Wide feet and school shoes :(

[seventieschick]

Dd has wide feet, high instep and slim heel/ankles and am having trouble getting shoes and plimsolls now.

Really she is wider than an H but Clarks don't go past that and I can't seem to find anyone that stocks start rite, the two independent shoe shops near us have shut down.

Just wondered if anyone had suggestions, can't really buy online as not sure of her size...

Primigi have wide fittings but you need an independent.....

we have the exact same problem - wide feet, high instep. I have just come to accept that the shoes that fit her are expensive, but the ones that fit are good quality and last.
I second the recommendation for Primigi, also Geox and Angulus (fabulous shoes but expensive..). I only use my local independent shops and often buy the next sizes up ready for the next growth spurt if I see them in the sales. We rely on Birkenstocks for summer sandals and can also get away with Converse, especially the elastic laced ones, not tied. Some Boden ones come up wide, but if at all possible get to a Boden shop and try them on. Their Ugg style boots are great for older girls. HTH?

I'd third Primigi - although actually when one of my dds was measured by a proper independent shoe shop (rather than Clarks) it turned out that she wasn't wide at all, merely had a very very high instep. The lady (who used to measure ballet dancers) did a far better job at finding the right shoes for both of my dds - different brands suit different people. If you were in S London I would recommend her

My two eldest have the narrow heels problem (they do, however, have narrow feet in general), and Clarks always slide off their heels. I've found that Start-Rites are far better for the shape of their feet.

Sorry, I've just seen that you can't get Start-Rites.

Sleepingbunny, where is this lady? We're in S London (well, near enough) and would be interested in a good foot measurer.

Hiya - she's in East Dulwich (so SE)

Thank you have emailed them to see if there are any stockists near me. Think I may have to travel...

Any ideas for plimsolls?

If you are in striking distance of Exeter try Chuckle Shoes on Fore St School shoes end up costing about 50 quid, they FIT, can be stretched, repaired and re-soled.
DS ( who has high arch and wide toes, his feet are basicly triangular) is in a pair for about a year with maybe one resole and one stretch during that year. He is about an 10.5K in clarks terms. I have given up on clarks for everything bar plimsolls, which I buy in a H and they squash his little toe and come undone far to frequently.

There is also Conker shoes and greenshoes Totnes who make kids shoes to fit.

www.shoemakers.org.uk/ might help you find someone local.

Angulus .... my dd has very wide feet, Angulus fit her really well but it is around £80 for her new shoes.

Gotta have good shoes though!

Doc Martens come up wide, and do school shoes that withstand everything!
John Lewis sell all types of shoes, the one we went to had a lovely fitter who made sure DDs shoes fit correctly (and they weren't too pricey either).

Thank you have shoes drove an hour at the wkend to get a pair grrrr still struggling with plimsolls and dd wears them every day at school.

I don't know about girls plimsolls cause Ive got a DS but he has got really really wide fit and a high instep...Clarks won't even go on his feet let alone do up lol! We have to get Geox shoes for him which have been fantastic but he can get M&S plimsolls on easily which for him is nothing short of a miracle!

They are the ones that have got velcro going over them...think they were £3. I know the actual girls ones in there are more like shoes with a strap over but at the end of the day they are still plimsolls!

They also come up really big...he's a 2.5 in shoes yet his plimsolls are a 1 and there is still some room in them and the size 2's Ive got are actually too big so might be worth a try if you haven't already.

I feel your pain though-I dread shoe shopping with him! I have another DS who is 14 months and it looks like his feet are going the same way...I blame DH cause my feet are lovely and narrow lol!

Hi,
Just waking up this thread to see if anybody knows of good shops (Not Clarks or John Lewis) for wide fitting school shoes nearish to (willing to go quite far as desperate!) Kingston upon Thames?

I haven't heard of Primigi before, so does anybody know if any shops stock those in this area?

My daughter have H+ fitting feet (and skinny ankles) and is starting senior school and would dearly love a different shoe to the Start Rite "Samba" that she has had as long as anyone can remember!

The shoe station in kew is great, loads of choice, it's right by kew gardens/train station. Also the children's shoe dept in bentalls is quite good, they stock geox but not sure about primigi.

I'd second the shoe station in Kew. Def stock Primigi there.

Is it worth getting measured and buying online? Startrite have free postage for returns - just keep all the original packaging and don't wear the shoes for more than trying on.

I really sympathise - I have wide feet and very high insteps and shoe-shopping is still my worst nightmare - I go to Clarks and if I find a pair that fit I buy it in several colours :(. My mother used to take the train to London to get my school shoes as there were no options where we lived.

Sadly DD has the same - the high instep is the biggest issue as buckles often won't go over the top of the arch.

John Lewis did say that they would order pairs in for me to try - I guess they have a high enough turnover to not find it a problem.

Primigi shoes are gorgeous - they often come up in TK Maxx - but are £££. They do wear exceptionally well though.