Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

School shoes - help please before this breaks us!!!!!

62 replies

MrsSpenserGregson · 23/08/2018 08:00

We cannot find black school shoes to fit DD!!

DD (aged 11, year 7) has adult-sized feet, size 5-6, wide-fitting across the big toe joint according to Clarks (even though her feet look extremely narrow to me) but super skinny around the back/heel. This means that every pair of shoes in the world slips off at the back, no matter if they are slip-ons, laces or if they have straps. She cannot tolerate heel grips (frankly I don't blame her). We thought we'd found a pair in Clarks yesterday, with an insole, but this seems to be pushing her toes up to the top of the shoe so the leather is rubbing her....

She has tried on at least twenty pairs of shoes in Clarks, M&S, Sports Direct, Next, TopShop etc .... everything is huge and baggy around the back. She is a hormonal pre-teen. I am menopausal and frankly we've both had enough. Does anyone have any suggestions of other shoe retailers we could try, or am I going to have to tell her to suck it up and wear ill-fitting shoes? (Which seems harsh and not good for her tbh).

I don't want my first interaction with her new head teacher (going to secondary school next month) to be me whining about shoes and asking for exceptions to the rules because we are oh so special, but I can't really see what else to do...

All suggestions gratefully received in this hormonal house of hell. Happy to try any shoe retailer at the moment and honestly, prepared to pay £££ if I have to as she needs shoes nowwwwwwwww Gin Gin Gin

OP posts:
321zerobaby · 23/08/2018 08:27

Have you tried Startrite? they are the only school shoes that have fitted my very narrow heeled dd. In John Lewis.

Original poster
MrsSpenserGregson · 23/08/2018 08:30

Thank you everyone Flowers

great suggestions here .... I am nowhere near Birmingham and 100 miles from London (although if we have to go there for the blasted shoes, we will!). I will try Southampton first! and Hotter, DMs, Schuh etc.

Oh and it's a super strict grammar and I have friends with children there who have already asked about leather converse (great idea btw) - and it was a Big Fat No Sad

ooh I think there might be an independent shoe shop in town actually.... will google...

OP posts:
Practicallyperfectwithprosecco · 23/08/2018 08:33

Kickers - the high top version. Both dds have narrow feet but have no problems with these and dd1 always complains shoes feel like they are falling off. Kickers are the only ones suitable we found.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing General education General style & beauty Menopause
Trampire · 23/08/2018 08:34

Have you tried any kind of ankle boot?

My dd (although fortunately not unusual feet like your dd) got away with Dr Martin boots for a whole term last winter. If the school trousers are long enough, it covers the top of the boot so they look like shoes.

Just thought it may help the slipping off problem at least.

halesie · 23/08/2018 08:37

Hi OP, I have wide feet and always struggled to find school shoes to fit too. I still find it difficult getting shoes to fit but by far the most comfy ones I have now are Ecco Mary Jane style shoes. I wish they'd made them when I was a kid - I ended up in granny walking shoes in my teens and a teacher thought I was wearing trainers Sad

Website is www.eccoshoesuk.com

FairyPenguin · 23/08/2018 08:37

Definitely independent shoe shop. The ones near us go up to size 7 in school shoes. We’ve got Ricosta this time but also had Start-Rite and Hush Puppies in the past. DD has to wear orthotics and ends up with same problem. Good luck.

Myvoiceismypassword · 23/08/2018 08:38

Definitely independent shoe shop. Ours has found shoes for my daughter’s tricky feet every time-and the one time they weren’t right they let us change them after a week’s wear.
As a last resort could you try primary? They won’t last long but will give you time to sort something better.

BrieAndChilli · 23/08/2018 08:41

We’ve just had similar with DD age 10 and a size 4.
We have gone for these after trying too many to count shoes on.
www.johnlewis.com/clarks-children's-drew-shine-t-bar-school-shoes-black-patent/p3577212

Theresahairbrushinthefridge · 23/08/2018 08:41

Startrite lace up brogues.

NinetySixer · 23/08/2018 08:42

I have the same shape of foot and find doc martens shoes fit well

Canshopwillshop · 23/08/2018 08:45

Another vote for Startrite - expensive but normally hardwearing.

Original poster
MrsSpenserGregson · 23/08/2018 08:46

To the Doc Martens fans - it's been years since I wore them. Would you say that they are true to size (length-wise)? I'd have to order them online
as I don't know of any stores that stock them locally (the one that used to has closed down).

We have two independent shoe shops within a five mile radius so we will be at the first one at 9am tomorrow...!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsSpenserGregson · 23/08/2018 08:47

Of course we have the additional little issue that she wants slip-ons as she's going to secondary school, but frankly beggars can't be choosers Gin Gin

I feel the need to buy myself some Doc Martens now!

OP posts:
MIdgebabe · 23/08/2018 09:29

Ah, the style problem. I ended up saying what I would buy, using the excuse that I needed to be a responsible mother, and if she wanted different she would be paying herself.

DelurkingAJ · 23/08/2018 09:36

I feel her pain. I had size 8 AA feet at 11 and spent my entire secondary school career in one style of lace up black shoes. It was a great relief to be allowed adult shoes in sixth form.

On the plus side, if you find a style that fits and is mutually acceptable her feet might have stopped growing!

gonetolookforamerica · 23/08/2018 09:43

Another vote for French and Co in Southampton - I don't bother going anywhere else because they know how to fit properly. Go absolutely first thing, lunchtime, or just before closing, as there can be quite a queue. And grab someone and check you are in the right queue for their size as, for example, boys over size three are seen in the men's department and you can usually go straight down there. It might also be the same for girls.

gonetolookforamerica · 23/08/2018 09:44

I love Docs but they can be very troublesome to break in

HazzleMcDazzle · 23/08/2018 09:48

Another vote for kickers (the kick-hi style). DD has similar foot issues and these suited her brilliantly. Plus they're incredibly sturdy so will last until they're grown out of.

Hercules12 · 23/08/2018 09:50

Dd has the exact same issue and I'm sorry to say we've only ever found one type of shoe to fit. Geox ballet shoes. Every year we trawl through independent shops and we live in London so vast choice but always come back to these.
In primary school there was a short time she had to go to school in very cheap plimsols as nothing would fit and her shoes had fallen apart. Then discovered geox ballet.
She's now year 10 and we still haven't found an alternative. She has in past been given orthotics which raised her foot at the back but she won't wear them. Good luck.

Hercules12 · 23/08/2018 09:51

Doc Martin's slip off at the back.

Hercules12 · 23/08/2018 09:52

We order off amazon btw.

RocketQueen21 · 23/08/2018 09:57

Kickers or Dr Martens from Schuch

Singlenotsingle · 23/08/2018 10:15

You might have to go for bespoke hand made shoes. It might be £££ though.

nancy75 · 23/08/2018 10:21

Doc martins are really hard at the back & take a lot to break in, I think you’d be asking for blisters

Clutterbugsmum · 23/08/2018 10:49

If it super strict can she wear boots. My dd1 school is very strict and they can not wear boots, they have to have court/smart shoes.