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Original poster

Have you bought school shoes yet?

83 replies

bodenbiscuit · 26/07/2015 12:49

In the past I always buy everything else really early and leave the school shoes until right before they go back, mainly because if their feet suddenly grown they will not get much wear out of them. But leaving it usually means there is very little choice.

So do you leave it or buy quite early?

OP posts:
timeandtimeagain · 26/07/2015 16:54

For mine if they still fit i leave till September

dementedma · 26/07/2015 16:54

Got Ds shoes from Sports Direct yesterday. He is 13 and takes a size 10 and a half!!!! Also got his astro trainers which he is well chuffed with and couldn't have got both in a more expensive shop. Sports direct also cheap as chips for PE kit and socks.

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 16:59

Talkin - Fil lives down that neck of the woods. If over the summer holidays I can face the motorway between south of W'chester and S'oton, might do it. My Ds is a bit older - would they do 18yr old shoes rather than just schoolboys's iyswim. At the moment we are into Clark's click and collect - don't pay unless they fit.

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 17:03

Talkin - sorry - just googled - yes I can see they do adult ones. Am googling for a hint of H fitting Grin

TalkinPeace · 26/07/2015 17:04

Agnes
I have to say that the Men's department is actually better than the kids.
Yes really
they actually fit and measure shoes for teens who grow overnight
and they have all the obscure German brands that fit like nothing else does

DH spends £130 per pair on his work shoes but they last 500 wearings so I'm not complaining

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 17:11

Talkin,
At times we struggle to just get ones which fit. If they are a bit more expensive I am prepared to pay a bit more if they last. Thanks for the tip.

TeenAndTween · 26/07/2015 17:12

We use French's too, as DD2 is a D fitting so I've given up trying anywhere else.

We normally go in the second half of August, but DD2 generally only needs 1 new pair a year so often we go then just to check, but find she doesn't actually need new school shoes yet.

Never need to buy DD1 school shoes again as she is off to college in September. Grin

(Still wondering what these 'growth spurts' are that other posters mention. Doesn't seem to happen in my household!)

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 17:14

Now just to plan a trip to Eastleigh area over the summer when the traffic isn't going to be too bad south -

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 17:46

OP sorry to derail, but this has been really useful. DS off to university so doesn't need school shoes per se but really hard to get an 11 H fitting in any kind of shoe! Managed the last couple of years to get school shoes (with difficulty) now on to just which aren't too hideous.
Thanks Talkin.

TalkinPeace · 26/07/2015 17:50

TBH French's are not alone
for those elsewhere in the country www.wjfrenchandson.co.uk/ : call them and see who they suggest where you live - as the independent stores support each other

has just gone all fluffy recognising the lady doing the children's fitting on the website who did each of my kids first shoes ... they are 17 and 15 now

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 19:21

Talkin - we did not have French's but remember Ds's first shoes. Until the last 2 - 3 years not a problem. Nowadays , if you were a small person, you could pretty much row across the Solent in his shoes. where's my little boy

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 19:30

Anyway , given I have had good advice on this thread , just to say - I always left it until August and just put up with any queues whilst DS feet were growing. Also his feet grew one time out of kilter with School years so got some at Easter which would last probably until Christmas.

lavendersun · 26/07/2015 19:40

We are only buying new shoes because they are so knackered tbh, they have lasted since last September which is pretty amazing. They were from Lelli Kelly - first time we have bought non Start Rite.

DD has chosen another Lelli Kelly pair - fingers crossed the longevity of our our first pair wasnt a fluke!

PerspicaciaTick · 26/07/2015 19:45

School shoes all bought already much to my relief.

Did you know that M&S do girls school shoes up to a size 9? Startrite do larger sizes too.

Binit · 26/07/2015 19:51

I haven't yet. I usually buy in early August as there are a lot of school shoes in stock. One dc with vv narrow feet and one dc with odd shaped feet means I can't wait until the end of August in case I end up with nothing that fits! It can be a bit of a nightmare.

iliketea · 26/07/2015 19:55

Absolutely not, in fact I'm waiting until the very last minute and probably the weekend after school starts..
Dd has grown 2 whole sizes in reception year, so I'm not sure she'll still fit in whatever school shoes I bought now.. I swear she's actually part hobbit! Grin

NoParking · 26/07/2015 20:04

I've bought them already as I have one with tiny feet and a stupidly high instep (not sure where to find deep plimsolls in infant size 6, but have got the last pair of black Bobux in her size as her school shoes) and one with wide toes and narrow heels which are also a bit tricky to fit. I need time for sending things back, just in case.

My local Clarks fitted dd2 in shoes two sizes too big but so shallow I could hardly force her feet in. I haven't been back since.

Makinglists · 26/07/2015 20:13

Slightly different question but what do people think about the durability of start rite shoes. Have always got DS1 clarks but the last few pairs have been rubbish only lasting a 4 months or so and def not out grown. He is 9 walks a lot and does run around/play football in the playground so they need to be tough but even the more robust styles in clarks are rubbish. The younger boys styles that Ds1 used to wear and Ds2 (4) has seem much more durable. Would welcome peoples thoughts (or if you have found a really tough pair of clarks boys shoes in size 3 ish).

Only1scoop · 26/07/2015 20:15

Managed to get 2 pairs of Hush Puppies from TK maxx perfect fit.

I only like HP or Garvalin school shoes.

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 20:16

So just to say - there is no rule that says they have to go back to school with new shoes (unless they are changing years and new rules) . I am a little out of date with "stocking" but if "last" years shoes will do until half term , then buff them up and go with it. I think the older they get then the more you buy the shoes when they need them, not just for new term. Probably v obvious for which I apologise.

lavendersun · 26/07/2015 20:21

Making we always had start rite as DD had a narrow foot and we never found Clarks worked for her.

We go to a lovely independent shoe shop with really nice mature women doing the fitting, I have got lots of confidence in their advice and they always recommended Start rite for DD (they have Clarks too).

They were always great, outgrown before worn out, no issues at all.

AgnesGrey · 26/07/2015 20:32

Making, we had a pair of Start-Rite for DS which he grew out of before they gave out. (but see my posts - Ds's feet grew a lot during school years. ) However, in as much as I can , I would say they are pretty good. When he was younger they were very robust as I remember. Worth a shot IMHO.

Original poster
bodenbiscuit · 26/07/2015 20:33

My girls have definitely all grown out of their shoes by the end of last term...

OP posts:
Original poster
bodenbiscuit · 26/07/2015 20:35

Startrite are most definitely much tougher than Clarks shoes IME. They are, however a bit more expensive usually. All mine were hard on their shoes until about year 2/3 so it's worth getting Startrite then.

OP posts:
lavendersun · 26/07/2015 20:38

I think the shoe choice for our children is fab tbh these days. Lovely styles around. DD (9) has chosen a brogue lace up - so nice, practical and comfy looking.

Am sure that the shoe choice back in my day was hideous by comparison.