Bloody school shoes!!!!

[chilledmama]

To be more precise...
AIBU to want to put waterproof school shoes on my DDs feet just like my DS gets??
According to Clarks and StartRite I am being Very Unreasonable!!!
Don't girls like to play outside just as much as boys??
Don't girls walk to and from school just like boys??
Then why of bloody why can't they sell school shoes that are waterproof and put an effing bow on the front?????

YADNBU!

YANBU - buy her the boys shoes, they're no different anyway

Yanbu!!

I had this conversation in Clarks and ended up buying the brown "boys" shoes. They look very clumpy on her but do the job I need them to i.e. cope with puddles, mud, scuffs etc.

Yanbu. My dds have had three pairs of boys shoes between them for that very reason

Not school shoes but casual shoes. The girls variety are shocking.

Weird. Where I grew up (in Aus) we also have Clark's school shoes...maybe it was just the era, but all shoes were lace up style...boys/girls...all the same. Girls were discouraged from wearing Mary-Jane style buckle shoes or courts as they were deemed inappropriate footwear...something to do with health and safety. I do find it strange over here children wearing canvas shoes to school sometimes!

This year for the first time since dd started school Clarks have brought out Brogues and DD was also happy because one of her friends already had some so she was not alone being different. The normal school shoe does not suit her feet as well as not being practical

YANBU

No YANBU but Clarks is a very depressing shoe shop, just saying!! IME find an independent who will properly fit any number of more robust, waterproof styles for girls and boys. Many brands do a much more covered in style than Clarks. Hunt a shop down and once you've found it, cherish it...the shoes may be more expensive in the first instance, but, they all last heaps longer than Clarks.

Its driving me insane! I'll admit that I caved and bought her girls ones but I expected them to last longer than 1 half term but they have genuinely been worn out by her! I will not make the mistake again!
The clarks and start rite winter boots are now in and funny old thing...none of them are black therefore not suitable for use for school!

Perspective21 - already looking!! I would gladly pay the extra to what we need...just struggling a bit and PROPERLY fed up!

Good for you chilledmama , my son is very tough on shoes and I find Babybotte practically bombproof...can you find another local parent to ask, if you like the look of their DCs shoes...they won't mind I'm sure. I am often asked where my son's shoes come from and I happily direct them. The shop isn't miles away but you'd never just pass it on your way to anywhere, IKYWIM ...plus people rely on our massive local shopping centre, full of very average shoes.

Kickers do some really nice buckle up Mary Jane shoes for little girls that last for ages.

I won't buy Clarks or Startrite for boys or girls as think they are just rubbish and their aftercare service is crap too.

John Lewis have some nice girls black boots on their website too.

I posted the exact same thing a while ago and was told by several people that I was being silly and dd should just wear wellies when it's wet. I ended up getting her "girl" shoes from Clarks because they were pretty and she really liked them, but now they are scuffed to pieces and I'm faffing around with wellies whilst ds is perfectly fine in his sensible boy shoes.

I even emailed Clarks to complain as I was so annoyed and got some vague platitude back.

YADNBU

WHY do all girls shoes have a fecking hole in the top ?!

I got DD some black boots from H&M for £15.

You need to measure her feet yourself, and then go ebaying. After two years of crap, leaky shoes, I got a pair of proper shoes for DD, Start Rite, brand new in box, a lot less than what you pay in the shop.

This is what DD has- no problems yet

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIRLS-STARTRITE-BLACK-LEATHER-SLIP-ON-VELCRO-SHOES-SATURN-FITTING-D-E-F-G-/280770531556?pt=UK_Clothing_GirlsShoes_GirlsShoes_GL&var=&hash=item415f3a50e4

sorry, being a link knob www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIRLS-STARTRITE-BLACK-LEATHER-SLIP-ON-VELCRO-SHOES-SATURN-FITTING-D-E-F-G-/280770531556?pt=UK_Clothing_GirlsShoes_GirlsShoes_GL&var=&hash=item415f3a50e4

I hate Clarks passionately. Independent shoe shops IME aren't that much more expensive and the shoes actually fit/suit your child. Once you have been in a few times they give you a heads up on sales often too.

Ricosta is good for waterproof shoes.

Yadnbu. I am depressed by the shoe choice out there for girls. I end up telling the poor sales staff every time and they shrug their shoulders. But as someone up thread did this time I will write to Clarkes. If we all did they'd know there is a gap in the market. Viva la revolution!

But boys' standard school shoes aren't properly waterproof either, this is a longstanding bugbear of mine although I agree they don't have a fecking great hole in the top You have to have the goretex label to get real waterproofing and these are few and far between.

Find an indie shoe shop as mentioned above. The service in ours is second to none. The owner says that she would rather not sell you shoes that sell ones which don't fit properrly.

Also, check out TK Maxx, I sometimes get Geox and Ricosta in there.

I got DD the ricosta brogues - not cheap - sole wore away at toe by end if first week. Brought them in lovely indepwndent shop but same thing happened last year and they wouldn't exchange as its only one foot and they point out that its because of using a scooter. Which it probably is. But shouldn't a forty quid pair of shoes be robust enough to cope with that - at least for longer than a week?
Gonna look at the kicker ones as cants see these lasting much longer.

dd has startrite boys ones, they look like DM type shoes, but do the job and look quite cool really.

she likes them anyhow, but wears trousers, wouldnt look too great with a skirt.

yanbu, there is no choice. dd has flat wide feet too. only consolation is when they get to small adults size there's more choice.