To be cross that all boys' school shoes are basically black trainers?

[Shoppingwithmother]

Just doing some preliminary looking for school shoes before DS starts school for first time. Seems that almost all the available shoes are just actually black leather trainers. Have DD already at school so used to getting school shoes for her.

Why does it seem that the manufacturers think that there should be loads of choice of smart shoes for girls, but boys should just wear trainers all the time - or have a choice of literally 1 or 2 styles of actual shoe. Surely not all boys spend all day running around and have to wear trainers all the time??

DS's new school stipulates not trainer-style, so presumably they'll all have to turn up in the exact same shoes!

[PtolemysNeedle]

I haven't found this at all, where are you shopping?

[TheHouseOnBellSt]

There isn't "loads of choice" for girls though OP. The choice is one strap leather shoes with crappy butterfly appliques...or lace ups which most smaller DC refuse.

[FayKorgasm]

Where are you shopping? Any of the main shoe shops or department stores have multiple choice for boys but generally only the one strap wonders for girls.

[Ludways]

This is the only area where there is more choice for boys than girls. Boys get trainer styles, kicker style or lace ups, slip ons. Girls get t bar or brogues.

[dixiechick1975]

Have you looked at kickers - they do shoes not just boots

Something like this?

www.kickers.co.uk/kids-c155/kick-lo-velcro-infant-p5422

[RufusTheReindeer]

I think it probably does depend where you are shopping

Ds's shoes are from Ricosta, well it's the brand anyway

Nothing like trainers

[Shoppingwithmother]

Clarke's, Start Rite

Looked in Clarke's today - whole wall of what I think are basically black trainers.

Maybe my opinion is skewed by that fact that I like the one strap patent leather girls shoes - perhaps I'd feel differently if I didn't!

[MrsHathaway]

I know what you mean - they're either one velcro strap or two and neither style is far off an actual trainer apart from in material.

Thank goodness we don't have to send our tinies to school in lace-ups though. It was touch and go for us as pfb has huge feet - it's hard to find size 4.5 (adult) school shoes that don't have laces, but at six he didn't have the coordination to keep his laces properly tied all day long.

[TheMoa]

School shoes are only ever going to be black lace ups or vecro things like this:

www.johnlewis.com/clarks-deon-shoes-black/p1709544

Choice doesn't exactly loom large in the school shoe department for boys or girls.

[FayKorgasm]

Ludways I agree that there is more choice of clothes in the girls section but they are often impractical and poorly made.

[Shoppingwithmother]

Yes, I like those, Dixiechick. Only problem is I'd want to have them fitted and that then limits your choice. Maybe Russell and Bromley will have Kickers - I'll have a look, thanks.

[TravellingToad]

What about these Clarks ones? I think any shoe with velcro looks a bit like a trainer. But assuming he is 4 or 5 he won't want laces

Clarks have a mammoth sale on right now... but sadly no school shoes in it. however those ones aren't too expensive, as clarks goes.

[annandale]

Another good reason to abandon uniform...
...though I am quite happy to get black trainers for ds, a good practical solution IMO

[TravellingToad]

with Clarks you can get them delivered free to your local store for fitting, and if they don't fit return them for free. useful, especially as my local store doesn't have a lot of styles in it usually.

[CigarsofthePharoahs]

I've bought ds1 black Velcro shoes for school and I noticed the same thing! He's only 4 and can't cope with lace ups yet, and every other shoe does have an air of trainer about it. I've bought the least trainery of the bunch, hope the school find them acceptable.

[Superexcited]

I used to buy this type when my DS was too young for laces. It isn't trainer like at all
www.startriteshoes.com/boys-shoes/hudson-black-leather-boys-riptape-school-shoes

[Shoppingwithmother]

Thanks Toad - in my opinion they are what I mean - they look like black trainers to me! Maybe others don't think that though!

Also should add, my choice is limited further by the fact I have an irrational hatred of any shoes that have those thick sticky-up seams around the top of the forefoot- I'm sure that's just me though - don't expect anyone to empathise with that!! (Would link to an example but not capable!)

[reni1]

When schools say no trainer style please they mean don't send him in Adidas. They are fine with Clark's school shoes, even the Velcro ones, no need to buy old man's style square shoes.

[123Jump]

My boys always have these. I think they are what you don't like though,so not very helpful.
That is what school shoes are supposed to look like,imo,though. What kind of thing would you like?

[Shoppingwithmother]

Thanks Super, they would be ok but don't come in small sizes. He would only be in about a 10-11. If I put that size into Start Rite page there are 11 pairs of black school shoes - 8 are trainers, 1 lace up (no way for 4 year old!) leaving 2 pairs of actual shoes suitable for age.

[BikeRunSki]

I felt the same as you OP when ds started school 2 years ago. I got him some smart, albeit Velcro strap, shoes by Superfit from a local indrpendent shoe shop (he actually started in m&s shoes, and these lasted half a term). Then in Y1 he started playing football at break time, trashed his expensive shoes in no time at all, and I realised why boys's school shoes are largely black trainers.

Start Rite have some more traditional styles online, and good fitting advice, but your ds will need to be to take them off and put them in himself.

[Shoppingwithmother]

No, 123jump - they're what I do like!! I will get those probably if they have them in Russell and Bromley when I go in (only place that sells that brand round here)

[Raasay]

My DS has always worn black leather school shoes, never anything that could be construed as a trainer.

We use independent children's shoe shoes though as my Dd has extraordinarily difficult feet to fit and Clark's just doesn't cut the mustard in either staff or product I'm afraid.

My DS usually has Ricosta shoes as we've found them to be the least destructible.

[littlejohnnydory]

YABU, the girls' shoes are just not practical. Thinking I'll buy dd boys' shoes this year. There were plenty of different styles for boys anyway. I think 'no trainers' means no actual trainers, not that the more cushioned clarks school shoes aren't allowed. Our school says this and doesn't enforce it anyway, half the children wear white trainers, wellies, boots, etc. Mine do have black shoes though!

[Shoppingwithmother]

Never had Ricosta shoes before, but can see somewhere that sells them about 30 mins away - could be an option, thanks.