‘You’ll grow into them’. It was a phrase we all heard growing up as our parents shoved a pair of generic trainers on our feet, stuck a finger in the cavernous space between our foot and the trainer’s lining and made sure we were well aware that they had to last until next year, simultaneously praying we didn’t outgrow them in six months.
Luckily those days are behind us and we can cop pairs of trainers that fit us perfectly and won’t be on the scrap heap within a year.
When we’re reaching deep into our pockets for a new pair of Yeezy’s there’s one thing we want to make sure of: the size.
We may be able to get away with a pair of cheaper trainers in a slightly bigger size but there is no point in splashing the cash on a pair of Yeezys unless they are going to fit like they are custom made for your feet. And with different models sizing up and down differently to each other, it’s important that we know what to look for before we buy.
As with everything Kanye West puts his mind to, nothing is simple. This includes his Yeezy sizes. This ultimate guide to Yeezy models will hopefully give you some better info on what to look out for and how to find the best size for you.
Yeezy 350
The Yeezy 350 is by far and away the most worn model from the entire Yeezy collection. Take a walk anywhere in the world and you can guarantee you’ll come across someone in a pair of 350s. As the most popular silhouette there is a disproportionate amount of people who have copped the wrong sizes.
We know where the problem has stemmed from, too. Adidas have always been true to size with all their trainers. What is true to size? It’s simple – if you’re a size 12, you buy a size 12. True to size is exactly what it says on the tin: buy the size of shoe you are. It may sound obvious, but it is the baseline we need as there are a number of trainers where the size generally needs half a size bigger or smaller than the actual size in order to achieve a more comfortable fit due to their shape, size and material. One of those models is the Yeezy 350.
Yeezy Boost 350 fit small. Most specifically, half a size smaller than your usual size. So, if you’re looking to cop a pair of Yeezy 350s and you buy your exact size, your toes are going to be pushed right to the limit of the toebox. This can not only make them uncomfortable, but general wear-and-tear is going to catch up with the front end of your trainers much quicker than they should.
Having your toes crammed into the end of the shoe are going to ruin the aesthetics, too. For a start you’re going to be able to notice your toes pushing on the Primeknit upper, ruining the smooth finish that the design is supposed to achieve. It is an easy fix, however, simply opt for a half size up from what you’re used to, and all of these issues should be avoided.
Yeezy 500
Although it falls into the ‘dad shoe’, chunky aesthetic trend of everyone’s favourite BBQ master, there’s no reason for the size to fall into a big category either. The 500 is designed like a reverse Tardis; it should look big on the outside but should still fit nice and snug on the inside – just like any other trainer.
The 500 falls into the same bracket as the 350 for fans who are getting themselves a pair in that is comes up half a size smaller for the perfect fit.
If you decide to go true to size, you might get away with it as the 500 won’t suffer the same downfalls as the 350. No Primeknit upper means your toes won’t press through and ruin the aesthetic; a more rigid build means that they won’t succumb to as much wear-and-tear, even if your feet do press against the sides with a little more force; and the toebox in the 500 is also notably wider than the 350 meaning you won’t feel that restrictive pinch that you get with a size that is too small.
Yeezy 700
With the Yeezy 700 receiving a trilogy of design changes, all with alterations to the way they fit, they are by far the most difficult to advise on a size guide. Whereas the 350 and 500 all follow similar rules Kanye West has thrown us a curveball with the 700.
True size is an option for the 700. Especially when you take into account how comfortable these kicks actually are. A true fit may mean you will have to tolerate a slightly snugger or looser fit than you may be used to but the cushioned design can eradicate that fact as a problem.
It may be the case that if you’re buying a pair of the 700 then it could al fall down to personal preference. If you prefer a more snug fit then opt for a half size smaller; if you prefer a little more space to breathe then move up a half size to give your feet that little extra wiggle room.
Make sure you follow this guide when choosing your next pair of Yeezys to make sure you get the best fit. You can even use Laced’s online trainers platform to buy and sell your Yeezys.