Boys school shoes rant

[hopperdee]

After buying school shoes for my daughter, I've been used to some variety in styles and usually steer her towards the plainer/more classic styles. She can wear spangly stuff and trainers outside of school time. But! my little boy is now about to start school and I was pretty surprised and disappointed to see that every single pair of boys school shoes in my local Clarks looks and feels like a trainer, and all of them seem to have a double Velcro fastening.

Firstly, why can't boys have the option of a plainer/smarter shoe for school (laces can be elasticated if they can't manage real laces). Secondly, the store assistant said that it was because boys run around more and wear shoes in more quickly. Rubbish! Girls run about just as much as boys + it would be nice to give parents and boys the choice of a trainer style OR a proper shoe for school days. Sort it out Clarks! Am I the only person that thinks this?

It assumes that boys have no interest in fashion/style and that girls don't do rough and tumble. I thought attitudes had changed since the 1970s. What's going on?

[Bilberry]

Girls don't have that much choice a clarks either - as can be seen by the fact that at least six of my dd friends have the same shoes as her.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Yes, we finally got to the bottom of odd socks I hadn't bought mystery.

In their dingy pool changing rooms they were grabing socks and stuffing them in their bags and coming home in just their shoes. They read name labels/sizes on identical putting them on, but not when fishing out socks.

[hopperdee]

I totally understand why some people like them, I just don't understand the lack of any choice at all! I don't want him to wear stiff stockbroker loafers either, just the option of a soft leather, lace-up (or elasticated laces) shoe.

As a first time boy-to-school mum it just came as a shock that trainers seemed to be the ONLY option in there. We're all different and to be only given a choice of one thing is just odd. I'm definitely leaning towards Kickers now, and you wouldn't see a business man in those + playing wouldn't be restricted.

[chutneypig]

Thinking a little more on this, I did notice yesterday that there seemed to be more choice in style for older children (size two plus) for boys and girls. I have seven year old twins and there hasn't been anything other than Mary Janes for my daughter and trainer style for my son since they started school. Easier for DS as DD has narrow feet and it's a challenge to get that style to fit for her, plus they always looks so chilly for winter

[SeagullsAndSand]

R&B have a huge variety.

[Beautifullymixed]

I've always brought kickers for my dcs 5 and they wore them all year (and even passed them down).

Recently, I tried to economise with youngest ds 10 and 7, and varied the brands (all cheaper). Was a false economy as I ended up buying more shoes.

The girls designs in kickers are so varied and stylish. Buckled t-bars, mary janes and in shiny, patent too. So sturdy and hard wearing.

I'm going back to kickers and staying there.

[Beautifullymixed]

I also like the grip on kickers shoes/boots. I'm a TA in a primary school and hold my breath sometimes when I see a child racing past with hard soled shoes. Especially in the rain.