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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a lot of girl's school shoes are stupid and not designed for winter...

70 replies

katykuns · 14/12/2012 20:44

Granted, I am on a low income and buy from cheaper places, so perhaps that has a bearing on what I come across... but all the ranges I have seen have either had silly high heels (DD is 6) or are little ballet style pumps. It's bloody freezing here and they are just stupid... when it rains water gets on her socks, her feet are permanently cold.
Then I look at the boys shoes and they are all sturdy, cover the whole foot and look they will last more than 5 minutes.

Am I being unreasonable to want to smack the people that design these? And the supermarkets/shops that only sell effectively the same shoe, but with different flowery/butterfly shit on them?

OP posts:
Jingleallthejay · 14/12/2012 21:21

BuY 'boys' shoes they are a lot sturdier I always got my dds boots in winter as the shoes were just rubbish

Jingleallthejay · 14/12/2012 21:22

badguider I wear sensible old lady shoes as i have a mobility problem the range is very limited and I end up buying the same pairs all the time

MsVestibule · 14/12/2012 21:26

Sturdy looking Clarks shoe

These look pretty sturdy and will be the type I buy DD (5) when she grows out of her current -tbar-let-all-the-rain-in type shoe she has at the moment.

MuddlingMackem · 14/12/2012 21:26

I always wear men's flat black lace ups. I used to buy from the girls' school range, but they always have heels these days.

Jingleallthejay · 14/12/2012 21:28

I have size 2 feet so i do get boys but the ones i have had recently are small made so i can get away with a 3 they are made for 'comfort' for old ladies Grin

Jingleallthejay · 14/12/2012 21:29

I got dd2 sketchers shoes not the trainers once for autumn winter but they stopped making them she gets the strap ones now but they were really sturdt

whomovedmychocolate · 14/12/2012 21:32

DD has boots. She only ever wears trousers though so you might not notice if you saw her. They are gorgeous, warm and come up high enough to not get her feet cold.

But agree most of the children's shoes are ridiculous for this weather.

GrimmaTheNome · 14/12/2012 21:36

All the big girls are wearing the brogue-type shoes at the moment . Do they make anything like that for little girls?

In general you're right, 'girls' shoes tend to be much less practical than 'boys'. Another thing that needs less genderising.

And I've no idea why most schools don't allow boots either.

prettydaisies · 14/12/2012 21:53

Was very thankful that my 11 yr old DD was happy with the brogue style. She has to walk to and from the bus stop and then around school in all sorts of weather. I guess a problem for young children is that they are lace ups.

cantspel · 14/12/2012 22:01

shoezone sell cheap girls brogue shoes for a tenner

www.shoezone.com/Girls-Shoes/Girls-Black-Lace-Up-Brogue-Shoe/20591

beamme · 14/12/2012 22:36

Shoe zone are good. I bought DD some flat boots to see her through the cold/wet spell.

conorsrockers · 14/12/2012 22:42

I buy the same shoes from Clarks every year/18 months or so. Black leather double Velcro strap. Have done since the boys were three - I'm wondering when they will cotton on that they are seriously uncool - they don't seem to give a shit at the moment, infact I don't think they've even realised there's a choice!!! However, they are usually around £30, but, for a shoe that they wear almost every day, that often are still wearable after a year and a half - I think it's money well spent. I do polish them (properly) regularly, which keeps them in really good nick.

Theicingontop · 14/12/2012 22:46

When I was at school (not too long ago really) they had the ballet pumps banned. I think they were too 'fashionable'. We all had to wear loafer-style shoes and I think I still have my last pair of school shoes under my bed somewhere! They were so comfortable, lasted forever.

www.shoesrfamous.com/image/cache/data/S-2491-800x800.jpg

CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 14/12/2012 22:48

DDs high school want black shoes. Boots arent allowed. Not even ankle boots under trousers. I'm most put out. I fucking hate ballet pumps!

AlreadyScone · 14/12/2012 22:51

YANBU

I just want simple, embellishment-free black shoes that are warm, grip well and fasten easily.

Can I find them? Can I bollocks.

steppemum · 14/12/2012 22:56

You are so Not unreasonable

dds wear wellies to school if wet underfoot (but then they go outside at playtime and get wet feet in a way that ds doesn't)

I have to buy clarks, because they need proper width fitting (dd1 wide and dd2 narrow)

they both have big feet, so boys shoes would be big and clumpy on them

Some girls in dd2 reception wear boots, they look lovely, but I can't help but think they are a bit in the way when they are sitting on the carpet or playing (less flexible)

When thye are in secondary I will buy kickers or DMs if they are allowed!

tarantula · 14/12/2012 22:57

I buy dd coloured shoes/boots (kickers where poss) in the sales at the end of the summer and dye them black. Works really well and you get a good pair of shoes cheap. got kickers this year for £12.

steppemum · 14/12/2012 23:06

kickers do good black ones, my friends 3 girls have them

MuddlingMackem · 14/12/2012 23:31

To whoever asked why they can't wear boots:

Our DCs' school lets them go to school in boots or wellies, but they have to change into their regular shoes or gym shoes as the school is too well heated and they can get hot and uncomfortable if they wear them all day.

Disappearing · 14/12/2012 23:58

These startrite shoes are the longest lasting girls school shoes we've had yet, particularly in patent leather which is a more durable finish, they're on sale at the mo on startrite website, for £24.00 which I think is a good price.

Though I wouldn't go so far as recommending all startrite shoes, we've had some which lasted only a term before looking awful. actually these ones, in non-patent, but a different stitching pattern, sames shoes though otherwise, I'd avoid!

IsaXMASbelleRinging · 15/12/2012 00:03

YABU

It's not that hard to find a full covered shoe for girls. My dd has had them for the last 3 years for school. I take her to the shoe shop and say I would like a full shoe and they have had startrite and ricosta boota and shoes to choose from. They cost between £35-£45 and lasted all winter. The following links show the ones my dd has had (but bought from local shoe shop)

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=ricosta+girls+school+shoe&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=1280&bih=666&tbm=isch&tbnid=fkfylxBZcxbunM:&imgrefurl=www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIRLS-RICOSTA-MIA-BLACK-SCHOOL-SHOES-BNIB-/270612218209&docid=WlVbklIxhlHUpM&imgurl=i.ebayimg.com/t/GIRLS-RICOSTA-MIA-BLACK-SCHOOL-SHOES-BNIB-/08/!Bypy%29h!Bmk~%2524%28KGrHqZ,!jQEw5Ptp%28lDBMStg!IUYQ~~0_35.JPG&w=300&h=225&ei=J7zLUO7GEu6a1AXh0ICoAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=326&vpy=158&dur=259&hovh=180&hovw=240&tx=133&ty=131&sig=108422782837032411430&page=2&tbnh=148&tbnw=205&start=26&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:35,s:0,i:194" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here

here

here

But if you only want to pay £10, what do you expect? Except wet feet?

steppemum · 15/12/2012 00:04

but patent is hopeless - dds ride scooters to school and play in the playground, so patent are scratched and trashed within a week and you can't reknew finish with polish like normal shoes.

happy mum - pretty much all girls shoes are Mary Janes, flat lighter weight, open on the top like a court shoe and with a strap across the ankle. Lace up shoes for girls are impossible to find.
I think it is because most kids are driven to school, so there isn't any need for shoes you can be outside in!

Disappearing · 15/12/2012 00:12

steppemum - I used to think that of patent shoes, until DD had that pair, she goes by scooter to school every day, climbs trees, plays outside etc. the patent shoes have perhaps 2 minor scuffs now, not terribly noticeable, when compared with all the non-patent shoes she's had up until now, they look much better, plus I've only had to clean them twice now since September, a quick wipe over sorted them well. These ones honestly seem bomb proof!

KateShmate · 15/12/2012 01:35

This is so true and was only wondering this the other day!

I got so sick of my poor 5YO and 6YO DD's coming home from school and being able to wring their tights out because they were so wet. Even if they wore wellies to school they would still get wet feet at playtime.
Their Clarks mary jane's have lasted really well and was tempted to just get some black school boots from Clarks but decided to go for a change and get them some black patent Kicker boots. They seem really really sturdy and, personally, I think they look pretty cute with skirts and tights too!
Would definitely recommend!