Just as women with small frames can shop in the juniors' or young boys' departments of clothing stores, ladies with small feet can wear youth-sized shoes. Women's shoe size eight does not exactly equate to a kids' six, but the fit of each shoe varies by manufacturer and style.

A size eight women's shoe measures 9 1/3 to 9 1/2 inches long. Kids' size five to seven shoes measure 9 1/8 to 9 13/16 inches long. So a kids' size six shoe should fit a woman who wears size eight shoes, according to Brooks Shoes for Kids.

Size eight women's shoes are the exact length -- 9 1/3 to 9 1/2 inches -- as men's size six shoes. Women with size eight feet who can't find an appropriate shoe in their own size can thus try kids' and men's shoes.

To ensure the best shoe fit possible, measure your feet before you buy shoes and be aware that the width of shoes varies by style. Look for shoes clearly marked "youth," which can refer to either boys' or girls' shoes. Shoes marked "child" or "children's" go by a different scale and will not fit women's feet.