to feel annoyed that all girls school shoes

[kingfergus]

have that stupid strap and gap which makes their socks go sodden if walking in the rain.

The boys shoes at my DS's school mean they all arrive with dry feet but the girls always get wet socks if it rains in the playground or on the journey to school.

Why do girls shoes have that strap style and boys have nice water tight boot style. Surely it's time this changed.

I remember this as a child too wet socks all day after heavy rain.

So rather than "Why do girls shoes have that strap style and boys have nice water tight boot style. Surely it's time this changed."

What you meant in OP was Why does my school enforce shoes that for girls have the strap style and the boys have nice water tight boot style. Surely it's time that changed?

A) I don't know why your school enforces this.
B) If you want it changed I suggest your first port of call be the Headteacher.

In general for shoes I'd try to avoid Clarks as much as possible, their shoe displays are so divisive, I remember when DS wanted shoes with a little car in the sole FFS. M&S and BHS have nice shoes in that are robust and could be worn by boys or girls.

I'd say these would suit anyone. Nicely shaped black trainer with velcro.

I actually can't believe that anyone (whatyalookingat) would say it's my fault for buying the wrong shoes and not question the availability and marketing of girls and boys shoes. I am astounded actually.

Oddly enough I was just given the elastic laces tip by someone as a suggestion for tap shoes.

Don't think anywhere makes laced shoes that fit dd until she grows a bit. Clarks don't fit.

Hang on King, I've read the whole thread and I'm now confused. Is it that your school states "require specific style shoes" or the "availability and marketing of girls and boys shoes"?

punk are you kidding? Those are vile I wouldn't expect any girl over the gae of 3 to wear those without a massive fight. I certainly wouldn't wear them!!

I did whinge about this in Clarks once and they said that closed in girls' shoes don't sell

Punk it would be a cold day in hell before i would get those anywhere near the feet of my dds!!

Not allowed at my dds school anyway as look like trainers.

So what we're after then is something that looks like a 'girls shoe' but has all the practicalities of 'boys shoes'. Good luck, really. I wear Doc Martins 24/7 as it's the only comfy shoe I can find, waterproof and hard wearing and I get them in nice colours. I admit I am no fashionista

shoes are a feminist issue.
why should girls wear those ridiculous slipper pumps that don't support the foot and make them walk like ducks???

Another one whose dd or ds would not be allowed to wear the linked trainer style shoes. Besides unless it's a fluke that they are the right width they wouldn't fit either my ridiculously narrow footed ds or my wide footed high instep dd

Clarks don't even fit her (not deep enough)

what hokeycokey said - no girl that I know would wear those, and if she did she would never live it down

What about these. For me they'd be top end of the price scale but I've heard good things about Toughies. There are other styles on there too.

I think myself lucky that DD2 has special dispensation to wear Kickers to school due to Hypermobility Syndrome - keeps her feet warm and dry and help support her ankles too. Shame DD1 isn't allowed to wear them as well though we couldn't afford £100 on 2 pairs of school shoes!

DD2 has these btw.

OP. try start rite. They've got loads of new styles on their website that are sturdy looking girls lace ups very smart that for once start in smaller sizes. It does say they are good for narrow feet though donut would be just our luck if they are not wide enough.

Those are lovely Truth, I'd like something like that for when DM's were too casual.

I'm just pissed off with the whole school shoe thing. I'd rather primary school children wore sporty footwear more fitting to the running around and hard-wearing that they do in all weathers. DD2 went through 3 pairs of shoes last year. She wore them out before she outgrew them. I seem to spend my life 9and money) buying school shoes and lunchboxes because they are not made fit for purpose. Of course, I like the way proper black shoes look with uniform, but after 3 days wear, my DDs' shoes no longer look smart so it's irrelevant.

Now they are like a leather version on Wallaby's that i used to wear back in the day in brightly coloured suede with lots of tags on!

I think they would be ok for older girls with thick tights.

ha ha ha ha....so it turns out you pay loads of money to get gender stereotyping rammed down your kids throats....nice.

My eldest dd is at big school and wears Brogues which are fab, my youngest dd wears the strap ones but they don't seem to bother her. We walk to school but we tend to walk in our Wellies then they change once in school :-)
I find clarks choice awful so this year we used hush puppies which I have to say I will never use again, they've never used as many plasters :-(

Ds has had toughies shoes as they suited his very very narrow foot. They were brilliant if the fit is right.

Helpful ICBINEG

exactly icbineg, pisses me right off.

euphemia I got a pair of black leather ballet pump-style shoes for DD aged 8 from Peter Jones for £22, she loves them and they seem comfortable and hard-wearing.

truth those boots go up to a child's size 11 which would have been too small for both of my DD's after about age 5.

My 9yo DD who is in year 5 takes an adult size 4

I think those Kickers with Velcro are the best suggested so far. But they are so expensive. Not sure I'll be able to afford £45, or at least justify it, when dd needs school shoes.

Friends with DDs at school say new school shoes from Clarkes or Startrite cause blisters when breaking in. The selection is indeed rubbish.