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Original poster

Doodles shoes

28 replies

monkeytrousers · 14/05/2006 08:45

I'm not sure if I've just been diddled by Clark's. Went to get some new shoes for DS and because he was a H breath and they didn't have any in a smaller length fitting we were given a 6 1/2 which has loads of toes space - too big basically. I was confused but just said okay cos I thought they knew what they were talking about but he's flapping about like Coco the clown now.

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CarolinaMoonfish · 14/05/2006 08:47

they are supposed to be ok if they don't slip off at the heel aren't they?

Original poster
monkeytrousers · 14/05/2006 08:52

moonfish!! What's going on there?!

I dunno. I'm just a bit worried he's going to trip.

OP posts:
CarolinaMoonfish · 14/05/2006 08:57

still got it after the fishy-themed names thing a while back. It's like wearing last season's clothes, must update it...

I had the opposite with clarks - ds had grown out of his size 5s and the assistant wanted to sell me a 5 and a half. Yes, £24 for a pair of shoes that would prob last 2 weeks Shock. So we found a style that fitted in a 6 (some are roomier than others).

Now I just need a pair of summer shoes for him, prob doodles, grrrr.

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Tommy · 14/05/2006 09:12

I got Startrites doodle types for DS2 - was quite surprised that they were only £1 more expensive. There wasn't a pair of Clarks in his size (8E) to be had anywhere.

lulabelle · 14/05/2006 12:15

This reply has been deleted

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GDG · 14/05/2006 12:18

Take them back and get them refitted - I've done that before with Clarks though I went to a different branch.

Wish Clarks didn't have such a monopoly on kids fitted shoes. I don't know where else to go but spend a fortune on shoes I don't like that much for 3 kids!

catsmother · 14/05/2006 14:14

Startrite and Ecco both do poperly fitted kids' shoes with various width fittings.

I love the Ecco range for children - no more expensive than Clarks. Also Startrite do their own Doodle-esque canvas shoes.

catsmother · 14/05/2006 14:20

Startrite and Ecco both do poperly fitted kids' shoes with various width fittings.

I love the Ecco range for children - no more expensive than Clarks. Also Startrite do their own Doodle-esque canvas shoes.

MamaMaiasaura · 14/05/2006 14:22

I go to a fab shoe shop - Frenches - stock ecco, startrite and clarks under same roof & excellant service

Greensleeves · 14/05/2006 14:28

I went to Clarks last week and waited for 45 minutes in an airless underground menagerie full of screeching kids and sweaty snappy parents, had their feet measured and the picked the least horrible and aggressive-looking of the sandals which were roughly similar in ds1 and ds2 sizes. After keeping us waiting for a further twenty minutes the woman emerged from the stock room and said that there was only one pair of sandals on the premises that would fit ds2 (he's 4.5 G) was this ugly pair of electric blue things that would go with none of his clothes. So we went across the road to Russell and Bromley who stock Clarks, Ecco, Startrite etc and queued for another half hour to have their feet measured again, and ended up buying Startrites for both boys because they were the only ones which were basically neutral-coloured and didn't look like they were made for teenage boys or soldiers.

I had it drummed into me by my mother that ONLY Clarks shoes would do, and have always just bought Clarks without thinking, so I was quite surprised to find that Startrite also do width fittings, and they were bloody expensive too Angry

orangina · 14/05/2006 15:04

I know that jojo maman bebe do doodles style shoes, but maybe they aren't fitted? They are a lot cheaper than £20something though..... perhaps get fitted at clarkes, and then buy the jojo ones? Will try to find the link....

orangina · 14/05/2006 15:06

\link{http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/cgibin/priamlnk.cgi?CNO=1&MP=ITM^GIN200&CODE=A8431&SPCAT=IB&CAT=TAS61&TYPE=C&SHOP=\jojo shoes here}

Lilliput · 14/05/2006 15:31

If you have a john lewis near you they have a huge selection of doodles, mostly startrite I think at £14. I have always found clarks crap.

Tommy · 14/05/2006 18:13

Awen - that's where I got them - forgot you were in Soton too! Smile

alex8 · 14/05/2006 18:23

My son is an H fitting and doodles were too narrow. I had that problem last year and clerks wouldn't sell me any of their sandles cos if the width was right the length was too long and he kept falling over.

But on Saturday I had my sons feet measured and in John Lewis they came out as a 9H and in the start rite in russell and bromely they said 8 1/2 G!!

julienetmum · 14/05/2006 20:21

Start-rite shoes are generally half a size larger than Clarks so that sounds about right alex8.

Witchycat · 14/05/2006 20:25

Catsmother - I've never heard of Ecco. Who stocks them ?

Am having nightmare finding summer shoes for dd who is 4.5G (according to Clarks people anyway). No doodles in her size for 3 weeks running. No sandles that are really any good for a toddler (all clumpy soles or thin strappy things).

Oh, amd I hate pink or white, which isn't helping. (Although by this point I'd put her in any colour if it fit properly).

Spent £30 on new school shoes for ds today instead.

Aaaaargh !!

23balloons · 14/05/2006 20:36

Just had to spend another £30 on school shoes for ds today. Not because his feet have grown but because he has trashed the last 2 pairs, first from Clarks @ £30 and second from startrite @ £36. I was going to try a cheaper brand but couldn't find any.

I went to Clarks again and the only pair that were comfortable were the same as the first pair he had. I had to buy them as he has a big hole in the front of his current startrite shoes.

Heathcliffscathy · 14/05/2006 20:39

ecco are so lovely but SO much more expensive ime....where are you getting ecco shoes that are as cheap as clarkes????????? tell me now!

alex8 · 14/05/2006 20:56

julienetmum, this was when his feet were actually measured. Not when there was actual shoes involved. Do they have different scales too?

LIZS · 14/05/2006 21:18

Startrite and Clarks do size up differently and use a different gauge. iirc Startrite tend to be bigger than same "size" in Clarks, so a reading 1/2 size less is possible. Also Doodles differ to the normal Clarks range, think they recommend a 1/2 size larger than the reading.

If you need wider shoes try Naturino or Geox.

puff · 14/05/2006 21:20

I buy ecco shoes - have a couple of really good independent shoe shops near, so I go to them.

Millie1 · 14/05/2006 21:27

Took DSs to get Doodles yesterday ... shop assistant tried to get us to take a pair for DS2 which were a whole size too big ... they seem to think that you'll have to get the summer out of them and she was shocked we wanted them to fit now, not in 2 months time. Got them a smaller size than she recommended.

julienetmum · 14/05/2006 22:02

Well although some shops that sell bother brands use one foot measure then fit both makes the Clarks and Start-Rite foot measures are different.

There is also a little variation depending on the style of the shoe. Some seem to come up a bit deeper or wider than others which can make a difference.

My dd has a high instep and I used to find that she needed a slightly larger or wider shoe if it was not a t-bar style.

snuffy143 · 14/05/2006 22:12

I take my kids to an independent shoe seller (bad bad time with Clarks and never again). Both have Startrite school shoes and Geox trainers. None particularly cheap but I have had the same lady fit shoes to their feet since their first pre-walkers and I feel I am paying also for that expertise and exoerience with my DD and DS feet.

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