In thinking that trainers don't need dolls in the sole?

[hotcrossbunny]

Went to buy dd(4) trainers in an independent shoe shop. The only ones they had to fit were the Clarks ones with the lift up flap with the doll underneath. I don't see why dolls in the shoes have anything to do with running around and being fit, or am I missing something? The fitter agreed...even my dd agreed. (Girls at school have the school shoes with doll and the flap has broken for 2 of them, and the doll is soooo tiny it gets lost).

We went elsewhere and found some without the doll

I agree. I refused to buy the shoes for DD.

DS1's school shoes have a little car in them. Can't see the point and would have preferred to buy some without but he's difficult to fit and they were the only ones they had. The car came out, got lost and the flaps have never been raised again so a complete waste of time.

But at least they're not spangly and glittering like those Lelly Kelly things for girls. They make me thankful I've got boys.

We had to get them for dd2 as our local independent shoe shop closed down and Clarks is the only way to go. AS she is a very narrow E fitting they were the only ones that fit. They are fine, she took the doll out straightaway and plays with it along with her 5 trillion polly pockets. No complaints about the shoes (although they are deffo not ones I would have chosen had I any choice) although after you have lifted the flap up a couple of times it forms a kind of ridge half way along the sole which is annoying.

I'll be driving 30 miles to our nearest startrite shop in august.

Ah, you see we far refer the Lelly Kelly shoes. Mind you, I just have a big objection to Clarks full stop, so doesn't help.

I was very with the woman in the clark's shop who whilst I was paying for dd's school shoes with the doll in (only ones that fitted apparently ), showed dd all the other dolls she could collect "when mummy buys you the trainers, wellis and slippers! I think not, and dd was swiftly told so!

boys get the car lapin

its not gender specific

and there is nothing wrong with spangly

Glad I'm not alone

When I was little, it was all about sensible shoes which fitted well. Now its manufacturers trying to make as much money out of parents as possible by appealing to the pester power factor. Fortunately my dd seems fairly clued up and would much rather have pretty party shoes to take care of, and other shoes which are purely for practical running around purposes (She does like flashing lights tho' - which I don't mind as they don't affect the comfort or fit of the shoe).

when you have a boy do you have to live in an endless sea of navy and beige

the tedium

Give me tedium over spangly any day

god thats depressing mummydoit

I refused shoes last week for ds with toys in the heel. It then cost me £36 for a pair of start-rites [mug]

yy startrites rip us off jsut as much

by making us pay for being poncy middle class shoe snobs

The DTs don't fit any of the shoes with toys and bits in fortunately. They have a lovely C fitting which means only 1 or possibly 2 pairs of shoes in the whole of North fecking London fit them. Sigh...

Ah but you can't get all 'good old old days' on us.

I remember the Clarkes shoes with a Key!
That was late eighties.

Clarks shoes with a key?????

I was a Peter Lord child!

I remember those. My DS wants the Clarks trainers with the car in.

No, of course they don't need a doll in them. They don't need sparkley bits, flowers or other decoration either. They don't need to be brightly coloured or anything other than dull and plain.

Children don't need brightly coloured clothing or anything pretty or fun at all actually.

Now, don't get me started on Lelli Kelli though. they're simply sh*te

I remember being very jealous when my brother got school shoes with a compass in the heel - in the 60s. If I remember correctly they had animal shapes on the sole too. I won't swear to it, but suspect they were start rites.

compass now that is useful

dd1 said she wanted a pair of shoes with a swiss army knife in the heel

DSs have the car shoes from Clarkes. The cars are no longer in the shoes and they're both just a pair of plain black school shoes now. I really don't see the point of getting het up about it TBH. I let DSs have whatever school shoes they want from the selection available in their size (DS2 has an H fitting so has a limited choice). I never let them browse and choose from the whole store.

agree with the soup