Small feet and school shoe misery

[sillywoman456]

I know I shouldn't have done it to myself when it's only July, but today I found myself drawn into the Clarks Outlet shop for a measure - I think because it was quite empty and it was such a novel prospect that I couldn't resist!

Anyway, measured both DD and the eldest (7) seems to have gone up half a shoe size in one foot since last year and remains a size 9, at best. Her feet are also very narrow. Because it's the outlet, there is little choice and she cried at the prospect of wearing the same style as last year in case her friends thought they were the same ones and she hadn't grown at all. I know it's dramatic, but it seems to matter to her. Her little sisters had a bigger size, which made her more miserable.

I've been looking on Clarks and pretty much everything either looks too young (and even says 'toddler' in the description) or is too identical to last years to justify paying double.

I've bought Next school shoes before which didn't last at all, but I'm loathed to pay over £40 for Startrite. Are M&S any good, does anyone know, please? Or any other suggestions? She's too little for Threads too.

What about buying the next size up from a good brand and putting some insoles in them To make them last longer (and seem new to friends). Overall I really think it’s worth spending money on a good pair of school shoes, they spend so much time in them and it’s important they look after their feet. They’re probably worn more than any other shoe

A size 9 says toddler? Dd is 11 this year and only wears a size 12 and dd7 is a 10. We are already having the opposite problem of loads of styles coming with laces. I go with kickers and dr martens now anyway as they last longer for dc who's feet grow slowly

My DD has very narrow feet - like a C/D width. She had the same school shoes 3 years in a row - no other choice of something that fitted despite trying on lots of styles. It was fine. As a PP said, if you go to somewhere like John Lewis there will be lots of different brands and they can make sure she’s fitted correctly.

I always used to be like you OP, and think why would anyone pay extra for Startrite. Then I bought some Startrite - and the difference in quality is huge. DS could trash a pair of Clarks at school in a couple of weeks. The Startrite are so much better made and wear really well. More of an issue for boys, perhaps, but I never buy Clarks now if I can help it.

We go to an independent shop and tend to use Geox. The fitters use insoles where necessary to adjust the fit.*

I got geox for a small fortune for dd2 last year and they looked awful by the start of week 2. They were thrown away by October. Put her in to dr martens which still look new nearly 10 months later

My daughter wore the exact same style of Mary Jane Start Right up until year 9. Aged 18 she is now a 2.5.

Ds mostly wore Geox. He had to start nursery wearing Clark’s cruisers. He is now 16 and a Size 6 so has caught up.

OP, I have not met another dd the same age as my dd with the same size feet! All her friends pass down clothes and shoes (worth passing down) as she is so much smaller than her peers. She's actually on growth hormone so forgive me for being a little excited that another DC has same size feet!

I'd wait until end of August. I did once buy some the last month or so before we broke up for summer and by September she has gone up not half a size, but a whole size. The old pair had been worn for probably 15-20 school days.

You can order shoes in to Clarks if that helps? She has also had Dr martens (years ago so not school shoes) but starite didn't seem to last v long (looked v scruffy). But I think that was more the stage when they are using their feet to stop bikes etc. I find her narrow size often means we get a bargain as they are last year's stock left over and in the sale.

Can't help with sourcing school shoes as mine isn't even 2 yet, but have you thought about getting a foot measuring gauge? We got the Clarks one so we could order the right size shoe online (it's been a godsend during lockdown as well!). Just thinking it might take some emotion out of the process if you could measure her at home? I used to hate shoe shopping because I have very wide feet and there was always so little choice, so I feel her pain!

@user1471530109 I've never met anyone either! She is small all over, in size 4-5 clothes and quite underweight. We had lots of tests and she was under a consultant for a couple of years, but we didn't get any treatment and they decided she was just small.

@Letmegetthisrightasawoman It's a great idea about the foot gauge, thank you, because then she wouldn't see all the shoes she can't have! I've just looked though and Clarks do them in two sizes - up to 9.5 or 10 and above! As we're so close to the cut off, I wish they just did one all the way up!

I think Clarke's quality gas improved in the last couple of years, before that they were awful for the money. Startrite were excellent but we found them hard to get locally.