What Is Sizing Like at Alohas?

Aohas runs largely true to size, but the honest answer is that the fit depends almost entirely on which style you’re buying and the shape of your foot. Their square-toe boots, sculptural heels and slingback sandals all behave differently, even though they sit under one brand name — so “my usual size” isn’t quite the safety net it feels like with this label.

I learned that the slightly painful way. My first Alohas order was a pair of their square-toe ankle boots in my standard EU 39, and I was so confident I didn’t even check the product measurements. They arrived gorgeous — and absolutely vice-like across the toes. Beautiful boot, wrong assumption. A few weeks later I ordered a strappy sandal in the same 39 and made the opposite mistake: it was a touch long, gaping at the heel. Same brand, same foot, two completely different lessons. So before you click buy, here’s everything I’ve worked out about how Alohas actually fits.

The short answer: true to size, with caveats

Alohas uses standard European sizing, and their own guidance is that most designs are true to size. For the majority of their core styles, that holds up — order your normal EU size and you’ll be fine. But the brand makes a real spread of shapes, and the toe box and material change the story more than the size label does. A few things worth knowing up front:

Leather styles need breaking in. Their natural leather softens and moulds to your foot over a week or two. Synthetic and reinforced styles stay firm and won’t give, so don’t buy those hoping they’ll “stretch into it.”
Check the insole length, not just the size. Every product page lists the internal insole measurement in centimetres under the Size & Fit tab. Measure your foot, and if you like a little room, go about 0.5cm longer. It’s the single most reliable trick with this brand.
The “index finger” rule. For closed shoes, you should just be able to slot your index finger behind your heel with your foot pushed forward. More than that and you’ve sized up too far.

Boots: mind the toe box

This is where most people come unstuck, me included. Alohas boots are generally true to size in length, but the shape of the toe is everything.

Square and box-shaped toes run snug across the foot. If you have anything other than narrow feet, size up — the length will be right but the width can pinch.
Rounded-toe boots are the more forgiving, wide-fit-friendly option. These are the ones I’d happily take in my usual size.
Calf fit on their knee and ankle styles is cut fairly slim. If you have fuller calves, read the recent reviews on the specific style before committing.

Sandals and mules: where I’d size down

This is the opposite problem. Open styles — strappy sandals, slingbacks, mules — tend to run a fraction long, and there’s nothing to hold your foot in place if there’s extra room. If you’re between sizes, size down. If you’re a firm whole size, you’re usually safe, but I always sense-check the insole measurement first. A sandal that’s half a centimetre too long will slide forward all day, and no amount of styling rescues that.

Heels and trainers

Their sculptural heels are some of the most comfortable I own — properly engineered, not just pretty — and they come up true to size. Order your normal EU size and trust it. The trainers are also true to size for most people, though if you wear thick socks or have a wider foot, going half a size up gives you a bit more breathing room without losing the shape.

The real variable: width

If there’s one thing that decides whether Alohas works for you, it’s width, not length. Some models are genuinely wide-fit-friendly; others are cut narrow. Length is predictable; width is the gamble. So my honest advice is to stop thinking about a single “Alohas size” and instead read the fit notes per style. The brand is good about flagging fit on each product page, and the reviews are worth two minutes of your time before you commit.

One quirk worth knowing before you order

Alohas mostly runs on an on-demand, pre-order model — you order, then they make it, often at a discount. It’s a brilliant approach for cutting waste, and I’m all for it, but it does mean you can’t always nip back for a quick size swap if you get it wrong, and pre-order pairs can take a few weeks to arrive. Translation: it really pays to get the size right first time. Measure your foot, check the insole length, read the style’s fit notes — then order with confidence.

Where else to shop if Alohas isn’t quite right

If you love the Alohas look — that contemporary, sculptural, sustainably-minded shoe — but the fit or the wait isn’t for you, here’s where I’d send you, tier by tier. As always with Tellar, none of this is sponsored. It’s just where I genuinely shop.

High street — accessible and easy to return:

Mango — brilliant for square-toe boots and sculptural heels at a fraction of the price, and the fit is reliably true to size.
& Other Stories — the closest high-street match for Alohas’ pared-back, design-led aesthetic.
Dune London — strong on slingbacks and trend-led heels, with proper UK sizing and wide-fit options.
Office — the place to go when you want the look on a budget and the ease of an instant return.
Schuh — huge range, generous size spread, and genuinely helpful for anyone between sizes.
ASOS Design — trend-driven and cheap enough to experiment with the shapes Alohas does at full price.

Premium — worth the step up:

Russell & Bromley — serious leather quality and a classic-but-current line-up that ages far better than the price tag suggests.
Reiss — understated, polished footwear that sits beautifully alongside the kind of wardrobe Alohas suits.

Luxury — the investment end:

The Row — if you love the timeless, minimalist Alohas silhouettes, this is the elevated version: quiet, architectural, built to last decades.

Two independents I’d genuinely recommend:

ATP Atelier — the Swedish label making beautiful, sustainably-crafted Italian leather sandals and loafers. Honestly the most natural step across from Alohas.
Neous — a London brand doing sculptural, considered heels with the same design-forward spirit, made in small runs.

Whatever you choose, the principle is the same one I’d give any client: buy for the shape of your foot, not the number on the box. Get that right and Alohas can be one of the most rewarding shoe brands out there.

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