AIBU to buy 2 pairs of school shoes?

[Bluepolkadots42]

DD starts school in September. We have looked at shoes online but not purchased yet. She wants a pair of Mary Jane style shoes- they look lovely however I have real reservations because they are very open on top and just feel they won't protect her feet properly. Her school is very outdoorsy and they go out rain or shine for learning and play etc.
I am considering rather than purchasing eye wateringly expensive Clarks Mary Jane buckle up style shoes to instead buy a cheaper version in Asda plus a trainer style school shoe or maybe even a boot that is fully closed in from Asda too. I bought a trainer style shoe for her in Feb for pre school from Asda and they lasted well- although they look pretty scuffed.
Just wondering if it's silly to consider this and am I being unreasonable to worry about her feet not being protected enough on wet days in a Mary Jane?

Our school expected them to wear wellies if it was wet (they kept a pair in school) so I did buy Mary Jane style shoes for my daughter- they were fine, albeit a lot of that style didn’t fit her feet so we had to try on a lot of shoes.

But there’s no rule says you have to buy Clarks shoes for your child so if you can buy something you like from Asda then why not?! My only reservation about supermarket shoes is they are rarely leather and I don’t like the plastic type material, but that might just be me…

My DD had Mary Jane style all through primary. We just put her in wellies for walking to-from school on really wet days.

My youngest has Mary Jane style ones from Schuh and they are far better than the ones from Clarks and half the price. I also got her a cheapish pair of boots from M&S.

Majorly, majorly overthinking it! Mary Janes will be absolutely fine!

Ours have to take wellies to keep at school but it’s not actually on the uniform list! - They only told us at the parents evening. So maybe double check if they expect wellies to be sent for working/playing outdoors?

My DS has smarter leather Clarks shoes (£50) and trainery type ones from Tesco (£13) and wore whichever ones he felt like - usually the Tesco ones on rainy days as they had a better grip. Both pairs have stayed in really good condition.

Our school doesn't have a strict uniform policy though, just 'black shoes' so it depends on where you are and what your school allows.

Mary Janes are not okay in wet weather. See what I means by the selection here, https://www.elevateyoursole.co.uk/pages/search-results-page?q=mary%20jane%20school%20shoes
Mary Janes are slipper-like shoes that have a very low heel and a strap across the top of the foot. But your child will best take a pair of wellies for the Autumnal weather.

Have a look at Clarks outlet online - free delivery and returns at the moment. We do go with Clarks for my 11 year old grandson as their extra wide H fitting works well for him. Found what we need for £36. Still a fairly good selection of boys and girls school shoes including Mary Janes. That said my grand daughter has a standard width fitting and has had school shoes from Sainbury's and Asda that have lasted well too.

Makes perfect sense tbh. I’d get half a size bigger though.

Does the school not ask you to bring in wellies for messy outdoor play that they can change into? Ours does and saves shoes somewhat. They have a welly rack outside. I tend to try and find Dd some cheap wellies for school.

but I totally get your point and can't see why not!

I usually buy dd a pair of Clark's or start rite and for the price, don't last so I'm not bothering anymore. I've bought a pair from M&S this year, still not cheap buy cheaper then start rite, to see her over for a while, I'm planning to buy her some black boots for the winter then a cheaper pair next summer.

she wrecks shoes before she outgrows them. We live rurally and the walk to school is very muddy!

My dd has a pair of wellies for outside and these stay at school.
She also has Mary Jane's and they have been absolutely fine. We buy them from clarks, they last all year and give her feet great support.

My kids school has wellies they leave at school for forest school activities and wet play. She's always worn Mary Jane's. I've always hated them. She's 7 now. I've broached her perhaps having some ankle boots this year. We are braving the shops this weekend. Don't have any of these issues for 5yo ds, boys shoes are so much better but the girls want to be the same as the rest, understandably.

www.marksandspencer.com/kids-leather-freshfeet-bow-school-shoes-13-small-9-large-/p/clp60491910

I bought these as a compromise for DD as I was worried about wet feet. I'll probably come to regret the patent

Mary Janes are slipper-like shoes that have a very low heel and a strap across the top of the foot.

Mary Janes can have any kind of heel or sole. The strap across the top of the foot is what makes them 'Mary Janes'. Lots of kids' Mary Janes are really chunky and definitely not slipper-like - Doc Martens do loads of Mary Jane styles, for adults as well as kids.

Our kids had quite prescriptive school shoe style, Mary Janes were accepted but trainer or boot style would not be. They were allowed wellies if wet out.

I don’t buy school shoes in September. I buy boots in October and summer shoes in about May, that have so far seen us through the autumn term, too. Girls school shoes are ridiculously fragile and summery, and not suitable for British winters. It’s my fist that girls should have to put up with wet, cold fee, or be expected to stay inside imho. Misogyny starts very early and I wasn’t going to put up with it.

Buy some cheaper mary janes and a pair of smart boots- chelsea or similar, not wellies. She'll be fine with damp feet in mary janes

Our primary school (rural village) insisted all dcs kept a pair of wellies at school for outdoors muddy/wet days.

You may find the same.

Only buy one pair at a time, whatever you do.
DD wore boots to school in yr1-3.