Girls school shoes

Our best pair were start right ones. The grips/sole/fit sure gave boys shoes a run for their money.

lady that's all the girls need, a black 'almost trainer'. They can sticky a silly heart pattern on them or something.

someone once said to just get girls to wear wellies to school and change when they there . I'd rather they had closed and robust shoes like the boys actually.

We have SO much trouble with this - and ended up with some eye wateringly expensive Ricosta shoes: www.amazon.co.uk/Ricosta-Pallila-Loafers-60-8622000-093/dp/B00KJYWVPY from an independent shop.

I just bought dd2 5 a pair of boys clarks shoes for school, they are a navy ankle boot because the last pair of startrite girls shoes she had went into holes within 3 months. I asked the shop assistant why there were no girls shoes with anti scuff toes like the boys and she didn't know.

Vertbaudet usually do a couple of styles that can be worn as school shoes - more if your school allows ankle boots, or doesn't stipulate shoes have to be black. They are good quality, but you have to order online and fit them yourself, which is a bit of a hassle when you have children like mine with narrow, high feet.

This is one of the reasons I am glad DD goes to a non uniform school, it's hard enough finding shoes that are practical and that fit her without them having to be a specific colour too.

I saw these m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/leather-scuff-resistant-patent-ankle-boots/p/p22318256 in M&S recently, but I'm not sure how long lasting their shoes are.

DD started reception with a pair from Clarks. They were awful. I wanted something more firmly strapped to her feet. In the Spring we bought Kickers, they are still going strong. I'm never buying Clarks again! Her pair has got pink stitching, but is otherwise identical to this:
www.kickers.co.uk/kids-c155/kick-t-bar-infant-black-p5447

I've just emailed Clarkes as I have thought the exact same thing as the OP previously. Perhaps if they realise there is a market for them, they will start selling them. I've bought DD boys shoes before now, as I thought everything that fit in Clarkes was hideously girly & impractical. She's too young to care at present, thankfully.

[elisaveta] Gap do lined trousers for girls and H&M do fleece lined leggings. Uniqlo do chunky Arran jumpers for girls and heat tech stuff for kids.

My DD has boys shoes too. Ones with a strap (is that what Mary Jane means?) even sturdy ones, are not as warm, harder to run in and impractical in rain and snow. I won't accept that my DD should be colder and less active because of her gender.

(I would go off on a rant about fleece lined trousers and chunky aran jumpers for boys as opposed to thin nylon leggings and two ply cardies for girls, but that would be Off Topic).

Try Hush Puppies kids shoes.

Normal Dr marten "boys ones", not boots or Mary janes are high fashion and toughies make shoes that look similar and cheaper. At least my 8 year old wears dms happily and she has a very traditional approach towards femininity and always suspects me of undermining her beauty aspirations.

froddo do a good closed school shoe for girls. No toe bumpers though, dd's shoes are looking rather tired. ds1's hush puppies are still fine but dd is at age 6 rather wise to boy and girl sections and styles and likes her stuff feminine (but covered in dinosaurs and good for the mud). She has some kickers boots for out of school which are brilliant.

Clarks always used to do the two strap velcro closed style girls' shoe when we were buying, so not sure why they stopped. They always fell apart quicker than Startrite & cost more, though, so we gave up on them, perhaps everyone came to the same conclusion and that's why!

I'd second Startrite. DD always used to have this type of style when she was in primary, comfy and easy to get on and off.

Dead easy when you get to secondary, as they all wear brogues, practical and waterproof (though why fashion requires untied laces straggling and getting trodden on I don't know . . .)

Similar problem as grey here, as well being impractical they don't bloody fit DD. Just about to take this weeks purchase (startrite t bars) back because they have rubbed her feet so badly.

At 5, she's not going to be happy when I insist she tries on some of the 'boys' ones.

I don't really like the 'just buy the boys one' answer. It doesn't solve anything does it?

Start rite Mary Janes are sturdy! My little girls ones last until Easter from September and she is very busy in them! What about kickers, Dr marten?

I think schools are to blame. Some are just too strict about uniform. There are plenty of school type shoes out there in lots of different styles.

this topic comes up every couple of weeks on MN, and Clarks claims there is no market? Have they actually done any research?

I used to wear doc marten Mary janes in primary and the boots and Mary janes in secondary.

My grandad was thrilled with the boots as they were just like the ones he had in the army and I was in no danger of slipping when it snowed.

Sadly, I think the boots have now been banned as they are 'fashion' shoes .

Sassh I managed to persuade her that a pair of black DM type boots was acceptably okay for her, as a girl, to wear. But she can only really wear them when she wears trousers and I'm not sure if the school rules permit them

My DD aged 8 alternates between the usual Clarks flimsy shoes and lace up ds martens. Apparently Dr martens are trendy again these days.

Dd alternates Mary janes and black trainers. She prefers the Mary janes. School are quite relaxed about footwear which is good. It's the quality of the Mary janes (clarks again ) that really pisses me off. They cost the same as the more robust boys school shoes but have thinner soles and a massive hole on the top!

Shame they have to be black, I saw a small girl yesterday in leggings and bright red patent DM boots.