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Original poster

School Shoes - Opinions Please - Shoes or Trainers?

60 replies

Housemum · 02/08/2017 10:51

The rules for our local secondary school state:
"No Boots, trainers, sports shoes, plimsolls, fabric or any shoe with sports branding, boots, Uggs, sandals, mules, flip flops, stiletto heels, court shoes"

So are these shoes or trainers? I think they are not trainers as you wouldn't play sport in them (and not made by a trainer brand) and they are called shoes, some of my friends disagree.

This Style

And surely the majority of Velcro shoes on this page of school shoes would also be trainers if this style isn't a shoe?

page of school shoes

Searching here for advice as have asked 6 local mums, the only ones I'm FB friends with who have secondary kids, and they have been divided 50/50 - I like these shoes as they are the only ones to fit well on her narrow feet (and she won't do laces - coordination issues possibly linked to her autism or possibly just laziness!)

OP posts:
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Michaelahpurple · 04/08/2017 20:17

Would she accept the geox Frederico or William from the link in your OP - surely they are proper school shoes?

Michaelahpurple · 04/08/2017 20:15

And I am afraid I too think those totally look like black leather converses. If the school want them in a classic school shoe with no whiff of trainer, I can't see that flying.

Michaelahpurple · 04/08/2017 20:13

I can't bear trainer-Esque shoes and like them to be shiny leather that takes polish well to allow them staying smart all year. I have been really pleased with Ecco's more formal school shoes, although they are dear. They definitely last all year.

For a smart Velcro one
www.eccoshoesuk.com/ecco-cohen/p4328

And when my 10-11 year old decides to always wear his laces undone I went for www.eccoshoesuk.com/ecco-cohen/p4329. Which I think are really smart and he thinks are really comfy

BarbarianMum · 04/08/2017 11:53

Sorry, that post was in reference to your initial link. The latest one would be OK

BarbarianMum · 04/08/2017 11:52

They'd be trainers at ds1's secondary. The school warns parents to beware of shoes like this because the shops market them as "school shoes" but none of the secondaries round here accept them. Basically, if you have to ask it's not suitable.

LIZS · 04/08/2017 07:37

Can’t see the sole but they do look overly flat (no heel) and traineresque.

PurpleDaisies · 03/08/2017 18:32

Those look like black converse trainers. Confused

They wouldn't be allowed at my school.

Blanketdog · 03/08/2017 18:08

They look a bit like trainers to me! I'd ask the school before she wears them!

Original poster
Housemum · 03/08/2017 16:30

Success!! Persuaded her with some lace ups in the end that are narrow

www.shoes2adore.co.uk/petasil-peel-black-school-shoe.html

OP posts:
Paffle · 03/08/2017 13:01

Our school sent details of some approved styles. So much easier - just chose one of them. Mind you, my kids aren't at the stage where they care very much what their school shoes look like.

LIZS · 03/08/2017 12:39

Even with locklaces? Or you could thread black elastic through the lace holes.

Original poster
Housemum · 03/08/2017 12:36

And I know what you mean about the questionable uniforms - my youngest daughter modelled a dress for the m&s website, school summer dress with a "frozen" logo on it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Housemum · 03/08/2017 12:33

Brogues are a no as she won't do laces (and a lot are quite wide) - if she'd accept brogues my life would be easy!

OP posts:
Blanketdog · 03/08/2017 09:32

Doc Martins are ok as boots as they grip around her ankle but the shoes don't work as even her ankles are ridiculously skinny! It's always been a massive issue for us.

LadyPenelope68 · 03/08/2017 09:24

Blanket I must admit I've never ordered from them because it's a confusing website. My son has very narrow feet and he always had Doc Marten school shoes as they are a narrow fit, but having boys I haven't a clue whether they do girls school shoes. They could be worth looking at if they do.

MaisyPops · 03/08/2017 08:01

It's frustrating that I went to a "school shoe" shop yet loads of the styles look like they aren't "shoes"!
You have my total sympathy. What shops try to market as school uniform is often questionable.

On an Asda back to school advert (in July!!) there was a shirt with no top button and peplums on the side. No way it would be allowed in any secondary near me. It was being modelled on a primary child, who surely doesn't need design features to emphasise womanly curves.

Blanketdog · 03/08/2017 07:44

Lady I wouldn't know where to start with that website and I shop online for everything! We have been taking dd to the same shoe shop since she was a toddler because they were the only place that did the job properly and had the shoes - the range rarely changes.
These brogues are a good narrow fit but dd found the heel too high and frequently went over on her ankle.
These are the only shoes that fit her, she's had to give up on looking cool at school but as I said, hardly winter wear. Her narrow feet are so impossibly hard to fit.

SavoyCabbage · 03/08/2017 07:40

My dd is a C width and I have found it easier to find her shoes now she's in adult sizes. She wears clarks brogues.

She started late in the year so I took a lot of notice of shoes and bags when I went to look round, especially as we had moved from another country. There were no Velcro shoes to be seen.

LadyPenelope68 · 03/08/2017 07:21

Blanket my friend gets her daughter's shoes from Zappos.com as she has really narrow feet.

SuperBeagle · 03/08/2017 07:13

I was also going to suggest brogues.

Blanketdog · 03/08/2017 06:57

If you can find a brogue style lace up for a narrow foot please post the link. Dd has narrow feet and wears orthotics - she can only wear Mary Jane style shoes, which are not very practical in the winter and I guess a bit young for her but we have literally no choice and wearing boots is unfortunately forbidden - with uniform it often feels like rules for the sake of rules!

LadyPenelope68 · 02/08/2017 23:04

Definitely too trainer like IMO. The school my sons go to even show sample pictures by brand of different shoes they consider suitable!!

elevenclips · 02/08/2017 22:57

I'd get a brogue lace up style. I think the ones in your first link will be classed as trainers.

ParadiseCity · 02/08/2017 22:56

when people spend a small fortune on branded cool trainers that are designed to be fashionable

I have just done exactly that for DS Grin - his school don't care about shoes/trainers. Well they didn't last year... let's see, I have bet him he will get in trouble this year!! Tbh he needs trainers for weekends anyway so I don't mind if he ends up needing proper shoes too.

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