To ask about fashionable school shoes

[PleasedToBeAFlower]

Secondary school.
State school. Over the top strictness about the uniform.
Shoes have to be black, plain black, no logo, no labels, no trainers, no nike, addidas, etc.
DS meanwhile tells me that anyone at school who walks around in Clarks school shoes gets horrifically mocked, so he doesn't want to wear them.
I've only ever bought Clarks school shoes.
Where do I go to now for boys plain black school shoes that are accepted as fashionable but without any fashion label or logo attached?!
I'm lost.
Shoe size 7.

Shoe zone?
Next?

Cutting it a bit fine in terms of stock levels though

Marks and spencer

Next, marks and spencer (I find marks and spencer better than clarks or would kickers be allowed?

No, not even Kickers are allowed!
Literally no 'branded' shoes. No shoe with any tiny visible label or logo, even if the label or logo itself is black.
It's ridiculous and really irritating!

Next, M&S, Sports Direct

Isn’t Clark’s a label and bistable yet allowed?

Makes me cross!!

I never understood why kickers aren't allowed... or is it just the boot type? Can't you just colour in the red label?

Mines got kangal.

It’s not ridiculous to ban labels and school shoes aren’t meant to be “fashionable”.

Marks and Spencer’s is a good bet. Just support the school. Yes it’s only shoes but also, it’s only shoes! Children don’t need to be fashionable at school. That’s sort of the whole point of uniforms. That they’re uniform and everyone is the same. It’s a great leveller.

How would anyone know if they are Clarks if there is no label?

Ive just bought Hushpuppies for my DD as I don’t like Clark’s and can’t buy her kickers anymore.

@GlutenfreeFast800 it's not always about labels. I like kickers because my son has flat feet and their arch support is quite good

@Oldinjuryhelp111037 fair enough. But there are lots of other places for shoes too that are good quality but without an obvious label.

Sports direct.

@GlutenfreeFast800 I agree but think you are also missing the point which is that the children are avoiding these shoes precisely to be fashionable. It's not about a great leveller. It's about fitting into a trend, which is no obvious labels but that in itself is a fashion and a look.

And so it begins.
Your son can be ‘fashionable’ weekends and evenings. Sounds like a great school to me. Uniform is uniform, if you don’t like it move him or home school. It’s school not a fashion show.

You can smell them a mile off they LOOK like clarks

Apparently DM’s are the thing this year, pricey though

My DS wore plain oxfords from Matalan. Never had a problem.

How many kids end up working in a career where they have to wear smart black shoes to work? Talk about being stifled.

I'd say Next or M&S is a good bet, maybe Office and also Sports Direct do non trainer options now.

Failing that some Gucci loafers haha!

Bought my daughter a pair of DM for year 10 last year. She's wearing them again this year, so good return on the hefty price tag 👌🏾.

DMs and a sharpie

I’d say DM’s as well. expensive but they last and hold their value if he out grows them. You can put them on Vinted. They still look good if they are scuffed and you can polish them up to look nice if needed.

We have a ridiculously strict uniform policy. I’ve always been judgy about the parents in the tabloids moaning their little darlings can’t wear the stupidly expensive shoes they’ve bought that aren’t within the rules.
But actually I don’t support the uniform policy at our school. And far from being a ‘leveller’ it’s so expensive the kids who have new and the kids in second hand stand out a mile. The shirts go grey within a few washes and the horrible blazers go shiny.

Some of the trainer shops like JD and Footasylum have shoes that would fit the bill.

Thanks everyone, so helpful. I'm looking at all your suggestions as we speak.
I don't agree that uniform is a leveller.
I'm going to start a new thread about it!

yes, sports direct have some reasonably priced plain ones

'horrific mocking' is bullying and you should be reporting that to the school & they will need to deal with that.
If there is horrific mocking & bullying going on then changing brands of shoes is not going to solve that & the bullies will find something else to mock.