any polish made from natural ingredients is a winner. I also recommend Renapur which smells almost edible. You can buy this on Amazon here.

Polishing your shoes will darken the finish on all leathers apart from the satin finish ones. The *antiqued finish leathers will lighten with wear as the waxes and oils in the leather are displaced. It's a useful indicator that a jolly good polish is needed to replenish both the colour and the finish. If there is any fading then you can use a tinted shoe cream available in shoe shops or online.

Veg tanned leathers develop their own unique patina over time, the colours darken and become rich and burnished. Polish them each month, make it a date ♥ and love them, they will be with you for a very long time.

Fairysteps are all season shoes. Mine have gone boulder hopping at the seaside and the Moors, as well as running and rambling. As with all leather shoes you should avoid wearing in excessively wet conditions as it may cause stretching. I clean off the mud, pop them somewhere lukewarm (not on a radiator), and when dry I give them a polish. The ribbons even get a wash in the sink with warm water and hand soap. My shoes are then ready for the next adventure.

 

Barefoot comfort soling

I believe that your shoes should feel just like slippers, all day, every day, and our shoes do just that. With all leather interiors your new shoes will naturally give with wear, gradually moulding to your feet and offering glove like comfort.
We use Vibram, a very durable, highly flexible, lightweight, cushioned, non slip soling. The Zero Drop option used for all shoe styles has no heel, just like Mother nature intended, with the soling offering a good level of bounciness and protection. The Chunky Wedge, available for some shoes and all boots in a round toe shape only, is equally as flexible adapting to your foot to create its own cloud like comfort. When the time comes your shoes can be resoled by your local cobbler thus extending the life of your beloveds and avoiding landfill sites. Win win.

Why barefoot comfort & not just barefoot?

The footbed on Fairysteps shoes is generous with zero drop soling which is supremely comfy, so I call them barefoot comfort, but they arent going to be like some other 100% barefoot shoes with the incredibly wide toe box. Personally I'm not keen on the shape of 'barefoot' shoes so I've designed mine to be a compromise, all the comfort with a tad more refined appearance if that makes sense. And... absolutely no offence meant to any makers and lovers of barefoot shoes! At the end of the day its all down to personal taste.