to be miffed at spending 28quid on some hideous clarks shoes

[lovelysongbird]

they are not even nice.
they are dds 1st proper walking shoes 15months

oh, i quite like them.
i started a thread recently about recycling siblings shoes and the general consensus was that DS2 should have new shoes.
i eventually compromised and got him some from Next after having him measured in clarks. He's only just walking so it's a stop gap before i go for some nice posh ones. (when i get a job)

well dd was size 4 and 1/2 f
i think f is the standard width so next time i might look else where.

when do they have the sale on?

Its awful when 2 or all of my 3 kids need shoes at the same time, all got wide feet and have a problem getting any to fit even in Clarkes. Have twice had to take back incorrectly fitted shoes that made DD's feet bleed after 3 days of wear. Last time we went the only pair that fitted her were the ones i did not want with the naff toy in the heel (these can't be comfy to wear can they, when the insole gets all creased?) Agree I would not be happy buying the cheaper supermarket ones. I do buy sandals, trainers etc elsewhere, these tend to be more generous in width

friend has twins and older dd, real expensive for her kitting them all out for school

But I am lucky now the Clarkes outlet nearby do kids shoes - saves me a FORTUNE!!

well i liked the ROCK CAKE FST £32.00 boots that are long with fur on the top, but dds legs are too chunky

and looking at the site i quite like FAIRY CAKE FST £28.00 (UK) but they did not have them and i think they would cut in as they are quite low.

DS's first shoes were Clarks for purely sentimental reasons and I'd buy first there again but at the rate his feet grow, his school shoes, daps, trainers, wellies and sandals would cost a small fortune every few months from Clarks!

He spends most of his time barefoot at home or on the beach anyway. As long as he's comfortable in them, £10 shoes from Asda and the job's a good'un.

They're not that bad those Maddy May ones but I can understand where you are coming from. Personally I get my kids measured then go off and buy them on ebay. You can ever buy brand new ones off ebay a hell of a lot cheaper but I buy good condition used ones and wash them before they wear them as Clarks wash well. £28-£32 is ridiculous in my mind. My friend spends £55 on Primigi ones for her son and as the expense is so high she only buys one pair in winter and sandals (£35 Geox) in summer so he's having to put up with too big/too small shoes half the time which I personally think is bad for him. He's only 3 so his feet are growing very quickly at this age.

Anyway thats OT really. So whilst I do think Clarks and Startrite do make the best kids shoes I'd never buy full price. I do sometimes buy them in the sale in future sizes though which saves a bomb. I got a load of pairs for £3 each in July which is mad so I stocked up on future sizes.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I think the 'Clarks' obsession is mainly from northern grandparents.

I remember mine couldn't wait to take DS for his first pair of shoes, and it had to be clarks!

We use an independent shop now, and always buy in the sales.

Hey I'm with you littlestrawberry, my DD is only 2 so going through shoes at a rate of knots.

I use ebay, very cheeckily went to clarks and got dd2's feet measured then went home and got a pair that had barely been worn for £4.39 inc p+P ( same style as those she tried on!)

Obviously made sure they still fit but it's not exactly rocket science is i? I think people get far too obsessed about getting someone to fit dc's fitting shoes without using common sense and feeling for themselves.

I am lucky atm as I can get away with this tactic as dd's are 3 and 1 and I'm making the most ofit while it lasts!!!!

And no NBU

I always post this link on threads about Clarks. If you know the size you need look
here

I have also taken to using a local shop and only buying in the sale. The shop is ridiculous priced London kids boutique, but when the sale comes, boy does it....

You get the kind of reductions you'd never see in Clarks. And anyway, round my way Clarks rep is the pits for never having the size you need in stock.

DD got two pairs of beautiful swank italian kids shoes for £15 PP reduced from £55. Both in Summer sale - both proper closed toe leather shoes that will be perfect for winter.

Am LOL at the whole Clarke's nostalgia though - I definitely inherited that whole ethic that my DD's feet would be deformed lest she walked in her properly fitted clarks kids shoes - and NEVER allowed patent leather!!

Patent leather is a pain though! DD has some gorgeous red patent leather boots (god that sounds hookerish) and the first time she wore them they got scuffed. I've polished them with normal red polish, then vaseline but I can see them getting easily wrecked.

Clarks are a rip off - sorry.

I have just bought those very boots for DD and I think they're lovely!

She had a pair in the same colours last year and they went with absolutely everything, jeans, dresses, skirts, cords, combats - they are a really good all-purpose boot.

LSB

My sister and I have just looked at the boots you bought and think they are gorgeous

My DD's had similar when they were younger and they were so soft and flexible, I loved them!!!

all the others in the section Im not keen on as they are long boots, dont think they are very nice for a first shoe

sorry love cat, i suppose they are just not what i was expecting to get, i think i was hopeing to get something really dainty.

giddly - My parents always had me properly measured and fitted for shoes, and I got bunions anyway. Apparently, if you have a genetic tendency, your shoes don't play much role.

Where I live now (Greece), there's no such thing as width-fitted shoes.

They're still ridiculously expensive, though!

try buying school shoes for three children...

youngest starting at the end of sept.

i could weep.

All 4 of mine needed new ones once and the only ones that fit DD were £40!! Came out the shop about £130 worse off!! I just find it easier to let someone else do all the measuring, I have no clue and if I have the money i just pay it. They seem to last ages, have tried cheap ones and they fell apart. I stick to the cheaper end though if possible like £26 ones but they seem to have gone up abit lately, think £30 was the cheapest last time I went.

i think thats mad ! as long as the shoe's are leather you can get them place's other than clarkes i know why you did it as first shoes you feel they need the best honesty clarke's shoe are just the same as anywhere as long as you get the right size , next do some really nice ones also i really think clarke do gopping she's