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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to find my DD a pair of shoes which do not make her look like 'toddler of Barbie?'

67 replies

cushioncover · 17/04/2008 14:08

I've been to both Clarks and John Lewis this morning to try and find a nice pair of shoes for DD who's nearly 2. Everything, especially in Clarks, was sooo pink. If it wasn't pink it was glittery or had pink flowers stuck to it. They weren't even a nice pale pink just a gawdy yucky pink.

The Clarks website shows a pale blue pair and one with spots but the biggish branch I visited said very few branches will request or be allocated these.

I really like all the colours and styles of the 'first shoes', the blues and beiges with velcro bits but they don't continue up. I don't want her to look like a boy just not to have to wear bright pink shoes with her green or red trousers.
Rant over (It's been a stressful and unproductive morning)

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 17/04/2008 14:10

YANBU.
We just buy boys' shoes. They look fine with girly or tomboy clothes.
But it would have been nice to have some plain red ones or something.

sophiewd · 17/04/2008 14:11

Tend to buy boys shoes, but have got her some great canvas sandals from Startright

lulu25 · 17/04/2008 14:11

yanbu, i've got a boy and i'm totally over pirates and blue/brown. waiting for his feet to get a little bigger so we can go for kickers and converse. clark's can sod off.

Fimbo · 17/04/2008 14:12

Try to find an independant shoe shop. They usually have some of the German manufacturers etc who make gorgeous childrens shoes although you will pay more for them.

TK Maxx are also worth a look, occasionally they have really good makes/styles at a fraction of the cost.

HairyToe · 17/04/2008 14:12

If you do manage to find some non-pink sickly girlie shoes then make the most of it bacause if she's anything like my DD by the time she'd 3 she won't be seen dead in anything else .

Had to drag a tearful 4 year-old out of Shoezone last week when I refused to buy her pink 'Barbie' sandals with red flshing lights across the top - a step too far even for me.

WorzselMummage · 17/04/2008 14:12

Whoever designs clarks shoes should have a word with themselves, they are hideous.. especially the plastic pink coloured ones.

Our local shop's got the spotty ones if your local to the west midlands.

Iklboo · 17/04/2008 14:13

Those bloody Lelly Kelly shoes on tv make my stomach turn

Anna8888 · 17/04/2008 14:14

Look at the Start-Rite website, decide which model you like.

Then have your DD measured at a Start-Rite stockist (there are loads) and order the exact pair you want.

I do this in England because Start-Rites are so damn expensive here in France (and the Must Have Shoe).

stealthsquiggle · 17/04/2008 14:15

We found some really nice (and yet still girly) navy blue ones - I think they were ecco - in our local independent shoe shop, but the dragon-like fitting lady said they didn't fit DD properly so we ended up with pink and sparkly (not lelli-kelly sparkly, but still a little bit sparkly)[sigh]

Anna8888 · 17/04/2008 14:16

This fabulous French children's very tasteful shoe shop will be opening on-line next month.

Very tasteful, very pricy.

castille · 17/04/2008 14:27

I second an independent shoe shop that sells continental brands. There are lots of lovely French and Italian shoes for children. Pricier than Clarks maybe, but 100% nicer and better quality.

PinkTulips · 17/04/2008 14:28

next have a few pairs at the minute that aren't too bad

i have this problem with dd every year, i'm not a huge fan of pink and she has hardly any pink cloths so i need normal coloured shoes to match.

don't spend 30/40 quid on a pair of shoes for a toddler, they grow so quickly it's a waste.

Original poster
cushioncover · 17/04/2008 14:29

Phew! I knew I wasn't the only one because the woman in Clarks said that every other customer asks if they have anything that isn't pink. I don't understand why that isn't fed back to the style people?

HT, I'm bracing myself fot the pink obsession as she gets older but for the next year of two I thought I could shut it out!

They did have some Start-rite in JL but they were plain navy or shiny black school shoes.

I may have to look at the boys section. I just want something funky that she can wear with her jade green cords. Shiny redones would be good!

OP posts:
Original poster
cushioncover · 17/04/2008 14:34

Yes and thanks for the idea of looking for an independent shoe shop. I'll have a look although I'm loathe to spend too much on shoes for a not yet 2yr old.

Poor DH nearly fell through the floor when he found out that DS's Start-Rite school shoes cost £35!

OP posts:
Anna8888 · 17/04/2008 14:34

Nice classic Start-Rite Louisa, good in red.

Fimbo · 17/04/2008 14:35

Do anyone of you live or have access to Norwich?

Start-rite shoes are made here. There is a factory shop which sells shoes at a fraction of the cost. It is not open at weekends though and closes at 4.45 during the week. Although it does open for 3 Saturdays in August.

Fimbo · 17/04/2008 14:38

My dd has had this pair from the factory shop a few times and they were only £18

Original poster
cushioncover · 17/04/2008 14:44

Anna and Fimbo, they're both nice. I really like the Frenzi one as well!
Nowhere near Norwich though so I'll have tofinda local stockist.

I want to avoid black as I figure she has so many years of wearing black shoes ahead of her. I just fancied something in red as it would go with most of her clothes.

OP posts:
Original poster
cushioncover · 17/04/2008 14:47

Ooh, I've just found a pair called tansy on the Start-Rite website under first shoes. They are exactly the sort of thing I was looking for because they are filled in at the front IYKWIM. Must find a stockist!

OP posts:
bozza · 17/04/2008 14:47

I have just bought my DD a pair of white Clarks shoes, they have a small amount of blue and green trim. The Startrite and Ecco shoes she tried on did not fit. I was dubious about white shoes because of the durability issue, but she also has a pair of doodles (red and pink with velcro so remind me of a retro trainer style) which she wears for nursery although today we have dug her boots back out.

DD is nearly 4 and very much has a mind of her own but she was happy with these shoes but is now requesting crocs.

Anna8888 · 17/04/2008 14:53

Also some of these - Clare, Colorado, Lottie II

TigerFeet · 17/04/2008 14:55

My dd is 3.9 and is definitely going through the pink thing. I found a perfectly servicable pair of navy shoes in the local Clarks outlet but she spotted pink ones with flowers on and fell for them - they were solid and did fit her very well so we bought them - as someone above said she will be in school shoes soon enough, in fact her next pair will probably have to be schools shoes. So pink it is.

I was also in Sports Soccer the other day buying a pair of trainers (for myself!). OMG, you should see the shoes, boots and trainers in there . DD was in wonderland. And the clothes . It was a pink Barbie palace. I'm all for freedom of expression but one has to draw the line somewhere [stern].

Original poster
cushioncover · 17/04/2008 15:00

Anna, I actually quite like those Colorado boots even in pink. You see to me, there's pink and then there's pink !

OP posts:
IdrisTheDragon · 17/04/2008 15:01

DD has a pair of Start-rite ones that I really like - will try and find out which ones they are.

Navy blue with flowers

Anna8888 · 17/04/2008 15:04

Cushioncover - my daughter had those Colorado boots in pink last winter and they were great with jeans - very sweet and childlike, not remotely vulgar .

Here in Paris the "children's classics" Start-Rites are très, très chic .

The Louisas or Clares look fantastic with plain ribbed coloured tights and a little sticking out skirt (have addresses too ).