to want to buy shoes for my 4 year old dd that are not school shoes, not trainers, not flimsy, yet pretty, and won't cost me 40 f*ing quid

[emkana]

grrrrrrrrr

this is the time when I feel homesick for Germany

Have been all over the place today, but NOTHING

TK maxx, Startrite or Geox (John Lewis are good for the latter 2)

Thank you but startrite shoes cost £££££££££££££ don't they? Had a look at the John Lewis website and - nothing there.

Think we paid about £32 for dd's pair last year which I guess is a fair bit. Brantano do a mix of brands and styles.

Another one for Brantano - and they have great sales.
Got ds1 a lovely pair of brown Hush Puppies for £15

Thank you but I just had a look at the Brantano website and it entirely proves my point - all the shoes are either black, or trainers, or too flimsy for this time of year.

shoes have always been a huge bugbear of mine. the thing that really pisses me off is the lack of what I would call "covered" shpes for girls.

take start-rite wesbsite as a classic illustration

boys here

girls shoes

why do they think that boys need covered shoes and girls don't? I so don;t get it?

do girls not go out in the winter?

there is, admittedly a couple of pairs but damn they're ugly.

Exactly my point hatwoman. Pisses me right off. (In case you couldn't tell. )

Hush Puppies?

have you got a Johnson's near you? they're better than most - but still not great.

emkana nip over to france and whilst buting wine go to shoeshop
they have lovely pretty kids shoes

du pareil au meme are nice.

Vertbaudet usually have a selection of nice Mary Janes in pretty colours, though the range currently on their website looks a bit lacking. Check the catalogue, it usually looks better on paper.

Angulus are a danish brand which are lovely but £££.

I thought these were lovely - are they too flimsy?

I usually get DD boots (ankle boots the last couple of years, knee-length this year as she's just 4yo) because of the lack of decent shoes. Emkana, are you in west london? Have you tried Johnsons Shoes? They stock several brands.

x-post with hatwoman LOL

Do you like the Doc Marten girl's shoes. www.amazon.co.uk/Footwear-Dr-Martens-Girls-Shoes-Accessories/s/ref=sr_pg_1?ie=UTF8&rs=362352011&rh=n %3A355005011%2Cn%3A362352011%2Cp%5Fn%5Ftarget%5Faudience%5Fbrowse-bin%3A363842011%2Cp%5Fn%5Ftarget%5 Faudience%5Fbrowse-bin%3A363843011%2Cp%5F4%3ADr%20Martens&page=1

Sympathies: this whole issue would drive me wacky if I had a dd.

Obviously puddles and mud are not expected to be the domain of the feminine foot. Grrrrrr.

Failing that, get a cheap flight to France or Spain and visit a handy hypermarket.

mary-janes aren't really up to winter. imo. although it has to be said that after several years of being pissed off by this I've given up hope and they just wear trainers or mary-janes all the time. i could find practical ones when dd's were about 3 - but then they just tail off and its mjs or trainers. (or boots that seem to have the effect of making small girls go all prancey and show-offey and are very often swede and therefore not particularly practical anyway)

Oh Blu, the DMs are gorgeous!

(My girls had to wear wellies for puddle jumping - those are much nicer )

where on earth did that apostrophe come from. I do beg your pardon ladies.

as you were.

Honestly you lot are so lucky to have the internet - I hope you appreciate it!

hugs, had to buy ds1 new rugby boots today £49 !!!
am always horrified about little girls shoes though, unless as you say you pay an arm and a leg

pumpkin patch? M&S?

I like the look of the Dr. Martens shoes, but they are not cheap either and I don't really like buying shoes over the internet, I like having the fit checked by the shop assistant.

I know I am moaning tonight, sorry!

Take it back about Germany btw, have been trawling websites and they're all pants as well.

Grrr

My 4yo dd2 has these which are pretty, sturdy and not too expensive.