£££ for kids shoes? (been done I know, but come and rant with me)

[trixie123]

Want to get autumn/winter shoes for DS (3) and DD (17m and very much on her feet). They've spent all summer in doodles and croc type things so maybe I've forgotten but bloody hell! Nearly £40 for DS if we want boot style ones from Clarks / Jones etc and not far off for DD. I want them in good quality sturdy shoes, not flimsy plimsolls but that's outrageous, especially for DD whose feet are growing very quickly. AIBU to think that if Clarks et al really care about kids feet as they suggest they do, they might make their prices a little more reasonable? I don't spend that much on my shoes, even work ones. Can anyone recommend a make that isn't supermarket rubbish but isn't going to break the bank?

Go to TK Maxx.

I'm serious, they often have really good quality (Primaigi, Ricosta, Geox, Hush Puppy) toddler and children's shoes.

"Proper fitting" is a massive con. You really can do it yourself.

Not that near for me. I think any savings would be negated by travel. But as mine's had the same pair for the past two years (I think around 5 pairs over that time) I might well try getting her measured then buying them online next time. We live in a small town where there's a Clarks shop, a Mothercare with a small Clarks section, a Jones the Bootmaker and not much else. I don't know about the boys shoes, but the girls shoes have quite thin soles which just wear out within a term for us.

I wish there were some alternatives. Lelli kelly I haven't tried yet but I might do if they last longer.

I second TK Maxx - got some gorgeous Buckle My Shoe boots there last year for DS, they lasted a full year and I think were RRP around £60, I paid about 30.

And I have been known to buy for future needs in the Clarks Sale - DD has narrow feet so I bought 2 sizes bigger but same width fitting and kept them til she grew into them. £9 for black patent school shoes

What size (European) are your children's feet?

I can't buy Clarks for DD1, she goes through the toes in a matter of weeks. DD2 is very easy on shoes so i don't mind paying £30+ for hers. Brantano has been a saviour on many occasions for DD1!

Currently they each have: Trainers, shoes, and pumps for school, Party shoes, Deck shoes, sandals, and trainers for home.

DS has a pair of sandals and some doodles shoes. Far cheaper!

I am of the "precious feet" persuasion too, hence always spent up to £40 on clarks thinking that at that price they must be good

Anyway, my children all have very flat feet and attend the podiatrist, who, lo and behold said that their flipping expensive shoes were not encouraging an arch on their feet.

He recommended Dunnes trainers, which are usually a third of the price of Clark's, or Geox I'm certainly not forking out £80 on shoes for a three year old

Monkey: maybe that's why they've put the prices up so much.

The shoes I just bought a couple of weeks ago were £34, and the ones exactly the same style but half a size smaller a year ago £28. It's a massive increase I think.

And probably one which will push me into trying somewhere else next time.

Forty sodding quid, from the children's dept.!!!

Massively fussy DD1s cost £45 from the adults section, I expect that, but I thought DD2s would be around £30.

We have a Clarks outlet shop and I just bought DS who is 4 his 1st pair of school shoes for £22.99.

They are lovely. The pair we looked at in the normal Clarks were £39.

All kids shoes are ridiculous, his nike trainers cost us £35 and his Vans and Converse cost more then that - but then I choose to buy them.

DS at secondary and his cost £75!!!! Had to be kickers of course

I seem to get email offers from Clarks pretty often ... 20% off shoes ... so that helps when kitting out DS. That said I did buy DS an off the shelf pair of high tops from Debenhams yesterday for £12 which look and fit lovely.

DH bought a pair of beautiful boots for DD from Clarkes last January for just £12. It's not even an outlet. You need to start shopping for your DD's shoes in the sales. I'm lucky because DD's feet don't grow very fast at all, so I can buy slightly bigger sizes for her, and they fit her within a year or so. I have some beautiful ugg type boots I bought for her in the Next outlet sale 2 years ago for £3, and they still don't fit her yet. I estimate her size, and because I know her feet so well, I get alot of things for her in advance at a fraction of the price.

Buy cheaper shoes?

have just discovered there is an outlet store near me so will go and check that out - in a normal clarks today I did see a nice pair of boot/shoes for DD that weren't pink (shock) so I may be persuaded if they are reasonable at the outlet. Raspberry I think you're slightly missing the point that yes of course I can buy cheaper shoes but if they are flimsy, going to leak, not support Dcs feet properly then I'd rather not, just wish the good ones were £20ish not £40ish. Some interesting suggestions and comments on here - will def check out TKMaxx (though usually can't abide the place!)

DD2 has had shoes from the sale, but this time I wanted to hang on as long as possible, because she was very close to getting away with the next size up.

Sadly we don't have any school shoe outlet shops.

Good Nike shop for trainers and various outdoor shops for coats they won't wear, but not school shoes.

brantano are good, the one near us has much better selection than clarks as it is massive and has clarks things + loads of other brands too
i didnt know tk maxx does kids shoes,i am gonna check that out thanks whoever mentioned it and the dunnes trainer for flat feet!

reducing the price would also lead to a reduction in quality.

excellent, have just located a Brantano as well. Thanks for the suggestions

DS got his first pair at clarks when he was 11months - £32! Paid for them, followed by "see you in six weeks, their feet grow so fast at this age"
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