To expect to be able to buy CLOSED shoes for dd to wear to school in winter?

[PrettyCandles]

Out of the whole of the Clarks and Startrite ranges for dd's size there is only one closed girl's shoe that is not a pink trainer - and it doesn't fit her. But it's England in the winter - it rains. And we walk to and from school. Grrrrrrr.

And, while I'm on the subject of shoes, ds1 has been able to tie his shoelaces since he was 6.5y...but there aren't any shoelaces for him to tie, because you can't get lace-ups until secondary-school sizes.

Of course, were I to stump up for Continental shoes, we could get closed shoes in winter, lace-ups at age 7, beautiful styling - but we wouldn't be able to wear them to school, because they don't come in boring black or navy.

[where's a raspberry emoticon when you need one?!]

ds has to have lace ups and he's only 8 because it is all that will fit him.
we LONG for velcro straps.

i don't see what it matters how they are fastened.

as for closed how about this?

or this?

or this?

or this?

Wellies then change.

I do feel that foot wear for children is dumbing down. Velcro fastenings.... doesn't bear thinking about.

dds are still in last years shoes because i cant find any closed shoes. YANBU

Thanks for those, TMMJ. The Clarks one is the one that doesn't fit dd, and the Startrite ones don't come in her size - even if she could do her laces yet.

Ds1 and dd have wide feet, high insteps, and narrow heels: they are very difficult to fit for shoes. With lace-ups you can get a better fit than with velcro. Besides, lace-ups don't rip the cuffs of school trousers to shreds, nor do they wear out and stop working (or if they do you can just replace the lace, rather than the whole shoe).

Isnt' it ironic, Burpie, that we worry about making sure their shoes fit well, and then have to have them walk to school - the longest, most frequent walk that they take - in wellies?

Stead and Simpson do a good range of closed shoes for girls.

I've always been a Clarks worshipper but this yr (dd is 8) i had exactly the same problem as you. Wandered into Stead and Simpson and found a great pair straight away. They measured her and they fit lovely.
Only £14 as well.

hush puppies are good for narrow heel/ wide front/ high instep

can she wear leather boots?

There'll be more in stock soon. Now's a bad time to be looking I think.

I didn't even know Hushpuppies do children's shoes! Now I just have to find a stockist.