Shoes as a New Year gift: how to get the size right
Warm winter boots, sheepskin boots or fur-lined sneakers make a gift that gets worn all winter, as long as the pair fits. Here is how to find out the size without spoiling the surprise, which styles are easiest to get right and how exchanges work if you miss.
In short
Giving shoes is fine; the only real challenge is the size. Discreetly measure the insole of a pair the person already wears and photograph the size label, then check the model's size chart or ask a manager. Low lace-up winter styles such as winter sneakers and short sheepskin boots are the easiest to get right. Ukrainian brand Babylon accepts international returns and exchanges within 30 days of delivery for unworn pairs in original packaging.
Is it OK to give shoes as a New Year gift?
Yes. Warm shoes are a practical gift that gets worn every day all winter, and the only real challenge is the size. There is an old folk superstition that a pair of shoes given as a gift will make the person walk away from you; most people smile at it, and those who would rather be safe simply hand over a symbolic coin, as if buying the gift.
If you are wondering what to give him or her for the New Year, winter boots or fur-lined sneakers often beat yet another sweater: they are worn all season. But only if the pair fits.
Babylon is a Ukrainian leather footwear maker with a family-owned factory in Kharkiv since 1997. The shoes are handmade, and almost every model is built on its own last, so each pair has its own size chart.
How do you find out someone's shoe size discreetly?
The most reliable way is to measure a pair the person already wears and finds comfortable: take out the insole and measure it with a ruler. The second clue is the size printed on the label or sole of that pair. The third is to quietly ask someone close to them.
How to do it without awkward questions:
- Pick their favourite pair. Closed shoes they wear most often, ideally similar to your gift.
- Measure the insole. If it comes out, lay it flat and measure from heel to toe, to the nearest 0.5 cm.
- Photograph the label. You need the size and the brand: a "42" from one maker is not a "42" from another.
- Ask someone close. A partner, parent or friend often knows not just the number but also which brands they size up in.
If the person is happy to play along, measure the foot itself: see "How to measure your foot at home".
How do you turn an insole length into a Babylon size?
Do not read the insole length as the foot length. An insole is always slightly longer than the foot because shoes include room for the toes; the NHS suggests about 1 cm between the longest toe and the end of a closed shoe. Send a Babylon manager the insole length, size and brand of the favourite pair together with the model name, and they will match it to that model's chart.
| What you know | How accurate | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Foot length in cm | Most accurate | Find it in the "Size / Foot length, cm" chart on the model's page |
| Insole length of their favourite pair | Good | Send a manager the insole length, size and brand of that pair |
| Only the label size | Approximate | Check with a manager: the same number means different lengths in different models |
| Nothing | Guesswork | Plan for a fitting together or for an exchange |
Why the label is only a guide: charts differ even within one brand. At Babylon, size 38 is a 24.4 cm foot in the Frost-74 and UG-1-41 sheepskin boots but 24.6 cm in the Mellow-24 winter sneakers; size 42 is 27.5 cm in the Frost-84 and 27.8 cm in the Space-04-D. For sheepskin boots, see also "Sheepskin boot sizing".
Send our manager three numbers: the size of their favourite pair, its insole length in centimetres and, if you know it, the foot length. We will suggest a size from the chart of the exact model you have chosen.
Which shoes are easiest to get right as a gift?
Low or mid-height lace-up winter styles: winter sneakers and short sheepskin boots. Unlike tall boots, they do not require a calf measurement, and laces let the wearer loosen or tighten the fit over the instep.
What else lowers the risk:
- An everyday style. Winter sneakers and sheepskin boots go with jeans, so they are easier to get right than formal boots.
- A neutral colour. Black or brown goes with any wardrobe.
- A familiar type. If the person lives in sneakers, winter sneakers are safer than their first pair of sheepskin boots.
An honest note on sheepskin boots: they are not a "roomy" fit. The fleece inside flattens with wear (the care notes on Babylon's product pages explain how to brush it back up), so buying a size up "just in case" is a bad idea: the boot will start to slip.
What to give him for the New Year?
Sheepskin boots or winter sneakers with sheepskin inside. Both models below are double-face leather with sheepskin lining and a 39–45 size chart.
- Frost-84 sheepskin boots: dense sheepskin fur, fur-covered insole, TPE sole, 3.5 cm sole height inside. The product page rates them from +5 to −20 °C, comfortable behind the wheel and on city walks. More in "Men's sheepskin boots".
- Space-04-D winter sneakers: for someone who lives in sneakers. Sheepskin inside, fur-covered insole, a 3.5 cm TPE sole and an anatomical last; rated from +5 to −20 °C. See also "Winter sneakers".
What to give her: sheepskin boots or winter sneakers?
If she lives in sneakers, choose fur-lined winter sneakers; if she loves cosy footwear, sheepskin boots. All three models have a 36–41 size chart.
- UG-1-41 sheepskin boots: black double-face sheepskin, leather and fur in one layer, a lightweight sole and braided laces.
- Frost-74 sheepskin boots: the women's Frost, with sheepskin fur, a fur-covered insole and an EVA sole; rated from +5 to −20 °C.
- Mellow-24 winter sneakers: brown genuine nubuck, natural fur lining and a light EVA sole, in a shade the product page calls versatile.
LeatherMen's sheepskin boots, down to −20 °C Frost-84Heel counter and decorative tongue insert: genuine leather; inside: dense; insole: fur-covered€115View 
LeatherWomen's sheepskin boots, down to −20 °C UG-1-41Inside: thick; sole: lightweight; temperature: down to −20 °C€133View 
LeatherWomen's sheepskin boots, down to −20 °C Frost-74Heel counter and decorative tongue insert: genuine leather; inside: dense; insole: fur-covered€115View 
LeatherMen's winter sheepskin sneakers Space-04-DHeel counter and decorative insert: genuine leather; inside: dense; insole: fur-covered€113View 
NubuckWomen's fur-lined winter nubuck sneakers Mellow-24Lining: natural fur; sole: EVA€105View
Browse all models in women's sheepskin boots, women's winter sneakers, men's sheepskin boots and men's winter shoes. To check that a gift is real sheepskin rather than faux fur, see "Genuine sheepskin boots".
Can a gifted pair be exchanged if the size is wrong?
Yes. For international orders, Babylon accepts returns and exchanges within 30 days of delivery. The pair must be unworn, in its original condition and packaging; items showing wear or damage may be refused.
How it works, per the "Returns & Exchanges Policy":
- Window: 30 days from delivery, not from the day you hand over the gift. Try the pair on indoors.
- How to start: email the manager with the order number and the reason.
- Postage: for a size exchange, return postage is paid by the customer; defective items are covered by Babylon.
- Exchanges depend on stock; otherwise choose another item with a price adjustment or get a refund.
Keep the box and the order confirmation email until the window closes.
When to order so it arrives in time?
International delivery from Kharkiv is free and takes 5–10 business days to the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Moldova, and 7–12 to the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro; the holiday season can add a few days. For Christmas or New Year, order by early December.
If the gift ships straight to the recipient, import duties or taxes, where they apply, are paid by the recipient. The 30-day window starts on delivery, so an early order still leaves time for an exchange.
Where can you try Babylon shoes on in person?
If you or the recipient are in Ukraine, visit a Babylon showroom: in Kharkiv at 128 Sumska St and 50/52 Pushkinska St, and in Kyiv at 18 Pavlivska St, open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Babylon does not offer gift cards, so if you have no idea of the size, pick the model and visit a showroom together.
FAQ
Is it bad luck to give someone shoes?
It is a folk superstition, not a rule: the idea is that gifted shoes will make the person walk away from you. Most people treat it with humour, and those who prefer to be safe hand over a symbolic coin in return, as if buying the gift. What matters far more is getting the size and style right.
How can I find out someone's shoe size without asking?
Measure the insole of the pair they wear most often with a ruler and photograph the label showing the size and brand. You can also quietly ask someone close to them. Send these details to a Babylon manager along with the model name, and they will check them against the size chart of the exact pair you have chosen.
Can I use the size from the label of another pair?
Only as a rough guide. The same number means a different foot length at different brands and even between models. For example, size 42 in the chart for Babylon Frost-84 men's sheepskin boots is a 27.5 cm foot, while in Space-04-D winter sneakers it is 27.8 cm. Add the insole length to the label size.
Which shoes are safest to give if I am not sure of the size?
Low or mid-height lace-up winter styles such as winter sneakers or short sheepskin boots. You do not need to know the calf measurement, and laces let you adjust the fit over the instep a little. Laces cannot fix the length, though, so always check the size chart on the model's page.
Can a gifted pair from Babylon be returned or exchanged?
Yes, under the standard policy: international orders can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery if the pair is unworn and in its original packaging. Email the manager with the order number to start. Return postage for a size exchange is paid by the customer, and exchanges depend on stock.
When should I order shoes from Babylon to arrive before the holidays?
International delivery from Kharkiv is free and takes 5–10 business days to the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Moldova, and 7–12 to the US, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Georgia and Montenegro, and holiday periods can add a few days. For Christmas or New Year, order by early December so the parcel arrives with time to spare. The 30-day return window starts on delivery, so it will still be open after the holidays.
Together with Nataliia Nikitska, he founded Babylon in Kharkiv in 1997 as a wholesale leather footwear manufacturer; since 2015 the brand has sold directly, in its showrooms and online. Today its family-owned factory has 25 craftspeople and 2 technologists and makes 5,000–10,000 pairs a month. All articles by this author
Sources and notes
How to chooseMen's shearling boots: a buyer's checklist and how to style them
Men's shearling boots differ more than they look: in how they fasten, what the outside is made of, the sole and the height. Here is a checklist to compare pairs, and outfits from workwear to an overcoat.
How to chooseBest fur-lined leather boots for winter: what to compare before you buy
Fur-lined leather boots range from heritage work boots to studded Scandinavian city boots and factory-direct pairs. This guide shows what to check in the lining, the upper, the sole and the temperature rating, and which kind of maker suits which winter.
How to chooseFur-lined sneakers: are winter sneakers warm enough for −20 °C?
Fur-lined sneakers can keep your feet warm in a real city winter, but how warm depends on what is inside them. Here is an honest breakdown by lining, sole and height, and the point where sneakers stop being the right shoe.